The “sword and sandal” genre mashes with sex, sadism and debauchery to yield two eye-popping exploitation gems that are getting 2K film restoration releases from Severin Films — with sales and distribution support provided by MVD Entertainment Group — on Apr. 26.
The Blu-ray premiere of director Bruno Mattei’s 1981 Roman romp, Caligula & Messalina, features both the “explicit” Italian version of the film, as well as a tamer English-dubbed cut (about six minutes difference in the running times), both with 2K restorations from their respective original 35mm negatives.
Caligula (Vladimir Blajovic) is in charge and uses his power for his own pleasures (name one, he’s into it) and amusement (don’t ask, just watch the Italian “explicit” cut).
He’s an equal-opportunity abuser. And then into his life comes Messalina (Betty Roland), who has both gladiator skills and sexual proclivities that rival those of Caesar. It is a match made in … heaven? Hell? Take your pick.
Even though Mattei takes excesses with the story of Caligula, who will eventually be murdered by his own Praetorian guard, he does present Caligula & Messalina with an eye towards historical content. But, let’s be frank, we are not here for history lessons and the rise of Claudius (Antonio Passalia) to power, we are here for the “show.” And some “show” it is.
Bonus features with the Blu-ray include a CD soundtrack. Both the DVD and Blu-ray editions include the featurette titled “Caligula: The Life Behind the Legend.”
Also arriving on Apr. 26, as both Blu-ray and DVD releases, is director Joe D'Amato’s 1982 look at the life and times of Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (aka: Caligula), Caligula: The Untold Story, starring David Brandon (Delirium, Beyond Darkness) as Caligula.
This too is a new 2K film restoration from the original 35mm camera negatives, and as is the case of Caligula & Messalina, there are two very distinct viewing options. The first is being billed as the “Explicit Italian Version,” which clocks in at 121 minutes, and the English-dubbed presentation, which runs just 95 minutes (easy choice there for the most “action”). The “Explicit Italian Version” is presented in Italian with English subtitles.
The Blu-ray edition arrives with a bonus CD soundtrack, plus there are deleted scenes and a trio of featurettes — “The Orgy of Power,” “A False True Story” and “Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy.”
No comments:
Post a Comment