Spartacus (1960)

Spartacus (PG-13) Review

"Sport a fuss"

Stanley Kubrick (2001: A Space Odyssey) was famously brought in by Kirk Douglas to save this failing production, and almost doesn't succeed.  Douglas plays Spartacus, leader of the gladiator revolt and symbolic of the early christian struggle against Ancient Rome.  Prototypical Sword and Sandal epic, Spartacus hasn't aged as well as some of Hollywood's greatest hits.  Important not only in Kubrick's early career it is also well known for helping to break the black listing of the Hollywood Ten (communist suspect Dalton Trumbo was Spartacus' screenwriter).  The movie is literally huge, with enormous numbers of background extras and shot in Technirama which was blown up to 70mm, I'm sure the home theater just cannot capture the same experience, and without that it didn't capture my attention very well.

Allegorically it rang a bell with 1960s America, garnering Oscars and acclaim but today feels a little preachy.  The historical inaccuracies are rife, the interminable scenery chewing by Douglas is grating (for his and Kubrick's best collaboration see WWI epic Paths of Glory), but the cinematic scope and dark humor and vast importance are pure Stanley Kubrick and for me the only reason to stand up and say "I am Spartacus!". 

6 Crucifixions out of 10 (GOOD)