Film
Caligula: The Ultimate Cut
1979, 2024 Release
UK Quad / Single Sided / (30" x 40")
UK / British
Near mint minus; originally rolled (as issued)
Bob Guccione, Tinto Brass
Giancarlo Badessi, Guido Mannari, Helen Mirren, John Gielgud, Malcolm McDowell, Peter O'Toole, Teresa Ann Savoy
“What would you have done if you had been given absolute power of life and death over everybody else in the whole world?”
An original, country of origin 2024 UK Quad movie poster for the Bob Guccione/Tinto Brass film “Caligula: The Ultimate Cut”. An absolutely beautiful and striking design with a great use of bold colour, featuring Malcolm McDowell as the titular Caligula and Helen Mirren as Caesonia. “The Ultimate Cut” is a complete re-imagination of Caligula (1979), based on 96 hours of never-before-seen footage recovered many years after its release. Under the supervision of historian Thomas Negovan, an “Ultimate Cut” of the film was created. Instead of expanding existing scenes with the new footage, the entire film was edited from scratch, which resulted in a version that doesn’t contain a single frame from the theatrical version. Visual effects were used to enhance scenes and replace cheap sets and backgrounds, and AI technology was used to restore previously unusable dialogue that was plagued with background noises. A new music score was composed as well, in contrast to the public domain ballet music. A limited theatrical release was planned in late 2020, but it was delayed due to legal difficulties, distribution issues and the Covid-19 pandemic. This version eventually premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023, with high praise by actors Malcolm McDowell (who previously had been ashamed by the film) and Dame Helen Mirren. Offered in excellent, high grade, rolled (as issued) condition, this poster is a rare find as the movie received such a limited cinematic release. One of the most controversial films of all time and a fine example of sought after movie memorabilia.
Watch the Trailer HERE
…more detailVintage Movie Posters Grading Criteria... read more +
“Absolute power corrupts in CALIGULA: THE ULTIMATE CUT, an extensive reconstruction of the notorious 1980 spectacle. Shadowed by the murder of his family, Caligula eliminates his devious adoptive grandfather and seizes control of the Roman Empire alongside his wife Caesonia before descending into a spiral of depravity, destruction, and madness.”
“Caligula” is a film with a storied history. What began as a sprawling historical epic saw much of the film land on the cutting room floor. In its place, a violent and pornographic cash-grab that bore little resemblance to the script by Gore Vidal. Though a box office success, thanks to the controversy surrounding the film, critics derided it, and the cast disowned it. Now, forty-four years later, “Caligula: The Ultimate Cut” intends to showcase the film’s original vision-a riveting and complex historical drama showcasing the intoxicating allure of sexuality and power. The film runs nearly three hours, is entirely fascinating, and delivers a triumphant expose on how ‘absolute power corrupts absolutely.’ In an era of director’s cuts and alternate versions, Caligula is a magnificent restoration with a triumphant zeal.
A much more coherent film than the original. This version vindicates what the “Caligula” film could’ve been like back in the late 1970s. While not truly perfect, “Caligula: The Ultimate Cut” is an enjoyable what could’ve of been that gives a better showcase of the brilliant performance of Malcolm McDowell as the villainous, sex crazed Caligula.
With all the pornographic content removed, the story has a real flow throughout, developing Caligula’s darker tendencies as the story moves forward. While it’s not perfect, it’s definitely better than the version released back in the 1970s. Much campier and enjoyable than the original, this version of “Caligula” feels more right, as the performances shine and the story doesn’t stop for a random scene of explicit pornographic content, instead the story actually progresses to show how little by little why the people turned on the once victorious Caligula. “Caligula: The Ultimate Cut”, as of right now, is truly the definitive edition of “Caligula” and a broken masterpiece in its own right.
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Mint
A poster that has never been used or displayed and may show the most minor signs of age and wear. The poster should have no holes or tears.
Near Mint
A generally unused poster with fresh, saturated colors. May have minimal tears at folds. Has no significant holes, no paper loss, may have minor tears along edges, may have fine pin holes.
Very Fine
A poster with bright colour and crisp overall appearance. It may have very general signs of use including slight fold separation and fold wear. It may have pin holes or very minor tears. This is the highest grade allowed for a poster that has been restored either on linen or on paper.
Fine
A poster with good colors and overall clean appearance. It may have minor tears small paper loss and minor stains. It may have some fold seperation.
Good
An average poster with overall fresh color. May have tears, minor paper loss, minor hazing. Paper may be brittle due to age, may have minor stains. May have a small amount of writing in an unobtrusive place. May have medium or major restoration.
Fair
A poster with faded colors and brittle paper, showing significant signs of use. May have tears and paper loss. May have tape, writing, stains in image area. In need of restoration or had major restoration.
Poor
A poster that is worn, torn, and/or damaged. May have staining, cracking, dry rot, and/or large tears. May be heavily soiled, may have pieces missing. In need of major restoration.
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LOBBY CARD
11 x 14″ printed on heavy stock paper. Used as display in theatre lobbies. Originally made in sets of eight. Some sets have a title card, which contains credits and artwork, essentially a mini-poster. The remaining seven cards are coloured photographic credits and poster artwork showing different scenes from the movie.
WINDOW CARD
14 x 22″ printed on heavy stock paper with the top 4-6 inches usually left blank for the local cinema owner to fill in the cinema and the date it was due to play. Largely discontinued during the 1970’s.
HALF SHEET
22 x 28″ printed on heavy stock paper. The image displayed is normally a smaller version of the main poster, although some do have different artworks and sometimes come in two versions.
INSERT
14 x 36″ printed on heavy stock paper. Inserts usually have the same artwork as a one sheet. Popular with collectors since they are smaller and easier to frame. Normally come tri folded or rolled.
STYLE Y/FORTY BY SIXTY
40 x 60″ printed on heavy stock paper. Rare since they were primarily used for major motion pictures only. Designed to be used outside the theatre, on an easel, normally at a drive-in movie theatre.
ONE-SHEET
27 x 41″ printed on paper. This is the most common size of poster, intended to be displayed in a glass “marquee” case. It is the most sought after size by collectors. Since the 1980’s most posters are sent to the theatre rolled and maybe slightly smaller measuring 27″ by 40″ and with the advent of backlit light boxes a growing number of modern movie posters are available double-sided and the more traditional single-sided.
THREE-SHEET
41 x 81″ printed on paper. These were printed on two or three separate sheets designed to overlap, few survive. Used for larger advertising spaces, normally posted on walls, perfect for huge movie theatres the drive-in, where people could see them from a distance. From the 1970’s on, three-sheets were sometimes printed in one piece and issued as “international” versions to be used abroad.
BRITISH QUAD
30 x 40″ Most common poster size used in the UK. British Quads are horizontal and may have different artwork to the US one sheet. Like a US one sheet they normally come in two versions. Like a US one sheet they are usually supplied single-sided or more commonly now as a double sided poster.
BRITISH ONE-SHEET
27 X 40″, printed on paper. Very rarely used size.
ITALIAN LOCANDINA
13 x 28″ six inches shorter than the US insert, very nice size to frame. Italian poster illustrators are some of the best in the industry.
ITALIAN PHOTOBUSTA
18 x 26″ Glossy, high quality, used as lobby cards in Italy. Size may vary, either vertical or horizontal format. There are also double Photobusta or mini Photobusta.
2-FOGLIO (DUE)
(DUE): 39 x 55″ This is the standard poster size used in Italy. Italian poster illustrators are some of the best in the industry.
4-FOGLIO
(QUATTRO) 55 x 79″ Very large Italian poster printed in two pieces, often contains very beautiful artwork.
FRENCH
47 x 63″ (GRANDE) or 24 x 33″ (PETITE) French movie posters normally come with different artwork to either the US or the UK. Like the Italian’s some of the artwork is extrememly beautiful.
