- Actors: Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov
- Directors: Stanley Kubrick
- Writers: Peter Ustinov, Calder Willingham, Dalton Trumbo, Howard Fast
- Producers: Kirk Douglas, Edward Lewis, James C. Katz
- Classification: PG
- Studio: 4front
- VHS Release Date: 4 Feb 2002
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000059ZAT
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 6,345 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Stanley Kubrick was only 31 years old when Kirk Douglas (star of Kubrick's classic Paths of Glory) recruited the young director to pilot this epic saga, in which the rebellious slave Spartacus (played by Douglas) leads a freedom revolt against the decadent Roman Empire. Kubrick would later disown the film because it was not a personal project--he was merely a director-for-hire--but Spartacus remains one of the best of Hollywood's grand historical epics. With an intelligent screenplay by then-blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo (from a novel by Howard Fast), its message of moral integrity and courageous conviction is still quite powerful, and the all-star cast (including Charles Laughton in full toga) is full of entertaining surprises. Fully restored in 1991 to include scenes deleted from the original 1960 release, the full-length Spartacus is a grand-scale cinematic marvel, offering some of the most awesome battles ever filmed and a central performance by Douglas that's as sensitively emotional as it is intensely heroic. Jean Simmons plays the slave woman who becomes Spartacus's wife, and Peter Ustinov steals the show with his frequently hilarious, Oscar-winning performance as a slave trader who shamelessly curries favor with his Roman superiors. The restored version also includes a formerly deleted bathhouse scene in which Laurence Olivier plays a bisexual Roman senator (with restored dialogue dubbed by Anthony Hopkins) who gets hot and bothered over a slave servant played by Tony Curtis. These and other restored scenes expand the film to just over three hours in length. Despite some forgivable lulls, this is a rousing and substantial drama that grabs and holds your attention. Breaking tradition with sophisticated themes and a downbeat (yet eminently noble) conclusion, Spartacus is a thinking person's epic, rising above mere spectacle with a story as impressive as its widescreen action and Oscar-winning sets. --Jeff Shannon
Synopsis
Spartacus, based on Howard Fast's popular novel, is Stanley Kubrick's glorious masterpiece about a slave uprising in Rome in 70 B.C. Kirk Douglas, who also served as executive producer, stars as the title character, a man born of a slave woman and a slave master who has known nothing but chains his entire life. After being forced to put on a gladiator show--that almost leads to his death--for wealthy Romans (including a marvellously conniving Laurence Olivier as the power-hungry Crassus), Spartacus leads a slave revolt across Italy that soon has thousands marching on Rome. Meanwhile, he has fallen in love with the beautiful Varinia (an effervescent Jean Simmons), pledging his life to her. Douglas assembled a fabulous all-star cast for the film; in addition to himself, Simmons, and Olivier, terrific performances are turned in by Charles Laughton as the curmudgeonly senator Gracchus, John Gavin as the young Julius Caesar, Tony Curtis as Antoninus (a 'singer of songs', with all lines delivered in a beautifully thick New York accent), and especially Peter Ustinov, an Oscar winner for his portrayal of the businessman Batiatus, who always wants to know what's in it for him. Blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo's melodramatic script and Alex North's thrilling, soaring score add a majesty that helps make Spartacus one of the finest costume epics to ever come out of Hollywood.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
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. ;)
26 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
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.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
This is a review of the blu-ray edition on sale in the UK.
The transfer is for the most part, excellent. There are some moments where there appears to be a bit of layer damage that contributes to a very red tinge for a few seconds only, but this is nothing like as prevalent as suggested by another reviewer, and certainly not serious enough to spoil anyone's enjoyment. The sound is excellent, and particularly showcases Alex North's justly celebrated music. As for the "softness" - all I could see was that in what I think was a somewhat outdated technique even in 1960, shots of Jean Simmons seem to have been done in soft focus, which then contrasts very sharply with other shots of the scene. But generally, the film is sharp and clear.
As for the film itself, it has some terrific performances. Charles Laughton's manipulative senator is a particular highlight. I had also not realised quite how sensitive an actor "tough guy" Kirk Douglas was. But the film is stolen by Peter Ustinov, whose Oscar was justly deserved.
Many of the techniques used are obviously dated when viewed against more recent films. Accept the film in its own era, however, and this remains one of the benchmarks for telling an epic story. Stanley Kubrick had his own reasons to disown the film, but he could just as well have been proud of it.
The transfer is for the most part, excellent. There are some moments where there appears to be a bit of layer damage that contributes to a very red tinge for a few seconds only, but this is nothing like as prevalent as suggested by another reviewer, and certainly not serious enough to spoil anyone's enjoyment. The sound is excellent, and particularly showcases Alex North's justly celebrated music. As for the "softness" - all I could see was that in what I think was a somewhat outdated technique even in 1960, shots of Jean Simmons seem to have been done in soft focus, which then contrasts very sharply with other shots of the scene. But generally, the film is sharp and clear.
As for the film itself, it has some terrific performances. Charles Laughton's manipulative senator is a particular highlight. I had also not realised quite how sensitive an actor "tough guy" Kirk Douglas was. But the film is stolen by Peter Ustinov, whose Oscar was justly deserved.
Many of the techniques used are obviously dated when viewed against more recent films. Accept the film in its own era, however, and this remains one of the benchmarks for telling an epic story. Stanley Kubrick had his own reasons to disown the film, but he could just as well have been proud of it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Spartacus falls short on a sloppy Blu-ray
Like other epics such as 'Lawrence of Arabia' and 'Ben Hur', Spartacus is a movie that has gone through an interesting series of home releases. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Tom Cat
A rousing Roman epic
Spartacus was one of a host of epics made in the early sixties. These epics were either about Romans or the Bible: Spartacus is a Roman epic with a bit of Biblical imagery. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Miss Scarlett
Great Film
Another great film and better than any of the new remakes in my opinion. Again one that I could watch over and over again.
Published 3 months ago by Siodh
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 4 months ago by que si
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 5 months ago by G. Jones
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 7 months ago by Mr. R. Bradshaw
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 7 months ago by steve dixie
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 10 months ago by S. Swingler
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 11 months ago by Graham
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 12 months ago by Mr. Richard Pearn
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