Spartacus (1960)
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A slave and gladiator leads a massive rebellion against the Roman Republic in the first century BC.
The story
In the first century BC, the Roman Republic has fallen into corruption, relying heavily on slave labor. Spartacus, a Thracian slave in a mining pit, is sentenced to death for his uncooperative nature but is instead purchased by the gladiator school owner Lentulus Batiatus. Amidst the harsh conditions of the ludus, Spartacus forms a bond with a woman named Varinia. When a riot breaks out after a brutal public spectacle, Spartacus and his fellow gladiators escape into the countryside. He is elected leader of the fugitives, beginning a journey to lead his growing army of slaves toward freedom while facing the growing alarm of the Roman Senate.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In the first century BC, the Roman Republic is plagued by corruption and the exploitation of slaves. Spartacus, a Thracian slave, is purchased by the gladiator owner Lentulus Batiatus and becomes a formidable fighter in the arena. After a brutal public spectacle where a fellow gladiator is killed, Spartacus leads a revolt, escaping the ludus with his fellow captives. He organizes a massive army of slaves, including his lover Varinia and the entertainer Antoninus. As the slave army grows, it begins to plunder estates and move toward the coast. The Roman Senate, alarmed by the scale of the rebellion, grants the ambitious Marcus Licinius Crassus absolute power to crush the uprising. Despite the intervention of Julius Caesar, who sides with Crassus, the rebels are eventually cornered by the Roman legions. In a final act of defiance, the slaves refuse to identify Spartacus, shouting 'I'm Spartacus!' to share his fate. Crassus captures Varinia and Spartacus, forcing them into a final confrontation. Spartacus kills Antoninus to save him from execution. In the end, Crassus' rival Gracchus commits suicide, and his final act is to ensure Spartacus' family is rescued. Varinia comforts a dying Spartacus as they pass under his cross, ensuring his son will grow up free.
- First release year
- 1960
- Runtime (minutes)
- 197
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Stanley Kubrick
- Writers
- Dalton Trumbo · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Kirk Douglas · Spartacus; Laurence Olivier · Marcus Licinius Crassus; Jean Simmons · Varinia; Charles Laughton · Sempronius Gracchus; Peter Ustinov · Lentulus Batiatus; John Gavin · Julius Caesar; Tony Curtis · Antoninus
- Genres
- epic; historical drama; war
- Themes
- rebellion; slavery; freedom; solidarity
- Tone and mood
- epic; dramatic
- Premise and plot tags
- historical; war; gladiators; rebellion
- Source material / true-story basis
- Howard Fast's 1951 novel of the same title
- Reception
- The film was a commercial success and is considered a classic of the historical epic genre, noted for its scale and performances.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 94% · scale: percentage · review count: 63; Metacritic · score: 87 · scale: weighted average · review count: 17
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Supporting Actor · Win; Academy Award · Best Cinematography · Win; Academy Award · Best Art Direction · Win; Academy Award · Best Costume Design · Win; Golden Globe · Best Motion Picture – Drama · Win
- Production trivia
- The 'I'm Spartacus!' scene was intended to mirror the solidarity of those during the McCarthy era.; The film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 2017.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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