Spartacus

Spartacus (1960)

Runtime: 197 minutes

Directed by: Kubrick, of course

Starring: A tremendous cast, including Kirk Douglas, Jean Simmons, Laurence Olivier, Peter Ustinov and Charles Laughton

From: Universal

I am Spartacus: 

I don't know how Kirk Douglas did not suffer from skin cancer after filming; his bronze look would impress even George Hamilton.

This is yet another one of those films I have watched before but that viewing was long ago (in this case, over a decade ago) so a revisit was due. Plus, it's a motion picture from a legendary director... even if this was the only time he did not have complete artistic freedom as star Douglas was also the guy who owned the production company and original director Anthony Mann was sacked; because of Paths of Glory he decided to reunite with Kubrick. While this is naturally not filled with as many of his trademarks, it still is naturally well-directed.

The film is one of those spectacles you got back in the day, entertainment on a grand scale that could not be replicated on television. There are thousands of extras and the battle scenes were filmed in exotic Spanish locales. Of course this is not historically accurate to the real life tale of the slave that led an uprising against Rome in the Third Serville War, but that is Hollywood for you. In Spartacus the movie, Douglas is the slave who because of his determination is chosen to be part of gladiatorial school, where he excels. Later he and other slaves escape, and he reluctantly has to become their leader.

Admittedly there many be too many characters and perhaps paring that down a bit would have allowed us to know them better; that said, this is still a thrilling, never dull story where the lead is an incredibly inspiring figure, making you comprehend why the still unforgettable ending happens and how it does not come off as lame or eye-rolling. I definitely appreciate any motion picture that has Douglas (who was the true highlight), Jean Simmons, Tony Curtis, Charles Laughton, Charles McGraw, Peter Ustinov, and Laurence Olivier. It's also nice seeing Woody Strode, and while his part is not extensive he did play a noble character who has morals even though he is a gladiator himself. Spartacus is great entertainment, augmented by an excellent score from Alex North.

I saw the 1991 restoration version of the film, which is 197 minutes long and includes the infamous restored scene where Olivier obviously tries to seduce his slave (played by Curtis) and you don't need to be Freud to understand what he is REALLY talking about when he talks about eating oysters and eating snails. Even if this movie wasn't good, this would have the significance of leading to the end of the awful blacklist movement, as Douglas publicly acknowledged it was Dalton Trumbo who wrote the script; after that and JFK going to see the film despite protests, that broke the blacklist.