The Hollywood Reporter and BBC World News reported earlier today that Tinto Brass — director of the notorious 1979 pornographic-historical drama, “Caligula” — will begin shooting the first 3D porn flick in May.
James Cameron set new global box-office records this week with his 3D science-fiction movie, “Avatar,” which has made the theatergoing experience feel crucial again (until large home 3D systems are available, the highest-grossing movie in history will make no sense on DVD).
But, where will Tinto Brass go with his XXX variation on Cameron’s blockbuster?
The urban smut houses that gave us the “porno chic” fad of the 1970s are long since closed and no one has dared to mass release an NC-17 movie in the nation’s multiplexes since “Showgirls” bombed in 1995.
Brass did not announce a title for his porn picture but rather coyly said he plans “to “revisit an abandoned project about a Roman emperor that was ruined by Americans,” obviously referencing “Caligula.”
The Italian filmmaker did leave his name on the 1979 hit, something the original screenwriter Gore Vidal did not, when producer Bob Guccione (of Penthouse infamy) spliced in XXX inserts after the film’s stars Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren (below), Peter O’Toole and John Gielgud had done their (non-pornographic) scenes.
(The DVD of “Caligula” is almost worth renting for Dame Helen’s hilarious commentary track.)
Whatever Brass comes up with in May, it will be the first 3D movie (of any kind) produced in Italy.
Stay tuned.
