Italian filmmaker Giovanni “Tinto” Brass has died at 93. His wife, Caterina Varzi, and children, Bonifacio and Beatrice Brass, confirmed his death to Italian news agency Ansa. They did not disclose a cause.
Brass began making films in the 1960s and ’70s, including his 1963 debut, “Who Works Is Lost,” which follows an unemployed designer over the course of a day and screened at the Venice Film Festival. His early work also included the 1966 Western “Yankee” and the 1967 murder mystery “Col cuore in gola,” starring Jean-Louis Trintignant.
He turned toward erotic filmmaking with “Salon Kitty,” a 1976 drama set in a Berlin brothel during the Nazi era. Brass became best known for “Caligula,” his controversial portrait of the Roman emperor, written by Gore Vidal and produced by Penthouse founder Bob Guccione. The film starred Malcolm McDowell in the title role, alongside Peter O’Toole, Helen Mirren and John Gielgud, and drew attention for its depictions of sexual depravity, including orgies and explicit sex.
“Caligula” was re-edited several times and failed at the U.S. box office after opening in 1980, but later developed a significant cult following. A 178-minute version, “Caligula: The Ultimate Cut,” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023 and received a warmer response from reviewers.
Sources: IndieWire.