‘Centurians of Rome’ (1981): The Behind-The-Scenes Story – Podcast 105
The Rialto Report
Ashley West
4.8 • 531 Ratings
🗓️ 21 March 2021
⏱️ 69 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
As The Rialto Report heads into an Easter break, we present an all-new podcast about the making of Centurians of Rome, a story we broke a few years ago, but that has been absent from our site since then.
The film has been the subject of much speculation since the movie was first released in 1981.
– It was supposedly the most expensive gay porn film up to that point
– It was allegedly funded using the proceeds of a robbery
– It was claimed to be owned by the prestigious Lloyd’s of London insurance company
But what is the real story?
The Rialto Report has tracked down and interviewed over 30 people to find out the truth – from those connected to the making of the film, FBI, police and lawyers, as well as friends and family of the protagonists.
In this installment of The Rialto Report, the full story behind Centurians of Rome is finally told. It is the story of three men; a producer, a director, and an actor, and how their lives connected briefly in 1980/81 to make one of the golden age’s most notorious films.
We featured the written version of this story two years ago – and now here’s the podcast.
With sincere thanks to all those who contributed their memories to this article.
This podcast is 69 minutes long.
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‘Centurians of Rome’ (1981)
George Payne
George Payne and Scorpio
Scorpio tries to control an unresponsive horse
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The post ‘Centurians of Rome’ (1981): The Behind-The-Scenes Story – Podcast 105 appeared first on The Rialto Report.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | I know what you're thinking punk. You're thinking that he fire six shots are only five. You could ask yourself a question. Do Iacus and Ben-Hur, right? All great historical films, whose stories have thrilled generations of filmgoers. |
| 0:40.0 | And then there's Centurions of Rome. |
| 0:42.7 | Well, if you've never heard of it, let me explain. |
| 0:45.7 | It's a gay adult film made in New York in 1980. |
| 0:50.3 | No, wait, come back, seriously. |
| 0:52.7 | Because if Centurions of Rome definitely isn't as famous as these other movies, |
| 0:57.0 | it's got a much more interesting backstory. |
| 1:00.0 | In fact, the story behind the making of Centurions of Rome has been shrouded in mystery, |
| 1:06.0 | and the subject of much speculation since the movie was first released back in 1981. |
| 1:13.5 | Why was it so notorious? |
| 1:18.4 | Well, it was reported to be the most expensive gay porn film ever made. |
| 1:23.7 | It was allegedly funded using the proceeds of one of the biggest robberies in California state history. |
| 1:24.8 | And it was believed to be owned today by the prestigious insurance |
| 1:27.8 | company, Lloyds of London, insurers to the Queen and Royal Family, among others. |
| 1:34.8 | So what's the real story? |
| 1:38.6 | Over the last decade, I've tracked down and interviewed over 30 people to find out the truth, |
| 1:43.7 | from those connected to the making |
| 1:45.0 | of the film, to FBI agents, police and attorneys, as well as friends and family members |
| 1:50.0 | of those who feature in the story. And so now the full story behind the film can be told. |
| 1:56.0 | And it's actually the story of three different men. A film producer, a director and an actor. |
| 2:05.3 | Their lives connected briefly in 1980 to make one of the Golden Age of Adult Films most |
| 2:09.9 | notorious films. So who are they? How did they come together to make this enigmatic film? |
... |
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