Caligula(1979) Link

McDowell's manic, fearless performance is widely considered brilliant, capturing the terrifying unpredictability of a young man granted absolute power. The cast was largely unaware that Guccione planned to splice hardcore pornographic scenes between their dramatic performances.

Italian director Tinto Brass wanted to ignore Vidal's script in favor of a dark, surrealist, and absurdist comedy. He favored heavily stylized softcore erotica but refused to film actual hardcore acts. Caligula(1979)

What makes the film a true anomaly is that surrounded by this grotesque, explicit content were some of the greatest classically trained actors of the 20th century: as Caligula Helen Mirren as Caesonia Peter O'Toole as Tiberius Sir John Gielgud as Nerva He favored heavily stylized softcore erotica but refused

The disaster of the movie stemmed directly from three massive egos pulling the production in entirely opposite directions: fearless performance is widely considered brilliant

Financier Bob Guccione wanted an explicit, hardcore pornographic epic to legitimize his magazine empire. Frustrated with Brass, Guccione secretly filmed hardcore inserts with Penthouse Pets after principal photography wrapped and edited them directly into the movie.