Caligula castrated

The 1980 film ** Caligula** will receive its first airing on British terrestrial television at the end of October on Channel 4, minus the orgy scenes. Channel 4 have been busy restoring the film to the version that Caligula’s director Tinto Brass was responsible for, before producer and Penthouse boss Bob Guccione turned it into a scandal sensation. When asked about the charges of pornography, Guccione said, ‘No. I don't see the film as being pornographic, and I certainly didn't set out to make a pornographic movie. To me, pornography is a work of bad art, as opposed to good art. And I don't think Caligua qualifies under the heading of bad art.’ Helen Mirren, who later distanced herself from the Guccione version, recalled the movie thus; ‘My most difficult scene was a menage a trois with Malcolm (McDowell) and Teresa Ann Savoy, who plays his sister Drusilla. We were comforting the Emperor after he had a nightmare and got carried away -- as did most Romans of that time.’ The infamous extra scenes, which were shot using Penthouse models are being removed – which begs the question, will anyone really want to see the cleaned-up version? Anyone who’s still interested should tune in on October 31st.