Spartacus (Special Edition) [DVD] [1960]

 

 

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The transfer isn't great, it's acceptable but not quite what you'd expect for a film of this magnitude! There is a lot of softness to some scenes and the blacks are poor. It states that it is a restoration that was done in 1991...maybe it's time they did a new one! This is a 5 star movie, let down by an average (out of date!) transfer. On the plus side Kirks chin dimple is generally sharp and well detailed. ;)

Spartacus is that genuine rarity, an epic that successfully combines the intellectual with the emotional, giving it an edge on almost all of its contemporaries - even Anthony Mann's superb Fall of the Roman Empire, which is never able to fully reconcile the two in its leading characters.

It was Mann who shot the striking opening sequences in the Libyan salt mines before being replaced by Kubrick, allegedly for losing his grip on the gladiator school sequences (though it seems everyone involved offers a different reason), and his trademark use of landscape to define character is very much in evidence. Spartacus begins the film as a virtual animal, mute, biting his guard, a creature of pure instinct. Yet through his fight for his freedom, he learns dignity and becomes more of a human being than his civilised masters.

Ironically, it is his doomed slave revolt that provides the spark to turn Rome into a totalitarian dictatorship, a development hinted at in his gladiatorial combat with Woody Strode, where their duel to the death is simply a background for the political backbiting of its noble Roman audience. Even after the rebellion is brutally crushed, the seeds for further change and disruption are sown in the shifting allegiance of a young Gaius Julius Caesar (Gavin), who moves from the side of Laughton's populist Plebian to Olivier's ruthless Patrician.

Despite this, Spartacus is an incredibly hopeful film. Its belief in the value of life and in people may be frowned upon as naive now, yet through its portrayal of the Romans' ignorance of the responsibilities of their civilisation in their endless manipulations and power plays remains painfully aware of reality. In hindsight, it seems impossible to separate it from the civil rights movement of the late fifties-sixties (JFK was a great admirer of the film), with Spartacus a Thracian composite of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. The solidarity of the slaves in refusing to identify Spartacus to the victorious Romans and choosing crucifixion over their chains is an image at once universal myth and very much of its time.

Most unusual within the constraints of the genre is that it makes us feel its concerns rather than just think about them. The fight to the death between Spartacus and Antoninus (Curtis) is played as a personal scene rather than an action set piece, each trying to kill the other to Spain them the pain of crucifixion. And when he takes his place on the last of the crosses that pave the road to the gates of Rome, the final scene where his freed wife (Jean Simmons) shows him the son he has never seen for the first time and begs him to "Die, please die!", is one of the most intensely moving moments in cinema and carries an emotional charge that Kubrick's work never again attained or even attempted.

Despite his genuinely imaginative direction, Kubrick's erratic attitude towards the film is well documented (although Douglas claims the director originally wanted to take blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo's screen credit, he subsequently vociferously disowned the film). Unfortunately, the 1990s cinema re-issue of this original restored version met with some of the worst reviews in recent memory: Douglas' reputation had faded while Kubrick's had soared, rendering it an act of critical blasphemy to disagree with him.

Nonetheless, the film endures even if its reputation has not. Trumbo's script is both intelligent and involving and filled with memorable and beautifully constructed scenes, the cast uniformly excellent, with Olivier giving one of his last great performances before he turned to intermittent silly voices and self-parody. Aside from the now infamous attempted bathtime seduction of Tony Curtis (far less explicit than the subsequent speech about `debasing yourself' before Rome), the extra footage in this restored version is largely violence - more crucifixions, the burial of a baby in the snow, gladiator Woody Strode's blood squirting onto Olivier's face as he slits his throat and a lot more of the climactic battle (itself shot as an afterthought after an unsatisfactory rough-cut).

Sadly, it is here that one of the film's most visually powerful moments, when the Roman Legion stops to a man in their advance on the slave army, just does not work even on the largest of small screens. Whereas in 70mm on the giant screen you could feel them approach foot by foot, here they barely seem to be moving, rendering the jolting shock and ominous dread of their sudden halt (actually achieved via freeze frame) barely noticeable. The prelude to the main battle does remain an incredible musical tour de force by North, however, predicting both the savagery and hollow victory of the coming carnage with brief, brutal crescendos on vicious sharp cuts. Even in a strong field that year, it is amazing that North did not win an Oscar for his contribution.

Of the various versions available, the Criterion NTSC disc is the best, though most of the extras are carried over for the PAL special edition - but avoid the standard film-only edition.

Great to see another region 2 DVD of such excellent quality. The film itself is wonderful, (see other reviews for story etc) and the picture quality superb, even has a choice of DTS sound, more of that please! Loaded with extras and a short film called the Hollywood Ten. My only gripe is that the movie has been put onto two discs, which means getting off the couch at the intermission, though it is well worth the effort. This is a definite must have for any Stanley Kubrick fan.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Spartacus
Xmas present for son to go with dvd player he loved ths film as a child. Best price 1st class delivery great product.

Published 25 days ago by que si

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Film, Flat Transfer
This is my favourite film. It's therefore the first film I bought for my new blu ray player. I was expecting a great experience. Read more

Published 1 month ago by G. Jones

5.0 out of 5 stars spartacus
a great dvd classic film with super action by kirk douglas i have not seen this for ages and i was well ipresed with it

Published 3 months ago by Mr. R. Bradshaw

5.0 out of 5 stars 1960,s movies
great film loved it first time i saw it thanks for sending me this great movie to me will use you again.

Published 3 months ago by steve dixie

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good transfer of a great film let down by lack of extras
This is a review of the blu-ray edition on sale in the UK.

The transfer is for the most part, excellent. Read more

Published 6 months ago by Bismaquer

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible!
One of the finest love stories ever told. An epic and iconic film and one of the finest films to come out of Hollywood.

Published 6 months ago by S. Swingler

3.0 out of 5 stars SPARTACUS LEFT RED FACED
This is a good film, in the same genre as Cleopatra and Ben Hur. Spartacus, played by Kirk Douglas, was put into slavery as a child. Read more

Published 8 months ago by Graham

5.0 out of 5 stars A great film
This is a great film, plenty of action and a good story as well. It is very cheap to buy and great for a nostalgic night in with a bottle of wine! say no more!

Published 8 months ago by Mr. Richard Pearn

5.0 out of 5 stars Kubrick's disappointment is still our triumph
Although he was never happy with Spartacus, due to creative differences with Kirk Douglas, any other director would be very proud of it. Read more

Published 8 months ago by David Walker

5.0 out of 5 stars The promise of a great career
This film of the young Kubrick is of course rather simple in subject and inspiration. What's more Kubrick was following the fashion of the big peplum films that were both long... Read more

Published 9 months ago by Jacques COULARDEAU

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