“Spartacus” is an epic historic movie about a slave who leads a rebellion against the Roman Republic in 71 B. C. Expert direction by Stanley Kubrick (“The Killing” 1956) and a marvelous screenplay by Dalton Trumbo made this a top-rate film with outstanding production values. It was adapted from the 1951 novel of the same name by Howard Fast.
Kirk Douglas is unforgettable in the title role, drawing upon his unique reservoir of talent and charisma. Spartacus is one of the best roles of his long career, which started in 1946 with “The Strange Love of Martha Ivers” co-starring Barbara Stanwyck to his final film in 2008 “Empire State Building Murders,” a made-for-television movie with Ben Gazzara, Mickey Rooney, and Cyd Charisse.
Co-stars include Larry Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, Tony Curtis, Nina Foch, John Ireland, Herbert Lom, Joanna Barnes, Harold J. Stone, Woody Strode, John Hoyt, John Dall, Charles McGraw, Peter Brocco, Robert J. Wilke, Paul Lambert, and John Gavin as Julius Caesar. “Spartacus” was very successful at the box office for Universal Pictures, a fast-moving three hour and 17 minute running time. It was the highest grossing film of 1960!
Russell Metty was in charge of the outstanding cinematography, with location shoots in Death Valley, Thousand Oaks, and other California and Nevada spots. The film had some amazing battle scenes, which must have been challenging for the director. “Spartacus” was nominated for six Academy Awards, winning four: Best Supporting Actor (Ustinov), Best Cinematography (Metty), Best Art Direction, and Best Costume Design. Losing out were film editing and musical score.
Spartacus (1960)
cinema
My Review
“Spartacus” is an epic historic movie about a slave who leads a rebellion against the Roman Republic in 71 B. C. Expert direction by Stanley Kubrick (“The Killing” 1956) and a marvelous screenplay by Dalton Trumbo made this a top-rate film with outstanding production values. It was adapted from the 1951 novel of the same name by Howard Fast.
Kirk Douglas is unforgettable in the title role, drawing upon his unique reservoir of talent and charisma. Spartacus is one of the best roles of his long career, which started in 1946 with “The Strange Love of Martha Ivers” co-starring Barbara Stanwyck to his final film in 2008 “Empire State Building Murders,” a made-for-television movie with Ben Gazzara, Mickey Rooney, and Cyd Charisse.
Co-stars include Larry Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, Tony Curtis, Nina Foch, John Ireland, Herbert Lom, Joanna Barnes, Harold J. Stone, Woody Strode, John Hoyt, John Dall, Charles McGraw, Peter Brocco, Robert J. Wilke, Paul Lambert, and John Gavin as Julius Caesar. “Spartacus” was very successful at the box office for Universal Pictures, a fast-moving three hour and 17 minute running time. It was the highest grossing film of 1960!
Russell Metty was in charge of the outstanding cinematography, with location shoots in Death Valley, Thousand Oaks, and other California and Nevada spots. The film had some amazing battle scenes, which must have been challenging for the director. “Spartacus” was nominated for six Academy Awards, winning four: Best Supporting Actor (Ustinov), Best Cinematography (Metty), Best Art Direction, and Best Costume Design. Losing out were film editing and musical score.