The script was later adapted into a novelisation written by William Johnston under the pseudonym William Howard. However, the film is considered to be a cult classic with significant merit for its political content and historical portrayal. As a result, Brass also disavowed the film.Д¬aligula 's release was met with legal issues and controversies over its violent and sexual content multiple cut versions were released worldwide, while its uncut form remains banned in several countries. This version, released to Italian cinemas in 1979 and American cinemas the following year, disregarded the director's intentions to present the film as a political satire. Because the producers did not allow Brass to edit the film, they changed its tone and style significantly and added hardcore sex scenes not filmed by Brass, thus turning Caligula into an erotic drama featuring Penthouse Pets as extras in unsimulated sex scenes filmed during post-production by Guccione and Giancarlo Lui.

However, both Brass and Vidal disagreed with Guccione's use of unsimulated sexual content, which Brass refused to film. The final screenplay focuses on the idea that 'absolute power corrupts absolutely'. The director, Tinto Brass, extensively altered Vidal's original screenplay, however, leading Vidal to disavow the film. Gore Vidal originated the idea for a film about the controversial Roman emperor and produced a draft screenplay under the working title Gore Vidal's Caligula. Producer Bob Guccione, the founder of Penthouse magazine, intended to produce an erotic feature film narrative with high production values and name actors. The film stars Malcolm McDowell in the title role, alongside Teresa Ann Savoy, Helen Mirren, Peter O'Toole, John Steiner and John Gielgud. Caligula ( Italian: Caligola) is a 1979 erotic historical drama film focusing on the rise and fall of the eponymous Roman Emperor Caligula.

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