Friday, December 2, 2011

CALIGULA : through the years

Caligula is one of the most famous, or infamous, historical characters in Roman history. His name will live on in infamy till the end of time. Many actors have played the sex crazed Caesar, including in many TV shows not listed here but here's a pretty comprehensive list.

Emlyn Williams in the legendary Korda/von Sternberg unfinished I, CLAUDIUS film

Jay Robinson played Caligula in THE ROBE and DEMETRIUS & THE GLADIATORS

Charles Borromel in THE LAST GLADIATOR (L'Ultimo Gladiatore). 

Very good but he's only in one third of the film.

John Hurt was Caligula in the I, CLAUDIUS mini-series


Malcolm McDowell in CALIGULA, possibly the most 
famous (or infamous) portrayal of the deranged Caesar

Caligula was played by Gino Turini in the porn film CALIGULA & MESSALINA

This film used tons of footage from old PEP film between the sex scenes.

David Cain Haughton (as David Brandon) in the X-rated CALIGULA THE UNTOLD STORY

Alexis Arquette (before the sex change) in XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS

5 comments:

Joe Jusko said...

Jay Robinson was the first one I ever saw and he still stands at the top for me. That voice! LOL

PEPLUM cinema said...

a voice akin to nails on chalkboard!

Pat Powers said...

Malcolm MacDowell certainly had the looks. I tried to watch that version of Caligula, but it was just too dull and badly paced ... something you don't generally say about films with hardcore porn scenes, but ... geeze. Dull and badly paced!

Anonymous said...

More a voice that is biting and venomous! And also, speaks with such clarity that it's a pleasure to witness.

Gilded Age Lover said...

John Hurt in 'I Claudius' is the best Caligula. Emelyn Williams, in the unfinished movie version of the same novel, looks like it would have been very good, especially with Charles Laughton playing Claudius.