Spartacus starring Kirk Douglas,
Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons,
Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov
A Real Classic
Stanley Kubrick was only 31 years old when Kirk Douglas (star of Kubricks
classic Paths of Glory) recruited the young director to pilot this epic saga,
in which the rebellious slave Spartacus (played by Douglas) leads a
freedom revolt against the decadent Roman Empire. Kubrick would later
disown the film because it was not a personal project--he was merely a
director-for-hire--but Spartacus remains one of the best of Hollywoods
grand historical epics. With an intelligent screenplay by then-blacklisted
writer Dalton Trumbo (from a novel by Howard Fast), its message of moral
integrity and courageous conviction is still quite powerful, and the all-star
cast (including Charles Laughton in full toga) is full of entertaining
surprises. Fully restored in 1991 to include scenes deleted from the
original 1960 release, the full-length Spartacus is a grand-scale cinematic
marvel, offering some of the most awesome battles ever filmed and a
central performance by Douglas thats as sensitively emotional as it is
intensely heroic. Jean Simmons plays the slave woman who becomes
Spartacuss wife, and Peter Ustinov steals the show with his frequently
hilarious, Oscar-winning performance as a slave trader who shamelessly
curries favor with his Roman superiors. The restored version also includes
a formerly deleted bathhouse scene in which Laurence Olivier plays a
bisexual Roman senator (with restored dialogue dubbed by Anthony
Hopkins) who gets hot and bothered over a slave servant played by Tony
Curtis. These and other restored scenes expand the film to just over thre e
hours in length. Despite some forgivable lulls, this is a rousing and
substantial drama that grabs and holds your attention. Breaking tradition
with sophisticated themes and a downbeat (yet eminently noble)
conclusion, Spartacus is a thinking persons epic, rising above mere
spectacle with a story as impressive as its widescreen action and Oscar -
winning sets. --Jeff Shannon
Here is a Kubrick film many people don't know he had anything to do with.
It is 1 of my All Time Best films. The stars include Kirk Douglas as
Spartacus, Jean Simmons as his lover (she rivals any Hollywood star for
beauty & excelled at playing the openly honest yet properly smouldering
female guys like), Laurence Olivier, Peter Ustinov, Charles Laughton
(Mutiny on the Bounty), John Ireland, Herbert Lom, not to mention Tony
Curtis & George Kennedy. Sorry, I ran on a bit. The cast is actually
matched by the screen play. Combined with Kubrick's direction this is over
3 hours of enjoyment.
The tale is however a look into the black heart of Roman power &
manipulation. Spartacus is a Thracian slave that just don't get it. He won't
do as told & doesn't care who knows it. He is willing to endure any pain or
punishment in order to live life exactly according to his own code of honor.
Rome is the task master that will whip till you surrender or kill if you won't.
What a match.
He is purchased & brought to the gladiatorial schools of Rome where he
learns to kill efficiently & where his hatred of Roman do minion grows till it
fuels a rebellion at the gladiators training school. Once having escaped
their keepers the erst while gladiators band together & head for the sea to
escape Rome's wrath. As they go they free any slave in their path that
wants to be free & their numbers swell to threaten even the security of
Rome. Legions are sent out by the Roman Senate against them & are
handily defeated by this collection of slaves as the Roman Senate names
them.
The rebellion has become rich, mighty & are led by astute minds but how
far will their abilities & deep bonds of brotherhood take them. It is the high
sense of humanity in this film that I feel drove the actors to buy into every
part they were given to play. The performance by the cast is Outstanding
by any measure. Yet it is the story that unfolds the tapestry of human
beliefs, emotions & loyalties. From the opening of the show to it's
unforgettable end this movie enlightens & entertains on a high level. The
love story between Spartacus & Virinia is one of the great one's on film. I
would of loved to see more but I don't see a place in the show to put it.
5 STARS!
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