Spartacus Review

Spartacus

Release Date: 9th December 1960 - Australia

Production Companies

Bryna Productions (presents)

Distribution

Universal Pictures Australia

Genre: Action/Drama

Rating: PG

Runtime: 184 minutes

Budget: $12,000,000

Box Office Gross: $60,000,000 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary
Born into the world of slavery, the defiant Thracian Spartacus gets sold to Batiatus, who then trains him as a gladiator to fight in the arena. Spartacus rebels against his masters and then leads a slave uprising. He went from town to town as several of his fellow slaves had joined their ranks. Under Spartacus' leadership, the slaves made their way to southern Italy. There, they would cross the sea and return to their homes.

Cast

Kirk Douglas - Spartacus
Laurence Olivier - Crassus

Jean Simmons - Varinia
Charles Laughton - Gracchus
Peter Ustinov - Batiatus

Tony Curtis - Antoninus
John Gavin - Julius Caesar
Nina Foch - Helena Glabrus

John Ireland - Crixus
Herbert Lom - Tigranes Levantus
John Dall - Marcus Publius Gabrus
Charles McGraw - Marcellus
Joanna Barnes - Claudia Marrus
Harold J. Stone - David
Woody Strobe - Draba
Peter Brocco - Ramon
Paul Lambert - Gannicus

Robert J. Wilke - Guard Captain
Nick Dennis - Dionysius
John Hoyt - Caius
Frederic Worlock - Laelius
Vic Perrin - Narrator (Voice) (Uncredited)

Crew

Director - Stanley Kubrick
Based on a Novel - Howard Fast

Screenplay - Dalton Trumbo
Executive Producers - Kirk Douglas and Edward Muhl (Uncredited)
Producers - Edward Lewis, Robert A. Harris (1991 Reconstruction and Restoration) and James C. Katz (1991 Reconstruction and Restoration)

Historical and Technical

Advisor - Vittorio Nino Novarese

Production Designers - Alexander Golitzen and Roger K. Furse (Uncredited)
Costumes - Valles

Costumes: Miss Simmons - Bill Thomas
Director of Photography - Russell Metty

Photographer: Additional Scenes - Clifford Stine

Camera Operator - Harry L. Wolf (Uncredited)

Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator/

Stunts - Yakima Canutt (Uncredited)

Second Unit Director/Film Editor -

Irving Lerner (Uncredited)

Design Consultant/Main Titles - Saul Bass

Film Editor/Editorial Consultant (1991

Reconstruction and Restoration) -

Robert Lawrence

Sound - Joe Lapis, Ronald Pierce,

Murray Spivack and Waldon O. Watson

Music - Alex North

Awards

1961 Academy Awards

Best Supporting Actor - Peter Ustinov (Won)

Best Cinematography, Color - Russell Metty (Won)

Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color -

Alexander Golitzen, Eric Orbom,

Russel A. Gausman and Julia Heron (Won)

Best Costume Design, Color - Valles and Bill Thomas (Won)

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Best Film Editing - Robert Lawrence (Nominated)

Best Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy

Picture - Alex North (Nominated)

Review

After hearing that Kirk Douglas passed away, I decided to review SPARTACUS as a tribute to his legendary acting. I have wanted to see this classic film because it's from the late director Stanley Kubrick, who directed such classics as Dr. Strangelove, 2001, etc. It surprised me that Kubrick disowned SPARTACUS when he had no creative control of this film. The movie was self-produced by Kirk Douglas as a response to not getting the title role of Ben Hur, which went to Charlton Heston.

In the all-star cast, Kirk Douglas, Jean Simmons, Laurence Olivier, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov and Tony Curtis are talented in their performances. The script was good, the scenery was remarkable, and the soundtrack was incredible. The battle sequences are well-staged and choreographed, especially compared to the fight scenes in modern sword and sandal films like Gladiator.

SPARTACUS is a great classic but not one of the greatest movies. I recommend this film to anyone, including those who are cinephiles.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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