Tinto Brass' infamous soft-porn Roman epic stars Malcolm McDowell as the deranged titular Emperor, and provides an unexpected entry on the CV of a number of well-respected actors. Author Gore Vidal provides the (uncredited) screenplay, which envisages first century Rome, under the rule of Tiberius and Caligula, as a hotbed of sin and depravity. The film remained in limbo for two years as Brass wrangled over the right to a final cut, and various longer versions have been in circulation.