Spartacus (1960)
Genre: Drama / History
Duration: 184 minuten / 198 minuten (gerestaureerde versie)
Country:
United States
Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
Stars: Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier and Jean Simmons
IMDb score:
7,9 (152.048)
Releasedate: 13 October 1960
Spartacus plot
"They trained him to kill for their pleasure ... but they trained him a little too well"
76 BC. Spartacus is sold into slavery to Lentulus Batiatus. He is the wealthy owner of a gladiator school in Capua. According to tradition, Spartacus is assigned a mate. It's about Virginia. This girl is from Britain. On his way to Rome, General Marcus Licinius Crassus wants to scatter his traveling companions with a fight between gladiators. Spartacus is 'chosen' and faces the African giant Draba as his opponent. But Draba suddenly becomes beside himself and suddenly rushes at the onlookers. Crassus must kill him. Some time later, Spartacus sees the opportunity to mount a gladiator revolt. He now poses a direct threat to the Roman government.
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Actors and actresses
Spartacus
Marcus Licinius Crassus
Varinia
Sempronius Gracchus
Lentulus Batiatus
Julius Caesar
Antoninus
Helena Glabrus
Crixus
Tigranes Levantus
Reviews & comments
Movsin
-
- 8286 messages
- 8443 votes
Perhaps not the heart of "Ben Hur" but still a more than decent "historical" spectacle film by Stanley Kubrick that in fact has little wear and tear.
Somewhat in line with the monumental films of the time with a more or less historical background, pomp on the one hand, the deepest misery on the other and of course a huge set with many extras, in addition to many well-known stars.
The film keeps it interesting and varied throughout the entire length: the noble aim to ban slavery, the battle scenes, not in abundance, but neatly dosed with these about the scheming at the Roman Senate and among the battle leaders, the inevitable, affably presented, romance, the emotional final scene,... all this in an excellent montage and beautiful musical accompaniment.
In terms of acts, I saw Peter Ustinov stand out.
Not a masterpiece, but a second (or third?) vision certainly elicited more appreciation.
Translated from Dutch · View original
kissyfur
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- 325 messages
- 499 votes
“Nothing was spared to make 'Spartacus' the superb achievement it is. Neither time, nor money, nor talent” claims the trailer. That may be, but a superb achievement… I just don't know.
Kubrick's hand is noticeable at times, for example when the choice of camera angle has added value and comments on the events. The acting of Ustinov, Olivier and Laughton is fine, but that of Douglas, Simmons and Curtis a lot less. Also lots of extras, wide shots, and a lot of attention for stage dressing. And for that time a lot of raw elements and explicit material.
But the story itself is predictable, and mostly melodramatic. The romance is sticky, fate hardly leads to depth. It is also very clearly a Douglas vehicle. That to me means that the importance of Spartacus is mainly in the budgetary springboard it was for Kubrick, and the end of the blacklisting. Kubrick has made better films before that, such as Paths of Glory. Still mediocre as an epic film; War and Peace and Cleopatra equal or better, Ben Hur less so. Despite all the time, money and talent that went into it.
Translated from Dutch · View original
ap1947
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- 132 messages
- 1463 votes
One of the best movies ever seen, saw it 15x in theaters between 1960 and 1990. Excellent cast and great score by Alex North. kubrick had little to say as a director according to actor Herbert Lom, Kirk was in charge.
Translated from Dutch · View originalLatest News
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