Spartacus

Rating:
Summary: Defiance to the End!
Review: Well, call me a romantic but I still love this picture. Yes, it's a bit dated in technique, and it was restrained in its depictions of sex and violence and adult themes by the Hays office (the official Hollywood censor board). And it has a bit of Hollywoodness in its love story and presentation (music etc.), but it also had heart and it strived to evoke a spirit of rebellion and defiance of oppression that moved me way back when and still does today.

And I don't give a tinker's damn what Howard Fast's, Dalton Trumbo's, or Kirk Douglas's for that matter, politics were...it's a helluva an entertaining movie!

Stanley Kubrick replaced Anthony Mann after production began. He had decried the film and script because it wasn't the one he would have written, but I think he did a good job just bringing this effort off and he was able to tone down or eliminate much of the Hollywoodisms. The matter-of-factness of Varinia's having to offer herself, the icily calm and detached way Olivier dispatches Woody Strode like an animal, though he is unnerved by the meaning of the attack. These are Kubrickian touches.

In the extra goodies in this Criterion effort, we discover that it was a very difficult shoot with everyone fighting with everyone. You had 4 major egos at battle: Kubrick, Douglas, Olivier & Laughton...each with his own ideas about what was or wasn't important. Would have been nice to have Stanley's comments, but we do get Douglas, Fast, & (most amusingly) Peter Ustinov's recollections.

All that is interesting, but beside the point. Why I love Spartacus is: the great Gladiator school sequence; the genuine warmth and relaxed sexiness of Douglas & Jean Simmons (lovely & luscious)together; the depiction of Rome at its height of power and the nice interplay between the corrupt but true democrat Laughton and the haughty and superior Olivier, whose lust for order and power is a far more sinister corruption; the wonderfully flawed & human Ustinov and the affection and warmth of his scenes with Laughton (much of which he wrote and they worked out together); great battles; and finally, the haunting image of the road to Rome decorated with the crucified remnants of Spartacus's slave army.

This last is why I return to this movie again and again. When the slaves lose, as they had to lose fighting against the awsome power of Rome, and the defeated remaining men standup and claim they are Spartacus knowing crucifixion will follow their gesture; and, Spartacus too goes to the cross but swears to Crassus over the dead body of Antoninus (Tony Curtis) "he'll be back and he'll be thousands"....well, it gets the blood moving. I love defiance in defeat.

And the last scene, with Varinia holding up his son to the silently dieing Spartacus saying "he's free" may be Hollywood corn to some, but it was just that small note of hope that makes movies emotional experiences rather than academic exercises to me. You can have the razzle dazzle of Gladiator, I will take the emotional heart of Spartacus any day. There is still something thrilling & uplifting in watching someone go down to defeat with chin raised (cleft and all) in defiance. Probably 4 to 4-1/2 stars, but will always be 5 to me for sheer entertainment.

Rating:
Summary: The Original "Gladiator" - beautifully restored on DVD!
Review: Long before Russell Crowe picked up his sword and battled corrupt Roman emperors, Kirk Douglas showed him the way in "Spartacus". This epic 1960 film still ranks as one of the best performances in Douglas's distinguished career, and it marked his second collaboration with famed director Stanley Kubrick. Even more than "Gladiator", "Spartacus" is based on a real historical event, although it greatly exaggerates the actual history. Spartacus was a Roman slave in the first century AD who became a gladiator for the Romans, but escaped and then formed an enormous army (estimated at anywhere from 50,000 to 75,000) of freed slaves and gladiators. For the next year this army, under Spartacus's leadership, terrorized the Italian countryside, until they were finally trapped and destroyed in battle with the still powerful Roman Army. As an old-fashioned Hollywood epic, "Spartacus" doesn't disappoint the viewer - there are epic battle scenes, high drama, and some great acting by several Hollywood legends. Interestingly, the film's producers felt that the contrast between the slave-gladiators and their corrupt Roman masters would be given greater contrast if they cast British actors (Sir Laurence Olivier, Peter Ustinov, Charles Laughton) as the leading Roman characters, and American actors as the slaves (Douglas, Tony Curtis, Jean Simmons). All of the actors listed above shine in this film - Olivier drips with menace and hypocrisy as the great Roman General Crassus, who will stop at nothing to crush the slave revolt and bring the entire Roman Empire under his personal control. Laughton is delightful as Gracchus, a fat and somewhat corrupt, but also clever and freedom-loving, Roman Senator who loathes Crassus and tries desperately to keep Crassus from becoming a dictator and destroying the individual freedoms of the Roman Republic. He fails, but nonetheless emerges as the sole Roman hero of the movie. Peter Ustinov steals every scene as the bumbling and craven owner of a gladiator training school who rescues Spartacus from certain death and makes him into a gladiator, then reluctantly helps Gracchus gain one last "victory" over Crassus by stealing Crassus's new love interest (and Spartacus's former wife) and taking her to freedom. As for the slaves, Douglas is superb as Spartacus - if the real Spartacus had been as noble and heroic as Douglas's character, then Roman history might have been very different! (Historically, the real Spartacus and his slave army could have escaped from Italy, but instead went on a wild looting and stealing spree across the Italian countryside, thus wiping out any moral advantage they had over their corrupt Roman masters, and also throwing away their chance to gain permanent freedom. This led many sympathetic Romans to join the fight to crush the slave revolt, which was done, brutally). Jean Simmons portrays Spartacus's "wife" (they're never legally married) as a strong and honorable woman; and Tony Curtis plays the cultured and well-educated, but also tragic slave of Crassus who escapes and becomes like a son to Spartacus. The scene near the end of the movie where Crassus forces the two to fight to the death is especially poignant. In many ways this is a movie ahead of its' time - it delicately but still decisively suggests that Crassus was bisexual and had a strong sexual interest in Tony Curtis's character (which led Curtis to escape). In terms of scope, emotional impact, and visual splendor it's hard to top this film. Anyone who's interested in the golden age of Hollywood films and enjoys watching some legendary actors in their prime will love "Spartacus"!

Rating:
Summary: sprawling kubrick opus
Review: though kubrick didn't have too much to add to this movie, it is still a great, contained epic. douglas is excellent in the lead and the direction is very good. the story is exciting and well done for what it is (epics tend to either definitely succeed or definitely fail). it comes recommended, but I could see how it would be left out of the kubrick box as kubrick had a lot of other, better things to offer. worth watching once, i'd recommend it as one to buy

Rating:
Summary: Spartacus?
Review: Ah yes, Spartacus. A film that screamed forth with neo-Communist righteousness during the height of Cold War paranoia. Adapted from the book written by the Communist Howard Fast -- Spartacus himself became something of a Communist martyr. The novel, as well as the film, is based on the events that took place in the first part of 1st Century B.C. The Roman Empire became the wealthiest and most powerful nation of the world, but naturally with the wealth came corruption and widespread use of slavery. The creative and political difficulties that plauged the films production proved to be its demise. For screenwriter Dalton Trambo, the story was fodder for left-wing propaganda. Kubrick found that Trambo, like the politically corrected Hollywood of today, was less interested in historical accuracy than preaching. For example, many important details of Spartacus' campaign and his multiple attempts to lead slaves out of Italy, as well as infighting and desertions within his own ranks, remained outside the script. Indeed, true to his roots, Trambo wanted to make a huge contrast between rich and utterly depraved Romans on one side, and the "noble slaves" on the other. Not only does the consistency of these opposing depictions reduce the credibility of the film, this was definitely not in line with Kubrick's own view on human affairs. Kubrick himself: "In SPARTACUS I tried with only limited success to make the film as [historically] real as possible but I was up against a pretty dumb script which was rarely faithful to what is known about Spartacus".

It isn't long before this becomes evident. Spartacus and his Gladiators are cardboard characters. Kirk Douglas is never sympathetic. Hollywoodised romance between Spartacus and Varinia also doesn't help, being injected in the plot only to give some bright overtones to the typical finale. In the case of Crassus, screenwriters obviously didn't know how to reconcile or explain the sharp contrast between Crassus' insistence on old Roman values on one side, and his ambition on the other. Tony Curtis as the slave Antoninus is weak, and his character would be remembered simply as the object of Crassus' bisexual desire. Even the battle scenes are weak. We actually don't see why and how the slaves had been beaten and Kubrick's effort to direct some 8,500 Spanish soldiers hired as extras weren't justified. After the last climactic battle, we are presented with its tragic aftermath, and subjected to many extra minutes of historical inaccuracy and pointless melodrama. The music by Alex North is also awful and explains why Kubrick in his later films relied mostly on a non-original soundtrack. In the end, Spartacus is little more than a wasted three hours.

Rating:
Summary: maybe its just me?!?!?!
Review: Maybe its just me, or the fact that i'm only 14, but Spartacus didnt tickle my fancy. Coming in to watch this movie I was saying things like "People say its a good movie, so i've got to like it" But sitting through 3 hours of movie when my average teenage attention span is only 40 mins, i found it to be boring and pointless. Like i said, maybe it's just me. Dont get me wrong, i absolutely adore Stanley Kubrick and 2001: A Space Odessey has to be the best movie ever, but Spartacus just didn't do it for me. I would've liked it if there was more conflict between the gladiators during battle and if they displayed the different types of gladiators like the hoplomachus, the provocator, the secutor etc etc. I give Spartacus 1 star for the " I Am Spartacus" scene where i laughed so much, i almost fell of my seat.

Rating:
Summary: Another home run for criterion
Review: Great Print. Criterion can always be trusted to do a good job. It makes a great day in to watch the film a sample all the extras as well. A pleasure, and long live to Kubrick's work and memory

Rating:
Summary: Down with Rome!
Review: Not a bloody as Gladiator, Spartacus takes us on an interesting ride to the past. Wonderfully acted, Spartacus is a love story and battle for freedom set against the backdrop of Roman times.

Highly recomended.

Rating:
Summary: Get hold of this for the extras!
Review: I have reviewed this film at length, with links available under external reviews at the IMDB; however, I want to encourage readers to check out the Criterion Special Edition for the extras. The best feature on the 2nd disk is an interview with Peter Ustinov where he tells some of the background "dirt" behind Sparatus--hilariously scrunching up his face and immitating the great Charles Laughton to tell us about the ego wars that Laughton conducted with Sir Laurence Olivier.

Then by all means turn on the main commentary to hear original author Howard Fast (fired from writing the screenplay by Douglas for being too slow) absolutely rip into Douglas for his acting. I had to recue it to make sure I heard some of these criticisms correctly--far different fare than the usual promotional tone of most commentaries. The others offering commentaries are uncensored in their criticism as well, so count this as the most honest and refreshing commentaries on the market!

Rating:
Summary: A Cry for Freedom
Review: Even though the story of SPARTACUS takes place in ancient Rome, the film itself is a profoundly contemporary work of the time that it was made; the eve of the Civil Rights movement in the US, and at the end of the HUAC witch hunt in Hollywood.

The chief engineer of this project is producer Kirk Douglas who portrayed the salve hero, but the wisdom behind all that is screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, black-listed in Hollywood, worked under various pseudonyms during the fifties for films such as ROMAN HOLIDAY, here properly restored to his rightful position of one of the best screenwriter in the business, with his own name credited on screen. The original novel is also written by another black-listed writer, Howard Fast, who claims that the idea of writing a film about the slave revolt came into his mind during the time that he spent in prison.

So the message that its story carries is unviersal, and even contemporary: man's struggle for freedom, striving for human equality, the solidarity of all that are oppressed disregarding their creed, birth and color of skin--the gladiator whose death triggers Spartacus' revolt is portrayed by Woody Strode, afro-american actor and a regular of John Ford's movies. The film embraces humanity, freedom to chose the way he wants to live, the freedom to trust one's friend, even the freedom of sexuality --Spartucus and his lover Varinia are never legally married, but she gives birth to his son--, and the freedom and passion to sacrifice oneself for the sake of his pears and the great cause of human freedom.

One the other hand, the film strongly accusse the corruption of power, the decadence of those who have power, and the rise of fascism. Democratic politician Charles Laughton, with all the virtues and vices that a regular politician has, taken over and eventually eliminated by seemingly much "cleaner" military leader Laurence Olivier. Needless to say, the clashes performed by those two great actors is a great excitment to watch.

Kirk Douglas gives one of his most convincing performances as the revolutionary leader of slaves, Jean Simmons plays his innocent, healthy and strong partner with a healthy sensuality, and Tony Curtis gives credibility to Spartacus' surrogate son who represents culture and education; they are not barbaric slaves, they can be as cultured as their masters are, and even better because they are true, honest humans as opposed to the corrupted masters whose wealth and culture are based on oppression of other humans.

To simply put, SPARTACUS is a fine example of how a good entertaining movie can carry a powerful message; when it truly suceeds, it'a great joy to watch.

This fully packed DVD is a re-issue of Criterion's celebrated LaserDisc edition. Added to a interesting commentary track by the filmmakers including Douglas and Peter Ustinov who won an oscar for his performance, there is another track on which Dulton Trumbo's notes to the rough cut of the film is read--a great lesson to all those who wants to learn how to write a film. Othe supplements includes a hillarious interview with Peter Ustinov, a lot of scketches and stills, and more. It's a great DVD. Please enjoy it as many times as you want.

note: the superb package design is a reproduction of the original poser art created by Saul Bass. The poster is also among the suplements of this DVD.

Rating:
Summary: where's the DTS
Review: Good movie. Mine did not ship with DTS sound. I think its advertised wrong.