Synopsis
Stanley Kubrick directed a cast of screen legends—including Kirk Douglas as the indomitable gladiator that led a Roman slave revolt—in the sweeping epic that defined a genre and ushered in a new Hollywood era. The assured acting, lush Technicolor cinematography, bold costumes, and visceral fight sequences won Spartacus four Oscars; the blend of politics and sexual suggestion scandalized audiences. Today Kubrick’s controversial classic, the first film to openly defy Hollywood’s blacklist, remains a landmark of cinematic artistry and history.
Cast
| Spartacus | Kirk Douglas |
| Marcus Licinius Crassus | Laurence Olivier |
| Varinia | Jean Simmons |
| Sempronius Gracchus | Charles Laughton |
| Lentulus Batiatus | Peter Ustinov |
| Julius Caesar | John Gavin |
| Antoninus | Tony Curtis |
| Helena Glabrus | NIna Foch |
| Tigranes Levantus | Herbert Lom |
| Crixus | John Ireland |
| Marcus Publius Glabrus | John Dall |
| Marcellus | Charles McGraw |
| Draba | Woody Strode |
| Claudia Marius | Joanna Barnes |
Credits
| Director | Stanley Kubrick |
| Based on the novel by | Howard Fast |
| Screenplay | Dalton Trumbo |
| Producer | Edward Lewis |
| Cinematography | Russell Metty |
| Editing | Robert Lawrence |
| Executive producer | Kirk Douglas |
| Music | Alex North |
| Main title designed by | Saul Bass |
| Production Design | Alexander Golitzen |
| Art direction | Eric Orbom |
| Set decoration | Russell A. Gausman and Julia Heron |
Disc Features
SPECIAL EDITION DOUBLE-DISC SET
- Stunning new 16×9 transfer of the 1991 fully restored Super Technirama version
- Dolby Digital 5.1 surround soundtrack
- Audio commentary by producer-actor Kirk Douglas, actor Peter Ustinov, novelist Howard Fast, producer Edward Lewis, restoration expert Robert A. Harris, and designer Saul Bass
- Screenwriter Dalton Trumbo’s scene-by-scene analysis
- Restoration demonstration
- Rare deleted scenes
- Vintage newsreel footage
- 1960 promotional interviews with Jean Simmons and Peter Ustinov
- 1992 video interview with Peter Ustinov
- Behind-the-scenes “gladiatorial school” footage
- The 1960 documentary The Hollywood Ten, plus archival documents about the blacklist
- Original storyboards by Saul Bass
- Hundreds of production stills, lobby cards, posters, print ads, and a comic book
- Sketches by director Stanley Kubrick
- Original theatrical trailer
- Additional Alex North score compositions
- English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired
From the Current
Spartacus
by Apr 23, 2001Of all the actors to try their hand at producing, Kirk Douglas may have been the most audacious. Spartacus illustrates his taste for unorthodox material, and the story behind the making of the movie reveals a great deal about Douglas’ feisty, combative spirit. The movie actually came . . .
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The Auteurs Forum
Displaying 1 discussion topic.
Should they really list this under its original director
4 posts by 4 people updated 4 months ago
