Rent Spartacus (1960)
3.9 of 5 from 233 ratings
3h 6min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- This presentation of the powerful film classic features an additional five minutes of footage cut from the film's original release, plus the original overture and extended soundtrack. Director Stanley Kubrick tells the tale of Spartacus (Kirk Douglas), the bold gladiator slave and Varinia (Jean Simmons), the woman who believed in his cause. Challenged by the power-hungry General Crassus (Laurence Olivier), Spartacus is forced to face his convictions and the power of the Roman Empire at its glorious height.
- Actors:
- Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, John Gavin, Nina Foch, John Ireland, Herbert Lom, John Dall, Charles McGraw, Joanna Barnes, Harold J. Stone, Woody Strode, Peter Brocco, Paul Lambert, Robert J. Wilke, Nick Dennis, John Hoyt, Frederick Worlock
- Directors:
- Stanley Kubrick
- Producers:
- Edward Lewis
- Narrated By:
- Vic Perrin
- Writers:
- Dalton Trumbo, Howard Fast
- Others:
- Bill Thomas, Robert Lawrence, Alex North, Alexander Golitzen, Russell Metty, Eric Orbom, Russell A. Gausman, Julia Heron, Valles
- Studio:
- Columbia Tristar
- Genres:
- Action & Adventure, Classics, Drama
- Collections:
- A History of Gay Cinema: According to Hollywood, A History of The Classical World In Cinema, Acting Up: British Actors at the Oscars, Award Winners, Drama Films & TV, Films to Watch If You Like..., Getting to Know..., Getting to Know: Audrey Hepburn, History of US Presidents in Cinema: Part 2, Introducing the Thesping Olympians, Oscar Nominations Competition 2024, Oscar's Two-Time Club, Oscars: Winners & Losers, A Brief History of Film..., The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to Stanley Kubrick, The Instant Expert's Guide to: Robert Aldrich, Top 100 AFI Movies, Top 100 AFI Thrills, Top Films, What to Watch If You Like: Misfits
- Awards:
1961 Oscar Best Supporting Actor
1961 Oscar Best Cinematography Color
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 24/01/2011
- Run Time:
- 197 minutes
- Languages:
- English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French DTS-HD High Resolution 5.1, German DTS-HD High Resolution 5.1, Italian DTS-HD High Resolution 5.1, Japanese DTS-HD High Resolution 5.1, Spanish DTS-HD High Resolution 5.1
- Subtitles:
- Cantonese, Danish, Dutch, English Hard of Hearing, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish
- DVD Regions:
- Region 2
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.85:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Deleted Scenes
- Archival Interviews with Peter Ustinov and Jean Simmons
- Behind-The-Scenes Footage
- 5 Vintage Newsreels
- Image Galleries: including Production Stills, Concept Art, Costume Designs, Storyboards, Posters and Print Ads
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 17/08/2020
- Run Time:
- 197 minutes
- Languages:
- Czech DTS 5.1, English DTS:X, French DTS 5.1, Polish DTS 5.1, Russian DTS 5.1, Thai DTS 5.1
- Subtitles:
- Cantonese, Complex Mandarin, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English Hard of Hearing, Finnish, French, Hindi, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, Simplified Mandarin, Swedish, Thai
- DVD Regions:
- Region 2
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 2.20:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Extended Version with 12 additional minutes
- I Am Spartacus: A Conversation with Kirk Douglas
- Restoring 'Spartacus'
- Deleted Scenes
- Archival Interviews
- Behind the Scenes Footage
- Vintage Newsreels
- And More!
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Reviews (2) of Spartacus
Watch Trumbo first. A significant movie. - Spartacus review by BP
Long and a bit clunky but enjoyable, so long as the neat hairstyles don't irritate you.
More particularly, an extra ingredient is its significance from a 1940-60s USA political point of view - McCarthy etc, then black equal rights. Until I re-watched recently, then saw Trumbo, I hadn't realised what an important film it was, for its time. And still is, actually.
A useful antacid for the indigestion caused by the present USA political administration.
You'll have to devote an evening, as it is so long, but time does not drag and there's a useful half time to fetch the coffee and whisky!
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
Classical Epic. - Spartacus review by Steve
Saga of the ancient Roman world remains relevant, unlike many contemporary historical epics, because its themes are timeless and universal. Spartacus was a slave and gladiator who went to war with Rome to gain the freedom of his class. When Kirk Douglas as Spartacus rouses his army before the battle he is clearly also speaking to the contemporary American civil rights movement.
And just as plainly, Dalton Trumbo's brilliant script is referencing the McCarthy witch-hunt of the 1950s. Trumbo was one of the Hollywood Ten and refused to name names to HUAC. The famous scene where the Roman general (Laurence Olivier) commands the survivors of the uprising to identify Spartacus and they all respond "I am Spartacus" must have gone straight to the heart of American audiences.
Of course, Douglas' performance is legendary, and he is matched by Olivier who manages to evoke decadent cruelty without overacting or even a flicker of camp. The whole cast is excellent, and Peter Ustinov steals his scenes as an unctuous, mercenary slave merchant. Alex North's innovative score does a lot of the dramatic work. The Roman world feels plausible, whether the intimate interiors or the huge hillside battle scene.
It's a grand spectacle which demonstrates that political miracles are possible, and it continues to inspire. Spartacus is the greatest film of its kind, not because of its epic scale but because of its powerful evocation of humanity and brotherhood. And Douglas' production broke the stranglehold of HUAC on American cinema, which may even be the film's greatest legacy.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.