A near-masterpiece

Rating: 9/10 (26 February 2017)

"Spartacus" is one of the greatest of all the historical epics - chiefly because it has a lot of humanity and intelligence to go along with its grand spectacle. More than "just" an account of a slave rebellion, it is also a love story for the ages, and a look into the political power play of 70 BC Rome. Dalton Trumbo's savvy script has a lot of remarkable lines ("We buy everything else these days, no reason why we shouldn't be charged for patriotism" or "I'm even more of a civilian than most civilians"). Kirk Douglas heads a distinguished cast and gives one of the finest performances of his career; I cannot picture anyone else in the title role. His love story with Jean Simmons has a passion and a purity that are rarely equalled in Hollywood. Peter Ustinov steals every scene he's in as a groveling slave trader, and Woody Strode is unforgettable as a huge, taciturn gladiator. The production values are top-notch, from Saul Bass' imposing title sequence and Alex North's superb score to the incredible crowd scenes and the painful-looking stunts. It's one of my all-time favorite films; it holds up beautifully in repeat viewings, and I never fail to cry with Tony Curtis' song. ***1/2 out of 4.