The Emperor Caligula: The Untold Story (1982) - full transcript

Gaius Caesar, the most depraved, cruel

and treacherous Roman emperor,
popularly known as Caligula,

because of the caligia,
the little soldier's boots

he wore as a child.

He murdered his adoptive
grandfather, Tiberius,

and assumed power.

Nothing restrained him.

He committed incest with his sisters,

adultery with friends' wives, pederasty,

flaunted the law, mocked the Senate,

glutton, pervert, epileptic,
paranoid and insomniac.



This is his story.

You hairless dog.

No, Ulmar, wait.

So Domitius, your sword is
as ineffectual as your pen.

You were worthless as a poet

and you're worthless as an assassin.

I could have written my masterpiece

in your blood, Caligula.

Go ahead and kill me.

I am not afraid of death.

Who mentioned death?

No Domitius, you will live.

You will bear witness to
the history I shall create.

And in your mind, you will compose verses



full of hatred and madness,

verses that you will never
be able to write or recite.

Guards!

Cut the tendons in his arms and the legs,

and tear out his tongue.

And if he dies I'll have your heads.

We should ride here more often Gaius.

It strengthens the horses'
legs, improves their wind.

This is where it happens,
every night, the same dream.

Caesar, dreams are not reality.

Reality is another dream.

It was a dream that revealed to my mother

Tiberius' plot to have her killed.

She was killed,

the beach red with blood,

fragments of human bodies
scattered everywhere.

Well, Caesar, as long as they're dreams

there's little to worry you.

And Ulmar, your slave,
has sworn to shield you

from the dangers of the real world.

Every man has a price,
I haven't discovered his.

Look, Caeser.

I'll wager that a few
minutes with one of those

innocent beauties could
dispel your anxiety.

Oh look, there are soldiers coming.

Delightful, all of them.

Aren't they Messala?

They are the fruits of your reign Caeser,

And ripe for the plucking, especially her.

What's your name?

Livia.

Come here.

A fish, strange amulet.

What does it mean?

It's the symbol of a new religious sect

that started in Palestine.

I thought Rome has more
than enough gods as it is.

Are you a Jew?

No.

Then why don't you worship
the god of the Romans?

Do you know who is the
God that you must worship?

I asked you a question.

You are that god, Divine Caesar.

Forgive her, please I beg you.

She's like a frightened lamb.

What could be more exciting

than the lamb ready for the sacrifice?

Careful, Gaius I know that lad.

He's the son of consul,
Marcus Tullius Cicero

He has a lot of power.

No, don't.

Why not?

Because it's not the right moment,

and when it does happen,
I want it to be beautiful.

I'll wait, and I know
I'll want you forever.

Well, why have you stopped?

You looked so charming.

It was you who stopped him, wasn't it?

You're right.

To give the jewel of your virginity

to a clumsy bumbling child

would be like presenting hogs to the death.

You'd do better to give it to a man,

and better still to a God.

No!

How dare you?

On your knees.

Leave us.

No, let him stay, and watch.

You might learn something.

No, please.

Gaius, look out!

No, no!

Livia, Livia!

Kill him.

Kill him!

Who did it?

Who murdered my son?

A group of religious fanatics

who call themselves Christians.

The emperor Gaius has
ordered those responsible

to be caught and punished.

The noble Messala is dealing
with the crime himself.

What makes Caesar so certain

that these religious
fanatics are to blame for it?

Your son had their symbol,

he was holding it in his hand.

Why are you doing this?

What harm have we done to you?

Shut up, old man, out of my way.

They're hiding in the cross tunnels,

it'll be impossible to get them all out.

Never mind, we only
need five or six of them.

Should we put them in prison?

No, they've already
been tried and sentenced.

To take them out the avian
way and crucify them.

Domitius has been arrested.

Did he betray us?

I doubt it.

Well, by now not one of us would

have his head on his shoulders.

Did they kill him?

No.

They cut the tendons of his arms

and legs tore out his tongue, poor devil.

Gaius is mad, a bloodthirsty lunatic

and we put him on the throne.

We simply respected the will of Tiberius.

Tiberius was demented as well.

We are now paying the
price of his insanity.

How long will we have to put up with it?

For as long as he wants

because he believes himself to be a God.

No, Gaius Caesar must die quietly.

Oh, that's a brilliant
proposal Marcellus Agrippa,

but how will you carrying it out?

I'll find a way.

Miriam, please don't leave me ever.

Of course not.

Why would you think I would
ever want to leave you?

You promise that?

I promise.

We'll never be separated.

Miriam, please let us bury Livia

according to our Christian practice.

No, her body is to be cremated

according to the law of my gods.

She was a Christian.

You are welcome to stay with your good

and kind God who was unable to defend her.

But let me listen to my God
who speaks of vengeance.

And here's the imperial
palace, 200 large rooms.

And on those terraces,

we plan a number of swimming
pools with many fountains,

surrounded by gardens which
will surpass in beauty,

the famed gardens of ancient Babylon.

Well, my friends, what do you say?

Let me hear your opinions.

It will be more magnificent
than Olympus itself.

Truly sublime.

And worthy of your greatness.

Marcellus Agrippa.

I don't hear your voice join
the bleating of these sheep.

How much will all this cost Caesar?

If I'm permitted to ask.

What a prosaic turn of mind you have.

Marcellus, you disappoint me.

As usual of course.

Here am I showing you a work of art

such as the world has never seen.

Something eternal, something immortal,

something that will link forever

the names of Rome and
Gaius Caesar Germanicus.

And you speak prices.

Has the empire a price?

I will sacrifice all my personal treasure.

I will put everything I have up

for auction to fulfill this project.

The auction will take place
at a magnificent banquet

that I will give it the palace.

Marssala, you will take
charge of organizing it to,

and invite all our dearest friends,

the governors of the provinces,
the foreign nobility.

In other words, anyone with enough money

to afford the price of admission.

After all, I feel certain that no one

will want to offend Gaius Caesar
by refusing to participate.

But will do you invite
ladies worthy of your guests?

The women will be well
worth the price of admission.

You will be given exotic
rarities and novices,

novices recruited from the Virgin maidens

of the goddess Vesta.

Caesar, the vessels are holy priestesses.

They have to take a vow of virginity.

They'll have to choose another livelihood.

Besides, I don't think the goddess Vesta

will be too offended if another God

asks a small personal favor,

or would you prefer that I
asked this small personal favor

of your wives and daughters?

Fine, since we're all
obviously in agreement,

have some wine brought
in and we'll drink to it.

To your project to
witness to your munificence.

You drink to your own
cowardice Terchous Arias,

and to the hope that one day
a blade will disembowel me

or that my cup of wine will be poisoned.

Perhaps this very one
I'm about to drink from.

You don't believe that
really, do you Caesar?

No?

Very well my faithful friend.

I will drink your wine,
and you will drink mine.

We can be certain that
yours isn't poisoned.

Well, what are you waiting for, drink.

Go on.

Drink!

All right, that's enough.

Even if it weren't poisoned,
you'd die of fright.

My wine is better guarded
than your wives private parts.

Now Demitrius, to work.

I want the basic structures
laid down in time for...

Out of the way, leave him alone,

bring some hot water.

Try to vomit Caesar, vomit Caesar.

Your wine was poisoned.

Come on, vomit, vomit Caesar.

Come on boy, vomit.

Come on.

Omnipotent gods, I beg you to take

my life in place of our beloved emperors.

Come on, that's it, keep trying.

Oh mighty Jupiter, if you
spare our Caesar's life,

I vow to give all I posses
for the construction

of a temple in your honor.

Thank you friends.

The gods have heeded your prayers.

The heartbreaking sincerity

of your pleas has brought
about the miracle.

Marius, I will take care of the temple.

Lucretius will come to you tomorrow

to estimate the value of your estate.

As for you, I was so moved
by your declaration of faith,

that I will gladly satisfy
your wish immediately.

Thank you mighty Caesar.

Seize him, and hold him still.

Do you realize what you're doing?

Do I realize?

He offered his life, didn't he?

Let him give it then.

And now, out of here.

All of you, get out!

I will create.

An eternal city.

Sublime work of art
beyond mortal conception.

Come.

Look at him, Clizia, look at him.

He's not much to look at, I
know, but he's still a man.

Or what's left of one.

You see, nothing of him works anymore.

Except his brain and
that, that still works.

I guarantee you.

Except the poor thing, he
can't even masturbate anymore.

Sweet Clizia.

Why don't you take pity on him
and lend him a helping hand?

Go on.

Make him, make him enjoy himself.

Stop, stop!

You're committing a sacrilege.

Get out of the way, we're
following the emperors orders.

Ulmar, would you like to play with me?

No, sorry, my lady, but I'm not allowed to.

Oh come on, you know Gaius
would give you permission.

You just need to ask him.

My job is to protect
the life of our emperor

and not to screw up a common slut.

I warned you Clizia.

Ulmar can't be moved.

Except by Gaius in person.

Isn't that right Ulmar?

Tell me Petraeus.

How did Gaius come by that slave?

Of all the gladiators

in the Nordic lands, Ulmar was the best.

Caligula chose him as
his personal bodyguard.

Doesn't he trust his Praetorian's anymore?

The Praetorian's watchful eyes

are more on their pay than on the emperor.

Gaius has his faults, but
stupidity is not one of them.

Ulmar is of slave now but in
his own land he was a prince.

Next one over here, let
me see your teeth dear.

Over there.

Next.

Julia Queentha.

Be here tomorrow, this hour.

Over there.

Here are the vestals.

Take them in dear boy.

Next.

Come on.

Oh no, you won't do at all.

You'll make everyone vomit before dinner.

Please let me come, I need the money

and I'm very good at all the tricks

and I've had lots of experience.

Well I suppose I could use you

for something but not with the men.

With what?

Dogs and horses.

All right.

Over there.

Next.

Oh yes, you'll do, over there.

Come back tomorrow, this time.

Thank you.

Miriam Chelsea.

Miriam Chelsea.

All right, return tomorrow
at this same hour.

Miriam.

All mighty Lord of life and death,

prince of the night I offer you my purity

so that I may complete my vengeance.

My poor girl.

Your sacrifice was useless.

Even if you can get close to Caligula,

how do you expect to kill
him, with what means?

I can only do my best Cornelius.

Men, who were stronger
and more determined than you

have lost their lives trying.

If you truly want to
avenge Livia, trust me.

Let me help you.

It is my job to train you

so that you may provide the
greatest possible pleasure

for the emperor's guests.

Some of you may think that you
have no need of instruction,

that you are already sufficiently

skilled in the arts of love,

except for those who have yet

to feast on the honey of men's desires.

But remember this, while it is natural

and instinctive for a woman
to let a man possess her,

it is not instinctive
for her to possess him,

to possess him in such a way

that the pleasure you provide
will make him your slave.

Come Imos.

Imos is a Greek slave.

He will provide the raw
material for your studies.

Now let me see, who shall we begin with.

You.

Aren't you lucky to have
such a fine specimen

of Helenic virality to work on?

Now girls I want you to watch
the proceeding with care

and attention but with
warmth and passion to.

You must identify with your companion

and participate with her in
the pleasure she is giving.

You should make the first advances dear,

in case your partner happens to be shy.

You can draw him out of himself

by gentle, delicate manipulation.

There's no need to be
in a hurry, gradually,

warm up slowly so that every part

of his physical being feels

the touch of your caressing fingers

and tingles with the
desire for satisfaction.

Now you have reached the
focus of his desire where

a man concentrates all
his fears and his needs.

His spiritual home.

Not only his body but
his soul in your mouth,

and you can hold him there
until you exhaust him,

he'll never stop you.

He will let himself be destroyed,

you have possessed him
because he is vanquished,

because he is over powered.

Yield to his desire now, yield.

Now you have to bow to his strength.

Open yourself to him, open
yourself now dear, let him in.

Take his hands, kiss them.

All right now stop.

I said stop.

Go back to your place.

Let me see.

You, Miriam, come here.

Hail Caesar.

Welcome my dear friends.

I am so happy to see you all here.

Enjoying yourselves?

Have fun.

Hail Caesar.

Oh, how wild.

Oh, did he frighten you?

Yes.

You might as well spare him.

You like living here in Rome, don't you?

Oh yes.

Yes, climate's good
but the traffics chaotic.

Very much.

Nice brown Nubian, let's have a cup

of wine together, come on.

No, let go of me, I don't want to.

Listen, I paid to come here.

I'm not for sale, you pig.

You wild cat, come here.

Ulmar.

Leave me alone.

Who do you think you are, an Prussian?

I'm gonna get my money's worth now come on

you bitch before I have you flogged.

Hey, what is this?

What is your name?

Miriam, divine Caesar.

Here Miriam.

Wonderful performer, watch.

Such sensitivity little Miriam.

I like it.

Ulmar.

Gaius Caesar commands me
to take you to him at once.

You're very beautiful.

Aren't you afraid?

Why should I be?

It would only take one word from me,

and this lovely head of yours

would be rolling on the carpet.

What would you do with it?

Your empire is full of heads

that could be struck off
for much better reason.

Give me one reason why I
shouldn't begin with yours?

Planning a little trip, Agrippa?

Only my family.

I was going to stay here in Rome.

Of course.

I'm aware of your courage
and your nobility.

Nothing disturbs you, does it Agrippa?

Even death has never frightened you.

A new baby?

A pretty child.

Is it a boy?

Yes.

A little Agrippa.

A tender, helpless thing right now.

But a sure plotter and assassin tomorrow.

Better to nip the challenge in the bud.

No!

Please stop it, stop it.

Slowly, slowly, don't let them die.

I want them to suffer.

Please, don't make him suffer any longer.

Caesar, I beg of you.

I beg of you Caesar!

Torture me if you must!

And now their families.

Gaius you go to far with such an order.

To murder those who are innocent?

Innocent?

There are no innocents
among Caligula's subjects.

No one is innocent.

Not one of you in this room is innocent.

Even if you had no part in the plot

I should have you all killed.

Messala, slaughtering
innocence is no soldiers duty.

It should be done by frightened old men,

men who cling to life like a
baby to it's mothers nipple.

Caesar you are speaking

to senators of Rome and
our honor deserves...

Your honor is rotten

and stinks worse than your fatted breath.

And will not stop you from giving

a demonstration of your infamy here

and now because you will be the

ones to carry out the sentence.

Bring the wife and daughter of Agrippa.

Give him your sword.

Ulmar, if he refuses to obey kill him.

Now noble Heriot, the choice is yours.

If you do not kill these women
their lives will be spared,

but you will die instantly.

Look at them.

The wife and daughter of Marcellus Agrippa.

He was a good friend of yours I believe.

Kill me if you like but
don't kill her, please don't.

Be merciful, spare my daughter.

Ulmar kill him.

No.

No.

That's enough, that's enough Careas.

You've given ample proof of your honor.

Bring me the wife and children of Catalus.

What do you want?

Your friends have all been killed.

They weren't my friends, and
I saved the emperor's life.

Gratitude is a quality
of unknown two Gaius.

His lust for blood will drive him

to any crime or reckless folly.

And by staying here, you'll
surely be running a great risk.

How could I leave?

Look, there are guards everywhere.

I know a way to get you out of the palace.

Then I can arrange for you to leave Rome

for a safe hiding place.

But you'd be risking your life.

Cesar would never forgive
you if he found out.

Why are you willing to
risk your life for me?

Because when you finally decide

to do what you are planning,

it is I who must prevent it.

And I have no wish to kill you.

The gods themselves would grow pale

at the sight of so much blood.

Petreius, how much do you hate me?

Hate you?

You're wrong Gaius, I do not hate you,

strange as it may seem.

But I see the full extent of your cruelty,

perversion, and confusion.

Really?

Does the sight of blood upset you.

Did you never kill when you
fought in my fathers legion?

Any man who died beneath
my sword died in battle.

Such modesty Petreius, I envy you.

Because modesty is the only
feeling I will never know.

It's not me you envy
little boots, it's the gods.

Divine power, that's
what you really desire.

But remember mighty Caesar, divine powers

most manifest in creation,
not in destruction.

Is there such a difference

between creation and destruction?

As for envying the gods I feel like,

to a man who loves power,

the rivalry for gods does

have it's slight flavor of provocation.

But today I showed them that a man

can do their work every
bit as well as they can,

if he's not afraid to try.

That is blasphemy.

No, it's a revelation.

The only way to be the equal of the gods

is to be their match in cruelty.

Then the impossible is possible.

Do you think as the rest of them do,

that I'm an insane murderer?

A monster?

Yes Gaius.

Then why didn't you let them kill me?

I don't know.

I do.

And it's the same reason

why I'm not going to Kill you.

They're beautiful, much
too beautiful for me.

No, they're nothing, they mean nothing.

But you, have given me a
meaning for the first time.

You give me something I can't understand,

or deny, or resist.

Can't I make you understand?

The woman is a slave,

the emperor of Rome cannot marry a slave.

No law will permit...

No law can rise above my will.

I am the law.

Messala, order the finest
portrait sculptors

in the land to work on Miriam's likeness

in the purest, whitest marble.

And let them be ready, for our wedding day.

Miriam.

Miriam?

Miriam!

Miriam!

Come.

Miriam.

What shall I do?

Have you forgotten what I told you to do?

No.

No?

Then leave while you still have time.

No.

You still want to kill him?

No, I couldn't do it now,
but I've got to know the truth.

Then let the gods perform their will.

Miriam.

Please forgive me.

Clizia.

I had to do it, I couldn't
let him go on living like that.

Forgive me Gaius.

Do you really need all that wine?

I dreamed my death and yours.

I was lost.

Dreams don't kill.

No, but they can make you suffer.

They create tortures worse than real ones.

No control, no power.

Even an emperor has no
power over his own dreams.

Not even the power to wake up.

Why did you run away?

Because of this.

What does it mean?

The girl who wore it around her neck,

Livia, do you remember her.

I don't know what you're talking about.

You killed her didn't you?

No, it's not true.

I didn't kill her, what's happening to me?

Wine, wine.

Something in wine.

Don't be afraid, you won't die.

Why, it was you, why?

I have to know, sleep
Caligula and remember.

No.

Caligula, don't go on, stop.

Petreius.

Where are you?

Caligula.

Miriam, wait.

No Gaius, come back.

You don't know what you're going to find.

What will I find?

The truth Caligula, come,

your knowledge will be complete.

Eternity will be yours, immortality.

Immortality.

No, don't go on.

There are somethings that a man

is not strong enough to know.

A man, no.

But a God.

Yes.

Turn back, turn back Caesar.

No, get away.

Get away!

It's a dream, it's only a dream.

Wait Caligula, I'm Livia.

Don't you remember me?

No, no.

She's yours Caligula.

No.

No.

Take me Caligula,
you want virgins, don't you?

Then you'll kill me.

It wasn't my fault.

Get away!

Caligula.

Go away, go away!

No, no!

It's a dream, it's a dream!

It's a nightmare, it's not real!

Miriam?

No, you're just a dream.

Miriam.

But I'm still alive.

I'm still alive.

I'm still alive.

No Caesar!

It's a dream.

No Gaius.

A dream.

Miriam...

Miriam, Miriam, Miriam, Miriam!

No!

No!

No!

Look Gaius.

Well this is the first time

they've paid me the honor
of coming to watch me ride.

Yes Caesar, even your uncle Claudius.

Let's not disappoint them Messala.

I'll race you to history and back again.

Let the will of the gods be done.

Gaius, how are you feeling?

Scraped bare, restored, shining.

It's a beautiful day, a day
for entering new worlds.

I want you to send out the
following orders immediately.

I want all the statues that were put up

in honor of my divinity torn down,

and tell Demetrius that the project

for New Rome has been canceled.

And tell the gods that I
have woken from my dream.

Tell Petreius that little boots...

I'm still alive.

Miriam, I'm still alive.