R.I.P. Tinto Brass, director of Caligula
Tinto Brass, master of Eurosleaze and Caligula director has died at 93.
Italian filmmaker Tinto Brass, renowned for his controversial work on the 1979 film Caligula, has passed away at the age of 93 in Rome. Brass, whose real name was Giovanni "Tinto" Brass, began his career in the 1960s as an avant-garde filmmaker, crafting short films like Tempo Libero and Tempo Lavorativo alongside writer Umberto Eco.
His career took a significant turn in 1979 when he was commissioned to direct the big-budget historical epic Caligula, starring a star-studded cast including Malcolm McDowell, John Gielgud, Peter O'Toole, and Helen Mirren. However, the film's reputation was marred by the insertion of explicit scenes by its producer, Bob Guccione, leading to the removal of Brass and screenwriter Gore Vidal's names from the credits.
Despite the backlash, Brass continued to produce Italian soft-core erotic dramas throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, with titles like Nazisploitation drama Salon Kitty, Cheeky, Paprika, Monella, and Senso '45. His final films, the erotic shorts Kick The Cock and Hotel Courbet, were released in 2008 and 2009, respectively.
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