it a rare sensation to come across a film so embarrass that you feel an urge to turn away from the screen . but when you see a noble actor like sir john gielgud surround by naked and copulate couple that just what you will want to do . add to that peter otoole a syphilis ridden emperor tiberius and malcolm mcdowell stick his finger up a male victim anus and and you begin to appreciate that caligula be solely of interest to addict of sick or outrageous film . the film chart the life of notorious roman emperor caligula ( mcdowell ) and a highly disturbed individual whose story be tell through a series of sexual encounter and decapitation and betrayal and murder and incestuous relationship and lesbian sex scene . although caligula be totally mad in real life and and probably do succumb to his base instincts more often than not and the film be still inexcusable filth . the sex in the film isn not use a one aspect in a multi layer story the sex be the story . after a while and all the nudity and hip thrusting and nipple suck becomes tedious due to sheer repetition . the performance be totally undisciplined and particularly mcdowell who throw caution to the wind and give a performance that be all wild eyed posturing . otoole seem to be treat the script with the contempt it deserve ( surely he in it purely for the money . ) . rumour abound that additional pornographic scene be add without the director consent during post production and but in truth there isn not a single minute in caligula that be dignify or well make . it be doubtful that this amount of time and talent and money will ever be throw at a porno film again and so in that sense caligula be a one of a kind experience . on the other hand and it so monumentally awful that perhaps the fact it be one of a kind be a blessing in disguise .