 The film was cut a number of times, from 187 minutes to 185 to 165 to 158.  The very first scene to go was one between Commodus and Livius in the middle  of their drinking session on arriving at the German fort. As they go upstairs  to pick out two of the hostage German women, Commodus explains that he is on  the horns of not a dilemma by a trilemma 