Summary
The rebellious Thracian Spartacus, born and raised a slave, is sold to Gladiator trainer Batiatus. After weeks of being trained to kill for the arena, Spartacus turns on his owners and leads the other slaves in rebellion. As the rebels move from town to town, their numbers swell as escaped slaves join their ranks. Under the leadership of Spartacus, they make their way to southern Italy, where they will cross the sea and return to their homes.
Cast
Kirk Douglas
Spartacus
Laurence Olivier
Marcus Licinius Crassus
Jean Simmons
Varinia
Charles Laughton
Sempronius Gracchus
Peter Ustinov
Lentulus Batiatus
John Gavin
Julius Caesar
Tony Curtis
Antoninus
Nina Foch
Helena Glabrus
John Ireland
Crixus
Herbert Lom
Tigranes Levantus
John Dall
Marcus Publius Glabrus
Woody Strode
Draba
Harold J. Stone
David
Charles McGraw
Marcellus
Joanna Barnes
Claudia Marius
Peter Brocco
Ramon
Paul Lambert
Gannicus
Robert J. Wilke
Guard captain
Nick Dennis
Dionysius
John Hoyt
Caius
Frederick Worlock
Laelius
Paul Baxley
Gladiator (uncredited)
Louie Elias
Gladiator (uncredited)
Brad Harris
Gladiator (uncredited)
Hubie Kerns
Gladiator (uncredited)
Gordon Mitchell
Gladiator (uncredited)
Regis Parton
Gladiator (uncredited)
Victor Paul
Gladiator (uncredited)
Jack Perkins
Gladiator (uncredited)
Wally Rose
Gladiator (uncredited)
Aaron Saxon
Gladiator (uncredited)
Tom Steele
Gladiator (uncredited)
Jerry Summers
Gladiator (uncredited)
Shari Lee Bernath
Little Girl (uncredited)
Bill Blackburn
Prisoner (uncredited)
David Bond
Slave (uncredited)
Polly Burson
Slave (uncredited)
Carol Daniels
Slave Girl (uncredited)
Lila Finn
Slave (uncredited)
Harold Goodwin
Slave (uncredited)
Sol Gorss
Slave Leader (uncredited)
Betty Harford
Slave (uncredited)
Harry Harvey Jr.
Slave (uncredited)
Wayne Heffley
Slave Guard (uncredited)
Lars Hensen
Slave (uncredited)
Charles Horvath
Slave Leader (uncredited)
Shep Houghton
Slave (uncredited)
Pete Kellett
Slave (uncredited)
Joan McKellen
Slave (uncredited)
Eddie Parker
Slave (uncredited)
Gil Perkins
Slave Leader (uncredited)
Chuck Roberson
Slave (uncredited)
Frosty Royce
Slave (uncredited)
Autumn Russell
Slave Girl (uncredited)
Kay Stewart
Slave (uncredited)
Kay Stewart
Slave Girl (uncredited)
Helen Thurston
Slave (uncredited)
Louise Vincent
Slave at Gracchus' Home (uncredited)
Joe Canutt
Soldier (uncredited)
Bill Catching
Soldier (uncredited)
Chuck Courtney
Soldier (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward
Soldier (uncredited)
Robert F. Hoy
Soldier (uncredited)
Valley Keene
Soldier (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons
Soldier (uncredited)
Bill Raisch
Soldier Whose Arm is Hacked Off (uncredited)
Buddy Van Horn
Soldier (uncredited)
Jack Williams
Soldier (uncredited)
Paul E. Burns
Fimbria (uncredited)
Wayne Burson
Guard (uncredited)
Dick Crockett
Guard (uncredited)
John Daheim
Capua Guard (uncredited)
Carey Loftin
Guard (uncredited)
Harvey Parry
Guard (uncredited)
Ronnie Rondell Jr.
Guard (uncredited)
Don Turner
Guard (uncredited)
Peter Virgo
Guard (uncredited)
Fred Zendar
Guard (uncredited)
Ted de Corsia
Legionnaire (uncredited)
Terence de Marney
Majordomo (uncredited)
Johnny Duncan
Beheaded Man (uncredited)
Roy Engel
Roman Businessman (uncredited)
Paul Keast
Roman Businessman (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp
Roman Senator (uncredited)
Paul Kruger
Roman Senator (uncredited)
Otto Malde
Roman General (uncredited)
Scott Seaton
Roman Senator (uncredited)
Richard Farnsworth
Salt Mine Slave / Gladiator / Slave General (uncredited)
Logan Field
Centurion (uncredited)
John Stephenson
Centurion (uncredited)
Robert Fuller
Extra (uncredited)
Jeanne Gerson
Woman Selling Chestnuts (uncredited)
Seamon Glass
Pirate (uncredited)
Preston Peterson
Pirate (uncredited)
George Robotham
Pirate (uncredited)
James Griffith
Otho (uncredited)
Jack Grinnage
Petitioner (uncredited)
Anthony Jochim
Petitioner (uncredited)
Joe Haworth
Marius (uncredited)
Vinton Hayworth
Metallius (uncredited)
Loren Janes
Salt Mine Slave / Gladiator / Slave General (uncredited)
Jil Jarmyn
Julia (uncredited)
Aron Kincaid
Crassus' Standard-Bearer (uncredited)
Dayton Lummis
Symmachus (uncredited)
Bob Morgan
Galeno (uncredited)
Tracy Olsen
Girl (uncredited)
Leonard Penn
Garrison Officer (uncredited)
Vic Perrin
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Larry Thor
Staff Officer (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel
Trainer (uncredited)
Carleton Young
Herald (uncredited)
Duke Fishman
Roman Senator (uncredited)
Robert Stevenson
Legionnaire (uncredited)
John Barton
Slave (uncredited)
Jerry Brown
Soldier (uncredited)
John Benson
Guard (uncredited)
Arthur Batanides
Legionnaire (uncredited)
Rudy Germane
Soldier (uncredited)
Crew
Director
Stanley Kubrick
Novel
Howard Fast
Scenario Writer
Calder Willingham
Screenplay
Dalton Trumbo
Screenplay
Peter Ustinov
Writer
Plutarch
Reviews
John Chard
September 15, 2019
10
The sword and sandal epic that has everything.
Spartacus is the Thracian slave who refused to be a Roman plaything, breaking out of their clutches he led the slave revolt that panicked the Roman Rebublic in circa BC 73, this film is based on that period in history.
Spartacus got off to a troubled start, original director Anthony Mann was fired by leading man Kirk Douglas (Spartacus) after a falling out, some of Mann's work does remain in the final picture, though, notably some of the early scenes in the desert are thought to be at Mann's direction. In came then director for hire Stanley Kubrick, who along with Douglas crafted arguably the greatest sword and sandal epic to have ever been made. One that holds up today as the one any prospective new viewers to the genre should seek out. Adapted by Dalton Trumbo from Howard Fast's novel (whilst also tapping from Arthur Koestler's novel, The Gladiators), Spartacus is a stirring experience highlighting the power of unity when faced in opposition to a tyrannical force. It's also boasting a number of intelligent and firmly engaging strands that are a credit to the excellent writing from the once blacklisted Trumbo. Politics figure prominently, whilst the story has a pulsing romantic heart beating amongst the blood and power struggles that are unfolding. Brotherhood bonds within the slave army are firmly established, and the love story axis between Spartacus and Varinia is very fully formed. We are in short set up perfectly for when the film shifts the emphasis in the second half.
So many great sequences are in this picture, the gladiator training school as Spartacus and his fellow slaves find that they have dignity within themselves - forced through a tough regime designed to set them up for blood sport entertainment to the watching republic hierarchy. The break out itself is tremendous for its potency, but even that is playing second fiddle to the main battle sequence that Kubrick excellently puts together. The Roman legions forming in military precision is memorable in the extreme (this before CGI, with Kubrick's directing of all those extras being worthy of extra praise from us). Then with the battle itself raging one can only say it's breath taking and definitely a genre high point. Then of course there is the sentimental aspects of Spartacus. Kubrick of course was never known for his warmness, but with the aid of Douglas they get it right and manage to pull the heart strings whilst simultaneously stirring the blood via the action, right up to the incredibly poignant and classical ending that stands the test of time as being cinematic gold. The cast are wonderfully put together, Douglas is fabulous as Spartacus, big, lean and brooding with emotion, very much a career highlight as far as I'm concerned. Laurence Olivier takes up chief bad guy villainy duties as Marcus Crassus, just about the right amount of sneering camp required for such a dislikable character. Peter Ustinov (Best Supporting Actor Winner) is in his pomp as Batiatus, Jean Simmons (perfectly bone structured face) plays off Douglas expertly as Varinia, with Tony Curtis (Antoninus), John Gavin (Julius Caesar) and Charles Laughton (Graccus) adding impetus to this wonderful picture.
Spartacus also won Academy Awards for Best Colour Cinematography, Best Art and Set Direction and Best Costume Design, with nominations rightly going to Alex North for his score and Robert Lawrence for his editing. It's a special film is Spartacus, excellently put together and thematically dynamite. Which while also being technically adroit, it's ultimately with the story itself that it truly wins out. Even allowing for some standard Hollywood additions to the real story (Spartacus most certainly didn't meet his maker the way the film says), it's emotionally charged and as inspiring as it is as sadly tragic. 10/10
Media
Recommendations
Lolita
Paths of Glory
The Killing
Torn Curtain
Killer's Kiss
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Ben-Hur
Barry Lyndon
Gaslight
The Magnificent Seven
Day of the Fight
Six Men Getting Sick
Danger: Diabolik
Slacker
Sukiyaki Western Django
Youth Without Youth
Day of Anger
Wuthering Heights
Barabbas
