Spartacus
While many do love the cable TV series of the same name, one should definitely check out the 1960 classic that inspired it, directed by Stanley Kubrick (who reportedly had to make some concessions artistically) that nonetheless shows the Great Master (who arguably made the best films of any genre that he worked in) could no doubt pull off a big, sprawling epic if need be, with lavish production design and matte work, along with a lush score and all star cast. Kirk Douglas (in his most remembered role) essays the title character, the slave who led a revolt against the Romans, though the portrayal is infinitely more interesting in the first third of the film than he is later on. We also get the legendary Lawrence Olivier as Crassus, the ultra-rich Roman Counsel who leads the opposing Roman forces, Charles Laughton as the rival Roman Senator who plots against him, Jean Simmons as Spartacusā adoring wife, Tony Curtis as the meek servant boy (and object of Olivierās bisexual lust) who runs away to join the revolt, John Gavin wooden as a board as Julius Caesar, and perhaps best of all Peter Ustinov (who snagged a Supporting Actor Oscar) as the lip-smackingly corrupt head of the Gladiator school where Spartacus was trained who later tries to manipulate things to his own profit once the revolt begins. Oliver is just as much fun to watch though, bringing a fey arrogance to Crassus as he gets unnerved by Spartacusās rise to legendary status and engaging in the controversial bathtub scene with Curtis (āI prefer oysters AND snails.ā) where he makes his intentions known to the young man that was cut out of the original release but later restored in 1991. Indeed, when the story is in Rome and depicts the political machinations going on involving Olivier and Laughton, Kubrick seems to be at his best here, with fascinating dialogue and plot turns, while when we cut back to Spartacus and his men we get mostly Douglas receiving adoring looks from his men along with some sappy romantic interplay with Simmons as only Herbert Lomās all too brief role as the pirate negotiator who tries to work a deal with Spartacus being the only interesting thing going on there. Naturally, it all builds to a big battle scene that is a little sloppily done (save for Douglas hacking off one unlucky soulās arm, a gory bit for 1960) and then the famous āI am Spartacus!ā scene, where every man is willing to give his life for their leader but nonetheless has been diluted over the years by countless copies and parodies. The REAL payoff in this viewerās opinion comes in the final scene as a dying Spartacus looks down at his wife and son, knowing that they have been freed as slaves and will start a new life outside of Rome. That one scene alone actually makes the sometimes uneven previous 3+ hours actually worth it, and helps establish why this film is a classic and Kubrick will always be remembered as one of the greatsā¦
8/10