Tinto Brass' 1979 Roman orgy movie "Caligula" is one of the more notorious cult films of its era. It wears the cloak of an award-bait prestige picture, but is also an infamously terrible piece of slapped-together art porn. Made for a budget of over $17 million, "Caligula" boasted impressive performances from classy, world-famous actors such as John Gielgud and Peter O'Toole. Malcolm McDowell, having already appeared in dark, violent pictures such as "If...." and "A Clockwork Orange," was right at home in the title role, playing Rome's mad emperor with his trademark verve. Helen Mirren played Caesonia , a courtesan that Caligula marries to the consternation of his sister Drusilla (Teresa Ann Savoy), also his incestuous lover.

Noted author and media bon vivant Gore Vidal was paid $200,000

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