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Spartacus Overview:

Spartacus (1960) was a Action - Adventure Film directed by Stanley Kubrick and produced by Kirk Douglas and Edward Lewis.

The film was based on the novel of the same name written by Howard Fast published in 1951.

SYNOPSIS

Director Kubrick marshals the proverbial cast of thousands in an early example of his celebrated concern for authenticity. The result is one of the finest movie depictions of the ancient Roman world. Douglas gives a muscular, emotional performance as a slave brought to the Roman gladiator school by its master, Ustinov. There he befriends and then bests Strode in an unwanted contest to the death staged for the pleasure of senator Olivier. When guards taunt Douglas with the news that Olivier has taken away Simmons, the slave girl with whom he's in love, Douglas leads a slave rebellion that shakes the foundations of the empire. Though the epic struggle ends with Douglas's crucifixion, Simmons lifts up to him his free son before he dies. Director Anthony Mann was replaced with Kubrick by executive producer Douglas after the first scenes. Trumbo's compelling script was his first after being blacklisted. The film's stunning music score was composed by Alex North.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Academy Awards 1960 --- Ceremony Number 33 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best Supporting ActorPeter UstinovWon
Best Art DirectionArt Direction: Alexander Golitzen, Eric Orbom; Set Decoration: Russell A. Gausman, Julia HeronWon
Best CinematographyRussell MettyWon
Best Costume DesignValles, Bill ThomasWon
Best Film EditingRobert LawrenceNominated
Best Music - ScoringAlex NorthNominated
See More Oscar Winners

Spartacus BlogHub Articles:

Spartacus (1960)

By Beatrice on Mar 8, 2017 From Flickers in Time

Spartacus Directed by Stanley Kubrick Written by Dalton Trumbo from a novel by Howard Fast 1960/USA Bryna Productions Repeat viewing/Netflix rental One of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die I am not big on 3 1/2 hour sword-and-sandal epics.  This one is so grand, however, that it keeps my ... Read full article

Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier Blogathon: Spartacus

By Virginie Pronovost on Nov 3, 2015 From The Wonderful World of Cinema

On November 5, 2015, Vivien Leigh, my 8th favourite actress would have celebrated her 102nd birthday. Even if she has left us since the very young age of 53, that’s not a reason why my friend Joey from Wolffian Classic Movies Digest wouldn’t honour her with a blogathon! Vivien Leigh is a... Read full article

Spartacus (1960)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Apr 4, 2014 From 4 Star Films

In this epic film starring Kirk Douglas and directed by Stanley Kubrick, a slave turned gladiator leads a revolt against the Roman empire. Spartacus leads his fellow plebeians in a sacking and burning of the countryside while slowly gaining followers. Along the way he is reunited with his love (Je... Read full article

Spartacus (1960)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Apr 4, 2014 From 4 Star Films

In this epic film starring Kirk Douglas and directed by Stanley Kubrick, a slave turned gladiator leads a revolt against the Roman empire. Spartacus leads his fellow plebeians in a sacking and burning of the countryside while slowly gaining followers. Along the way he is reunited with his love (Je... Read full article

Spartacus

By Alyson on Jul 9, 2013 From The Best Picture Project

1960’s Spartacus was a laborious film for all involved.  After one week of filming under Anthony Mann’s direction, Stanley Kubrick took over as director.  Working with a script by blacklisted Dalton Trumbo that feels pulled between political views of the time and a main character paralleling M... Read full article

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Spartacus Quotes:

Marcus Licinius Crassus: Do you eat oysters?
Antoninus: When I have them, master.
Marcus Licinius Crassus: Do you eat snails?
Antoninus: No, master.
Marcus Licinius Crassus: Do you consider the eating of oysters to be moral and the eating of snails to be immoral?
Antoninus: No, master.
Marcus Licinius Crassus: Of course not. It is all a matter of taste, isn't it?
Antoninus: Yes, master.
Marcus Licinius Crassus: And taste is not the same as appetite, and therefore not a question of morals.
Antoninus: It could be argued so, master.
Marcus Licinius Crassus: My robe, Antoninus. My taste includes both snails and oysters.
Spartacus: I am not an animal!
Varinia: Neither am I.
Caius: Sir, allow us to pledge you the most glorious triumph of your career.
Marcus Licinius Crassus: I'm not after glory, I'm after Spartacus!
Lentulus Biatatus: [reacting to a slow servant] The sun's over there! I have to pay these people!
Marcus Licinius Crassus: The enemies of the state are known, arrests are being made, the prisons begin to fill.
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Spartacus Facts
Of the 167 days it took Stanley Kubrick to shoot this film, six weeks were spent directing an elaborate battle sequence in which 8,500 extras re-created the clash between the Roman troops and Spartacus' slave army. Several scenes in the battle drew the ire of the Legion of Decency and were therefore cut. These include shots of men being dismembered (dwarfs with false torsos and an actor with only one arm Bill Raisch, the "One-Armed Man" of The Fugitive fame with a phony breakaway limb as a Roman soldier who has his arm cut off in battle were used to give authenticity). Seven years later, when the Oscar-winning film was reissued, an additional 22 minutes were chopped out, including a scene in which Varinia watches Spartacus writhe in agony on a cross. Her line, "Oh, please die, my darling" was excised, and the scene was cut to make it appear that Spartacus was already dead.
For a while the studio did not want to give the blacklisted Dalton Trumbo screen credit for his work. Stanley Kubrick said that he would accept the credit. Kirk Douglas was so appalled by Kubrick's attempt to claim credit for someone else's work that he used his clout to ensure that Trumbo received his due credit - and in doing so effectively ended the Hollywood blacklist.
June 2008 Ranked #5 on the American Film Institute's list of the 10 greatest films in the genre "Epic".
Tony Curtis split his Achilles' tendon while playing tennis with Kirk Douglas and was placed in a cast from heel to knee. His scenes were then delayed until his leg healed.
Oscar-winning actor George Kennedy made his (unbilled) screen debut playing one of the soldiers who announces "I am Spartacus!" towards the end of the film.
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