Caligula press release
 

Here's the press release details...

THE ULTIMATE IN HIGH DEFINITION DECADENCE!

Caligula, one of the most notorious films in cinematic history, becomes the ultimate in high def decadence with Arrow Video’s release of Tinto Brass’ ludicrously opulent, multi-million dollar ‘porn epic’ as a spectacular two-disc Blu-ray edition, featuring the uncut version of the film in all its eye-opening glory.

Caligula – The Blu Edition comes complete with four alternate sleeves (including one especially commissioned for this release), a double-sided poster plus a special collector’s booklet.

Initially hauled over the coals (and drastically censored) in 1979 on the grounds that it was indecent and potentially obscene, almost 30 years later, in 2008, this uncut version of Caligula was finally granted an 18 Certificate by the BBFC. Notable for being the only major motion picture ever to star esteemed British actors of the calibre of Malcolm McDowell, John Gielgud, Peter O'Toole and Helen Mirren alongside scenes of extreme violence and explicit hardcore sex, Caligula is a true ‘porn epic', a veritable catalogue of depravity the likes of which have never been seen in one single film before or since.

A ridiculous and bombastic hymn to the decadence of the Roman Empire, this is definitely one movie that that has to be seen, if only to wonder, firstly, how the thing ever got off the ground, and secondly, how it was ever completed. Based on Suetonius's ‘Lives Of The Twelve Caesars' and scripted by celebrated author and historian Gore Vidal, the film was produced by ‘Penthouse' magazine publisher Bob Guccione, with the list of potential directors including the likes of John Huston and Nicolas Roeg. However, when Guccione chanced upon a preview screening of Tinto Brass's ‘Salon Kitty', he knew he had found the right man for the job. Unfortunately, Brass and Guccione's respective visions of what the film should be were worlds apart and no sooner had shooting started than the ‘artistic' bickering began with Vidal, Guccione and Brass all falling out with each other. Vidal was barred from the set and once principal photography was complete, Guccione banned Brass from the editing room and, after shooting extra footage of hardcore sex scenes, the ‘Penthouse' boss set about editing the film himself.

The result is the stuff of legend - an insane, pornographic orgy of a film that details the rise and fall of the titular Roman Emperor (brilliantly played by McDowell), his sexual passion for his sister, his marriage to Rome's most infamous prostitute (Mirren), and his spectacularly inventive ways of dealing with his enemies, all garnished with the totally inappropriate sexual rompings of a dozen or so Penthouse Pets. If nothing else, Caligula truly is cinematic madness on the grandest scale.

The two-disc Caligula – The Blu Edition (cert. 18) will be released on Blu-ray (£19.99) by Arrow Video on 3rd May 2010. Special Features include: deleted and alternate scenes; theatrical trailers; North American bonus footage; behind the scenes footage; ‘The Making of Caligula’; ‘My Roman Holiday’ with John Steiner; ‘Caligula’s Pet: A Conversation with Lori Wagner’; ‘Tinto Brass: The Orgy of Power’; stills galleries; DVD-ROM content.

So it's definately only one version of the film on this release? No pre-release version with commentaries that was on the dvd?

Wow, That was a quick turn around: from marketing to production in a blink of an eye! :biggrin:

Is this definately released mon 3rd May as Amazon have no release listed, only a one on the week after on Blu Ray 10th May.

I think the listed one is the correct one, I preordered it and got a mail today that the delivery is postponed by a week and the delivery estimate to Germany is now May 13 - so that fits the May 10 listing...

Maybe the May 3 release date was a prerelease date for certain vendors? Is there a deal with one of them again as for Dawn of the Dead (HMV if I remember correctly...)?

Nice one, cheers just wanted to double check. I guessed it was a delay thing but was'nt sure.

Caligula was due out 3rd but had to be moved to 10th - no special deals with any retailers or anything like that.

Nice artwork from Rick!

I watched this a few days ago and don't think I see another film quite like it. Sure, you hear a lot about Caligula and you think you know what to expect but nothing, and I repeat nothing, can thoroughly prepare you for the sheer amount and extent of debauchery on screen!

It is something that needs to be seen to be believed and my review will go up shortly.

I forgot to add, the artwork selection is a major feature but I'll be going with Rick's as he really captured the essence of the film in all its exploitative glory!