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Spartacus (1960, Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier)

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Director Stanley Kubrick marshals the proverbial cast of thousands in an early example of his celebrated concern for authenticity. The result is one of the finest movie depictions of the ancient Roman world. Kirk Douglas gives a muscular, emotional performance as a slave brought to the Roman gladiator school by its master, Ustinov. There he befriends and then bests Strode in an unwanted contest to the death staged for the pleasure of senator Laurence Olivier.

When guards taunt Douglas with the news that Olivier has taken away Jean Simmons, the slave girl with whom he’s in love, Douglas leads a slave rebellion that shakes the foundations of the empire. Though the epic struggle ends with Douglas’s crucifixion, Simmons lifts up to him his free son before he dies. Anthony Mann was replaced with Kubrick by executive producer Douglas after the first scenes. Dalton Trumbo’s compelling script was his first after being blacklisted.

For the 1991 restoration and re-release of the movie, Anthony Hopkins dubbed the voice of Sir Laurence Olivier for the controversial bath scene with Tony Curtis, because the soundtrack had been lost.

Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture, Drama.
Academy Award Nominations: 6, including Best Editing; Best Score.

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production details
Country: USA
Release Year: 1960

Director: Stanley Kubrick
Producer: Edward Lewis
Original Story: Howard Fast
Cinematography: Russell Metty, Clifford Stine
Editors: Fred Chulack, Robert Lawrence, Robert Schulte
Music: Alex North
Script: Dalton Trumbo
Production Design: Alexander Golitzen

cast
Paul E. Burns as Fimbria (uncredited)
Herbert Lom as Tigranes Levantus
Nina Foch as Helena Glabrus
Louie Elias as Gladiator (uncredited)
Charles Laughton as Sempronius Gracchus
Tony Curtis as Antoninus
Duke Fishman as Roman Senator (uncredited)
Scott Seaton as Roman Senator (uncredited)
John Ireland as Crixus
Victor Paul as Gladiator (uncredited)
Loren Janes as Salt Mine Slave / Gladiator / Slave General (uncredited)
George Kennedy as Rebel Soldier (uncredited)
Richard Farnsworth as Salt Mine Slave / Gladiator / Slave General (uncredited)
Nick Dennis as Dionysius
Peter Ustinov as Lentulus Batiatus
Shep Houghton as Slave (uncredited)
John Stephenson as Centurion (uncredited)
Chuck Roberson as Slave (uncredited)
John Hoyt as Caius
Kirk Douglas as Spartacus
Laurence Olivier as Marcus Licinius Crassus
Jean Simmons as Varinia
John Gavin as Julius Caesar
John Dall as Marcus Publius Glabrus
Woody Strode as Draba
Harold J. Stone as David
Charles McGraw as Marcellus
Joanna Barnes as Claudia Marius
Peter Brocco as Ramon
Robert J. Wilke as Guard captain
Frederick Worlock as Laelius
Paul Baxley as Gladiator (uncredited)
Brad Harris as Gladiator (uncredited)
Hubie Kerns as Gladiator (uncredited)
Gordon Mitchell as Gladiator (uncredited)
Regis Parton as Gladiator (uncredited)
Jack Perkins as Gladiator (uncredited)
Wally Rose as Gladiator (uncredited)
Aaron Saxon as Gladiator (uncredited)
Tom Steele as Gladiator (uncredited)
Jerry Summers as Gladiator (uncredited)
Shari Lee Bernath as Little Girl (uncredited)
Bill Blackburn as Prisoner (uncredited)
David Bond as Slave (uncredited)
Polly Burson as Slave (uncredited)
Carol Daniels as Slave Girl (uncredited)
Lila Finn as Slave (uncredited)
Harold Goodwin as Slave (uncredited)
Sol Gorss as Slave Leader (uncredited)
Betty Harford as Slave (uncredited)
Harry Harvey Jr. as Slave (uncredited)
Wayne Heffley as Slave Guard (uncredited)
Lars Hensen as Slave (uncredited)
Charles Horvath as Slave Leader (uncredited)
Pete Kellett as Slave (uncredited)
Joan McKellen as Slave (uncredited)
Eddie Parker as Slave (uncredited)
Gil Perkins as Slave Leader (uncredited)
Frosty Royce as Slave (uncredited)
Autumn Russell as Slave Girl (uncredited)
Kay Stewart as Slave Girl (uncredited)
Helen Thurston as Slave (uncredited)
Louise Vincent as Slave at Gracchus’ Home (uncredited)
Joe Canutt as Soldier (uncredited)
Bill Catching as Soldier (uncredited)
Chuck Courtney as Soldier (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward as Soldier (uncredited)
Robert F. Hoy as Soldier (uncredited)
Valley Keene as Soldier (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons as Soldier (uncredited)
Bill Raisch as Soldier Whose Arm is Hacked Off (uncredited)
Buddy Van Horn as Soldier (uncredited)
Jack Williams as Soldier (uncredited)
Wayne Burson as Guard (uncredited)
Dick Crockett as Guard (uncredited)
John Daheim as Capua Guard (uncredited)
Carey Loftin as Guard (uncredited)
Harvey Parry as Guard (uncredited)
Ronnie Rondell Jr. as Guard (uncredited)
Don Turner as Guard (uncredited)
Peter Virgo as Guard (uncredited)
Fred Zendar as Guard (uncredited)
Ted de Corsia as Legionnaire (uncredited)
Terence de Marney as Majordomo (uncredited)
Johnny Duncan as Beheaded Man (uncredited)
Roy Engel as Roman Businessman (uncredited)
Paul Keast as Roman Businessman (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp as Roman Senator (uncredited)
Paul Kruger as Roman Senator (uncredited)
Otto Malde as Roman General (uncredited)
Logan Field as Centurion (uncredited)
Robert Fuller as Extra (uncredited)
Jeanne Gerson as Woman Selling Chestnuts (uncredited)
Seamon Glass as Pirate (uncredited)
Preston Peterson as Pirate (uncredited)
George Robotham as Pirate (uncredited)
James Griffith as Otho (uncredited)
Jack Grinnage as Petitioner (uncredited)
Anthony Jochim as Petitioner (uncredited)
Joe Haworth as Marius (uncredited)
Vinton Hayworth as Metallius (uncredited)
Jil Jarmyn as Julia (uncredited)
Aron Kincaid as Crassus’ Standard-Bearer (uncredited)
Dayton Lummis as Symmachus (uncredited)
Bob Morgan as Galeno (uncredited)
Tracy Olsen as Girl (uncredited)
Leonard Penn as Garrison Officer (uncredited)
Vic Perrin as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Larry Thor as Staff Officer (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel as Trainer (uncredited)
Carleton Young as Herald (uncredited)
Robert Stevenson as Legionnaire (uncredited)
John Barton as Slave (uncredited)
Jerry Brown as Soldier (uncredited)
John Benson as Guard (uncredited)

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Alastair James is the editor in chief for Memorable TV. He has been involved in media since his university days. Alastair is passionate about television, and some of his favourite shows include Line of Duty, Luther and Traitors. He is always on the lookout for hot new shows, and is always keen to share his knowledge with others.

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