"The Golden Age Of Porn" (mid-1970s to mid-1980s) was a time when hardcore films threatened to go mainstream in the U.S. and although nothing ever came of it, it did mark an improvement in XXX features as far as budgets, cinematography, attractive stars, and entertaining story lines were concerned.
CENTURIANS OF ROME (a notorious mis-spelling) was the most expensive gay porno flick made up until that time and was financed by the proceeds of a $2 million Brink's armored truck robbery which made Lloyd's Of London (Brink's insurer) part-owner of the film on a technicality.
When his uncle can't pay the taxes, young Octavius is kidnapped and held hostage by a smitten centurion ("You have the face of an angel!") who nonetheless has his soldiers rape the lad ("Take his mouth!"). Octavius is soon saved by his best friend Demetrius but, unfortunately, Demetrius is himself captured and sold into slavery where he's repeatedly raped as he's forcibly trained to serve the sexual needs of the insatiable emperor Caligula ("Never cross your arms or legs in his presence!"). Octavius' uncle eventually comes up with the tax money but when Octavius presents it to the centurion and asks for his friend's freedom, he's promptly taken prisoner again and re-raped. This time, however, Octavius falls in love with his captor and by now the feeling is mutual because they plan to rescue Demetrius from Caligula's clutches, knowing what'll happen if they fail...
***SPOILER***
They succeed but as Octavius & Demetrius ride off into the mist, the centurion is captured and made to take Demetrius' place as Caligula's bed-slave until the emperor tires of him and puts him to death.
Although the brutality of the plot undercuts any eroticism, this tale of friendship, love, and sacrifice seems ripped from the pages of Petronius and presents a picture of what those times might have actually been like. There is one sex scene (a fantasy Octavius has concerning his friend) that doesn't include rape but, other than that (and a scene where Octavius begins to enjoy his second rape), there isn't much going on of a consensual nature. The film lacks the battle scenes and muscle-flexing peplums are famous for as well as the requisite "evil queen" (unless one counts Caligula) but the cast (led by gay-for-pay straight porn star George Payne who spends most of the time manacled) is attractive and they actually attempt to act, especially Eric Ryan as the lusty centurion commander and an over-the-top Caligula prancing about in make-up. Suspension of disbelief is also helped by the fact there's no condoms (it's 1981, after all), tattoos, wristwatches, tire tracks, or jet streaks trailing across the sky. Presented by (who else) Uranus Films, there's a lush score swiped from the previous year's FLASH GORDON and the opening credits mimic those of STAR WARS but it's too bad the cameraman didn't know how to use a light meter. The ending is dark in more ways than one and may be anti-climactic (pun intended) for some but the existential implications are second only to the final moments of THE DEVIL IN MISS JONES.
CENTURIANS OF ROME (a notorious mis-spelling) was the most expensive gay porno flick made up until that time and was financed by the proceeds of a $2 million Brink's armored truck robbery which made Lloyd's Of London (Brink's insurer) part-owner of the film on a technicality.
When his uncle can't pay the taxes, young Octavius is kidnapped and held hostage by a smitten centurion ("You have the face of an angel!") who nonetheless has his soldiers rape the lad ("Take his mouth!"). Octavius is soon saved by his best friend Demetrius but, unfortunately, Demetrius is himself captured and sold into slavery where he's repeatedly raped as he's forcibly trained to serve the sexual needs of the insatiable emperor Caligula ("Never cross your arms or legs in his presence!"). Octavius' uncle eventually comes up with the tax money but when Octavius presents it to the centurion and asks for his friend's freedom, he's promptly taken prisoner again and re-raped. This time, however, Octavius falls in love with his captor and by now the feeling is mutual because they plan to rescue Demetrius from Caligula's clutches, knowing what'll happen if they fail...
***SPOILER***
They succeed but as Octavius & Demetrius ride off into the mist, the centurion is captured and made to take Demetrius' place as Caligula's bed-slave until the emperor tires of him and puts him to death.
Although the brutality of the plot undercuts any eroticism, this tale of friendship, love, and sacrifice seems ripped from the pages of Petronius and presents a picture of what those times might have actually been like. There is one sex scene (a fantasy Octavius has concerning his friend) that doesn't include rape but, other than that (and a scene where Octavius begins to enjoy his second rape), there isn't much going on of a consensual nature. The film lacks the battle scenes and muscle-flexing peplums are famous for as well as the requisite "evil queen" (unless one counts Caligula) but the cast (led by gay-for-pay straight porn star George Payne who spends most of the time manacled) is attractive and they actually attempt to act, especially Eric Ryan as the lusty centurion commander and an over-the-top Caligula prancing about in make-up. Suspension of disbelief is also helped by the fact there's no condoms (it's 1981, after all), tattoos, wristwatches, tire tracks, or jet streaks trailing across the sky. Presented by (who else) Uranus Films, there's a lush score swiped from the previous year's FLASH GORDON and the opening credits mimic those of STAR WARS but it's too bad the cameraman didn't know how to use a light meter. The ending is dark in more ways than one and may be anti-climactic (pun intended) for some but the existential implications are second only to the final moments of THE DEVIL IN MISS JONES.