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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
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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.
See More Quotes from Spartacus
Spartacus Facts
During the scene where Gracchus was found guilty of orchestrating the revolt against the Roman, Crassus (Laurence Olivier) said, "In every city and province, the list of the disloyal have been compiled." The line is actually a sly dig at Joseph McCarthyism by writer Dalton Trumbo (one of the 10 blacklisted). It was intended to be a jab at the watchdogs, since at that time prior to the film's release, Hollywood blacklisting was not over yet.
June 2008 Ranked #5 on the American Film Institute's list of the 10 greatest films in the genre "Epic".
A number of scenes featuring Peter Ustinov and Charles Laughton were rewritten by Ustinov after Laughton rejected the original script.
According to producer James B. Harris, Stanley Kubrick would repeatedly see Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov and Laurence Olivier seemingly whispering to each other. Afraid they were gossiping about him, Kubrick leaned in to hear what they were saying and each was just reading the script aloud again and again to themselves.
Kirk Douglas had an unhappy time for most of the production. After a major falling out with original director Anthony Mann he asked 'Stanley Kubrick' to direct. However, he had an equally difficult time working with Kubrick. Douglas has often said he regretted having Mann fired from the picture and when he was offered The Heroes of Telemark he agreed to take that role on condition that Anthony Mann be hired as director.
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