Spartacus

Rating: 8/10 (12 July 2006)

It was a long time ago I watched this film, directed by Golden Globe nominated Stanley Kubrick (Paths of Glory, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket). It was after the sad death of the leading actor (father of actor Michael Douglas), at the age of 103, that I knew I had to watch it again. Basically, in 73 B.C., during the time of the Roman Republic (the classic Roman civilisation), menial work is carried out by armies of slaves. Proud and gifted Thracian Spartacus (Kirk Douglas, also producing) is one of the slaves, being uncooperative in his position in a mining pit he is sentenced to death by starvation. By chance, he is found by Roman businessman Lentulus Batiatus (Oscar winning, and Golden Globe nominated Sir Peter Ustinov), who purchases Spartacus for his gladiatorial school, instructed by head trainer Marcellus (Charles McGraw). During the rigorous and abusive training, Spartacus forms a quiet relationship with a serving woman named Varinia (Jean Simmons), who was sent into his cell to "entertain" him, but he refused to rape her. Spartacus and Varinia are subsequently forced to endure numerous humiliations for defying the conditions of servitude. Immensely wealthy Roman senator Marcus Licinius Crassus (Lord Sir Laurence Olivier), who is aiming to become dictator of the stagnant republic, visits Batiatus at the school. Crassus and his companions want to watch a fight between the gladiators for amusement, a fight between Spartacus and three others in pairs is arranged. When Spartacus is disarmed, his opponent, an African named Draba (Golden Globe nominated Woody Strode), spares his life and attempts to attack the Roman audience, but is killed by an arena guard and Crassus. The next day, the atmosphere still tense following Draba's death, Varinia was bought by Crassus on a whim, she is to be taken to his home in Rome. Spartacus kills Marcellus, who was taunting him over his affections for Varinia, this causes a riot to escalate as the other gladiators overwhelm the guards and they escape into the Italian countryside. Spartacus is elected as leader of the fugitives and decides to lead them out of Italy and back to their homes. They plunder Roman country estates as they go, collecting money in order to buy sea transport from pirates of Cilicia, foes of Rome. Countless other slaves join the group, making it as large as an army. Along the way, Spartacus finds Varinia, who escaped while being delivered to Crassus. An entertainer named Antoninus (Tony Curtis) is another slave to join them, having fled Crassus's service. Spartacus lacks education having spent many years as a slave, but he proves an excellent leader and organizes his diverse followers into a tough and self-sufficient community. He and Varinia fall in love, she becomes his informal wife, and tells him she is pregnant with their child, and he also comes to regard the spirited Antoninus as a sort of son. The Roman Senate becomes increasingly alarmed as Spartacus defeats the multiple armies it sends against him. Gracchus (Charles Laughton) knows Crassus, his opponent and rival, will try to use the crisis as a justification for seizing control of the Roman army. Gracchus uses as much military power as possible to try and prevent this, channelling his power to the remaining garrison and his protégé, young senator Julius Caesar (John Gavin). But Caesar regards Gracchus' tactics as beneath him and goes over to Crassus. Crassus bribes the pirates to abandon Spartacus and has the Roman army secretly force the rebels away from the coastline towards Rome. Crassus gains absolute power, while Spartacus and his men are surrounded by the Roman. But he convinces them to die fighting, saying that rebelling and proving themselves human is a blow against slavery. In the ensuing battle, the ranks of Crassus's legions are initially broken, but the slave army become trapped between advancing forces, and most of them are massacred. When the battle ends, the Romans try to locate the rebel leader for special punishment by offering a pardon (and return to enslavement) if the men will identify Spartacus, living or dead. Every surviving man responds by shouting "I'm Spartacus!" This results in Crassus sentencing all men to death by crucifixion along the Via Appia between Rome and Capua. Meanwhile, Crassus finds Varinia and Spartacus's newborn son and takes them prisoner. He is disturbed by the love and loyalty Spartacus has commanded, and he is furious when he attempts to make Varinia as devoted to him as she was with her former husband. Crassus seeks Spartacus himself; he recognises him having watched him at Batiatus' school. He forces Spartacus and Antoninus to fight to the death, the survivor is to be crucified, along with all the other men captured after the great battle. Spartacus kills Antoninus to spare him this terrible fate. Crassus is worried that Spartacus will become legendary as a martyr, he also worries Caesar will someday eclipse him. Gracchus, having seen Rome fall into tyranny, commits suicide. Before his death, he bribed Batiatus to rescue Spartacus's family from Crassus and carry them away to freedom. On the way out of Rome, the group passes under Spartacus's cross. Varinia comforts Spartacus in his dying moments by showing him his little son, who will grow up free and knowing who his father was.
Also starring John Dall as Marcus Glabrus, John Ireland as Crixus and The Ladykillers' Herbert Lom as Tigranes Levantus. Douglas gives a confident and splendid performance as the slave-turned-gladiator who led the revolt against the Roman armies, British veterans Olivier and Laughton do well, Simmons is likeable as the love interest, and I can see Ustinov won his Oscar. It is fair to say that this not a traditional Kubrick picture, he was hired after original director Anthony Mann was fired by Douglas after three days, Kubrick had little control during production for which he was most unhappy. Aside from this behind-the-scenes information, it is very chatty at times, and lengthy at just over three hours, but the performances, costume design, and fights and battles make it most worthwhile classic of its genre, it is an entertaining epic historical drama. It won the Oscars for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Cinematography and Best Costume Design, and it was nominated for Best Film Editing and Best Music for Alex North, it was nominated the BAFTA for Best Film from any Source, and it won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Drama, and it was nominated for Best Original Score. Spartacus was number 22 on 100 Years, 100 Heroes & Villains, Kirk Douglas was number 17, and Lord Sir Laurence Olivier number 14 on 100 Years, 100 Stars - Men, Olivier was also number 21 on The 50 Greatest British Actors, he was number 3 on Britain's Finest Actors, and he was number 4 on The World's Greatest Actor, the film was number 81 on The 100 Greatest Tearjerkers for all the slaves standing and claiming "I'm Spartacus", it was number 62 on 100 Years, 100 Thrills, it was number 25 on The 100 Greatest War Films, it was number 44 on 100 Years, 100 Cheers, and it was number 64 on The 100 Greatest Films. Very good!