Tinto Brass, the renowned Italian filmmaker celebrated for his work in erotic cinema and best known for directing the X-rated historical epic Caligula, has died. His family confirmed the news on Wednesday, stating that he passed away in Rome at the age of 93.
Brass began his career in the 1960s with avant-garde productions before transitioning to the erotic genre. His filmography in this category includes several notable titles such as Salon Kitty in 1976, The Key in 1983, and Paprika in 1991. He continued to work in the genre into the 2000s with films like All Ladies Do It, Frivolous Lola, and Cheeky.
His most famous work, Caligula, was released in 1979 and starred Malcolm McDowell in the title role of the sexually deranged Roman emperor. The screenplay was written by Gore Vidal, and the film was produced by Bob Guccione, the founder of Penthouse magazine. The cast also included Helen Mirren, Peter O’Toole, and John Gielgud. Despite featuring numerous orgies, the film received harsh reviews from both critics and audiences upon its initial release.
The production process for Caligula was marked by significant tension between Brass and Vidal. The two eventually disowned the finished feature, with Brass expressing dissatisfaction over the editing that occurred after he was fired from the project. Vidal, meanwhile, was unhappy with how the director had rewritten his original script. Over the following decades, however, the film developed a devoted cult following. A 178-minute ultimate cut version of the movie was showcased at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023.
Born Giovanni Brass in Milan on March 26, 1933, the director was raised in Venice. He earned a law degree before pursuing a career in film, working as an archivist at the Cinémathèque Française in Paris. During this period, he also served as an assistant director to Roberto Rossellini and Alberto Cavalcanti.
Brass made his feature directorial debut with Who Works Is Lost, which premiered at the 1963 Venice International Film Festival. He followed this with the Western Yankee in 1966 and the murder mystery I Am What I Am in 1967. The latter film, starring Jean-Louis Trintignant, recently received a 4K restoration and was screened at the Venice Film Festival in September.
In the 1970s, Brass achieved significant critical acclaim when his surrealist comedy The Howl, which he also wrote, won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.
He is survived by his second wife, Caterina, whom he married in 2017, as well as his children Bonifacio and Beatrice. His first wife was Carla Cipriani, the daughter of Giuseppe Cipriani, the founder of Harry’s Bar. They were married from 1957 until her death in 2006.
