CALIGULA back in theaters?! Podcast reveals the bonkers making and remaking of stories you gotta hear.

This Friday, Aug. 16, there’s a curiosity in the New Film Releases section — Caligula: The Ultimate Cut. The porn epic is as curious now as it was in 1980, when it was originally released. First question: why did some of Britain’s most respected acting talent — Helen Mirren, Sir John Gielgud, Peter O’Toole, and Malcom McDowell on the heels of Clockwork Orange — choose to star in a Penthouse Film directed by Bob Guccione? Second question: why oh why is cinema’s most infamous and notorious movie re-edited and re-released? Is this something the world really needs?

Having the same questions, I do what I do best: dug in to find the answers — and now, sharing with you. In collaboration with Drafthouse Films, I’m co-hosting the podcast, Caligula: Package of Excellence with Collin Friesen (writer, director, NPR reporter). In my 20 years as a film journalist, the story of the making of Caligula is THE. MOST. WACKADOO. behind the scenes story you’ll ever hear, including exclusive interviews with McDowell, Bob Guccione Jr., and Penthouse executive Kelly Holland, as well as John Steiner’s last interview before his passing.

How did Caligula go off the rails? It starts with a rich and powerful man desperate for mainstream acceptance, determined to bridge the world of porno theatrical releases like Deep Throat (1972) and Behind the Green Door (1972), with big-budget award winning movies, like Chinatown (1974 — which Guccione co-produced). Where it goes, oh boy: the near drowning of one of the mega-stars, an on-set death, Vatican hit squads, the set-up to plant evidence on a “difficult” star to get her arrested, a drugged horse, and a séance with the long dead emperor to get notes for the production. And then there’s all the sex stuff, including actual on-set orgies, sneaking in to film secret porn scenes unbenownst to the director, and other elements too tawdry and make me too queasy to type out (but we talk about in the podcast). 

The re-making of the movie? Also, completely bananas. Do I recommend you watch the movie? Uh, no. There’s a lot here you can’t unsee. But the podcast? TOTALLY — it’s a jaw-dropper of a story. Both of them. 

Give a listen. If you like it, give a review. And the comments below — share your thoughts, insights and exclamations!