Helen Mirren's porn film released after 30-yr ban

HELEN OF HOLLYWOOD: The controversial Roman epic Caligula stars Helen Mirren.

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New Delhi: A pornographic version of the 1970s Roman epic Caligula that has been banned in Britain for almost 30 years has finally been given the green light by censors.

The controversial Roman epic was scripted by the writer and historian Gore Vidal and featured a host of stars including Helen Mirren, Peter O'Toole and Sir John Gielgud.

It was meant to be an historical drama, detailing the excesses of the third Roman emperor Caligula, whose rule from 37-41AD was dominated by violence and debauchery.

However, founder of pornographic magazine Penthouse, Bob Guccione, who produced and financed the film, felt it did not contain enough sex. So he secretly filmed graphic real sex scenes performed by porn stars and inserted them into the final edit.

Although, it was subsequently released in the US, officials banned the film because of its gratuitous content.

The film received a short run in the US but was never shown in Britain, after being banned by the British Board of Film Classification.

The film was derided by many as "insanely pornographic".