The Plot…<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nSpartacus, a Thracian slave, is so rebellious that he is sentenced to die.\u00a0 Before the execution is carried out, Lentulus Batiatus buys Spartacus. Batiatus trains former slaves to become gladiators.\u00a0 These gladiators will die fighting each other to provide entertainment for rich and powerful Romans.<\/p>\n
Spartacus’ rebellious ways continue at the school for gladiators.\u00a0 Pushed to his limit, Spartacus fights back against one of his oppressors.\u00a0 To his (and everyone’s surprise) the other gladiators-in-training join in Spartacus’ revolt.<\/p>\n
Spartacus and his well-trained gladiators move from village to village freeing slaves along the way.\u00a0 Most freed slaves join the rebellion.<\/p>\n
Rome is worried.\u00a0 The slave uprising must be put down.\u00a0 \u00a0So the most powerful army in the world turns its sights on Spartacus.\u00a0 The revolt must be crushed!<\/p>\n
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\nSpartacus<\/em> was nominated for six 1961 Academy Awards<\/em> and won four…<\/p>\n\n- Nominee<\/em> for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture<\/em> – Alex North<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Nominee <\/em>for Best Film Editing<\/em> – Robert Lawrence<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Winner<\/strong> for Best Costume Design, Color<\/em>– Valles, Bill Thomas<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Winner<\/strong> for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color<\/em> – Alexander Golitzen, Eric Orbom, Russell A. Gausman, Julia Heron<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Winner<\/strong> for Best Cinematography, Color<\/em> – Russell Metty<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Winner<\/strong> for Best Actor in a Supporting Role<\/em> – Peter Ustinov<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Anthony Mann was the original director of Spartacus<\/em>.\u00a0 Creative differences between Mann and Kirk Douglas led to Stanley Kubrick coming on as director.\u00a0 The salt mine locations were the only Mann directed scenes to make the final cut.\u00a0 Ironically, Douglas and Kubrick also had major creative differences.<\/p>\nA few years after the release of Spartacus<\/em>, Anthony Mann directed Kirk Douglas in The Heroes of Telemark.<\/em><\/p>\nStanley Kubrick disliked the working conditions of this film.\u00a0 It is the only “work-for-hire” credit on his resume.\u00a0 On every other Kubrick film, he had complete control.<\/p>\n
A scene cut for the original release was restored in 1991.\u00a0 It is the scene where Marcus Licinius Crassus (Sir Laurence Olivier) attempts to seduce Antoninus (Tony Curtis) using inuendo of snails and oysters.\u00a0 The original soundtrack was lost.\u00a0 Curtis re-recorded his lines.\u00a0 Since Olivier had died, Anthony Hopkins (who was known to imitate Olivier’s voice) was brought in to re-record Olivier’s lines.\u00a0 Hopkins is thanked in the updated credits<\/p>\n
The 1991 restoration contains exactly four additional minutes of footage than the original release.\u00a0 Two minutes are the famous “snails and oysters” scene with the additional two minutes going to the\u00a0overture, intermission, and exit music.<\/p>\n
Kirk Douglas said that he made Spartacus<\/em> because he was turned down for the lead in Ben-Hur.<\/em><\/p>\nI was surprised to see Hume Cronyn as a gladiator!<\/p>\n
Spartacus<\/em> is a classic.\u00a0 A film everyone should see.<\/p>\nSpartacus <\/i>(1960)<\/strong> rates 5 of 5 stars.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/stallonezone.com\/zone\/logo\/zview_a.png\")
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