Spartacus the Movie

History, Facts and Information about Spartacus the Movie
The content of this article provides interesting history, facts and information about Spartacus the Movie. The full plot of Spartacus the movie is detailed in Spartacus the Movie Summary.

The star of the film was Kirk Douglas who played the lead role in the movie and was also the Producer. The director of Spartacus the movie was Stanley Kubrick. In June 2008 the AFI (American Film Institute) published a poll of over 1,500 people from the creative community in which Spartacus the movie was acknowledged as the fifth best film in the epic genre.

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Spartacus the Movie

Spartacus 1960
Spartacus the Movie was first released in 1960 by Universal Pictures. The film was re-released in 1967 and again in 1991 when previously censored scenes were included in the movie. The most famous of these scenes featured Crassus (played by Laurence Olivier) and his body servant Antoninus (played by Tony Curtis). This famous scene is referred to as the 'Snails Or Oysters' scene.

Spartacus the Movie 1991 - 'Snails Or Oysters' Scene
The Spartacus 'Snails Or Oysters' scene is brilliantly and most tastefully written. The subtle words convey that Crassus is  bi-sexual. The famous words delivered in this short dialogue between Crassus and his new body slave Antoninus are as follows:

Dialogue from the Spartacus 'Snails Or Oysters' scene.
Crassus: Do you eat oysters?
Antoninus: When I have them, master.
Crassus: Do you eat snails?
Antoninus: No, master.
Crassus: Do you consider the eating of oysters to be moral and the eating of snails to be immoral?
Antoninus: No, master.
Crassus: Of course not. It is all a matter of taste, isn't it?
Antoninus: Yes, master.
Crassus: And taste is not the same as appetite, and therefore not a question of morals.
Antoninus: It could be argued so, master.
Crassus: My robe, Antoninus. My taste includes both snails and oysters.

"I am Spartacus"
One of the most famous quotes in Spartacus the Movie is the line "I am Spartacus". This occurs when Crassus promises that the captured slaves will be given their lives if they identify their slave leader, Spartacus. Spartacus is just about to rise when he hears another voice proclaim "I am Spartacus"  then another voice shouts "I am Spartacus" then another screams shouts "I am Spartacus" and then another until hundreds of voices are all shouting "I am Spartacus". Noone will betray their leader and as a result 6000 captured slaves are crucified along the Appian Way.

Spartacus the Movie - Cast List of Actors and their Characters
Who were the actors in Spartacus and who were the characters? The cast of Spartacus chosen for the movie no doubt played a major contribution to the success of the film. The Spartacus cast list is as follows:

Spartacus Cast List of Actors and Characters

Spartacus........................................Kirk Douglas
Antoninus .......................................Tony Curtis
Marcus Licinius Crassus.............. Laurence Olivier
Varinia ........................................... Jean Simmons
Lentulus Gracchus ........................Charles Laughton
Lentulus Batiatus ...........................Peter Ustinov
Crixus ............................................ John Ireland
Draba .............................................Woody Strode
Glabrus ...........................................John Dall
Helena Glabrus .............................Nina Foch
Claudia Marius ..............................Joanna Barnes
Julius Caesar ................................John Gavin.
Marcellus .......................................Charles McGraw
Tigranes .........................................Herbert Lom
Dionysius ...................................... Nick Dennis
David ............................................. Harold Stone
Caius ............................................. John Hoyt
Gannicus ....................................... Paul Lambert
Laelius ..........................................  Frederick Worlock
Ramon ..........................................  Peter Brocco
Captain of the Guard.....................Robert J. Wilke

Spartacus the Movie - Music From Spartacus
The soundtrack and music from Spartacus was composed by the American composer Alex North (1910 - 1991). The music conveys both the emotions of the characters and the complements the content of the most important scenes in the film. 

Review Of Spartacus the Movie
A personal review of Spartacus the Movie. Without doubt my favorite film. The story of the ignorant slave fighting against the might of the Roman army and motivating thousands of others to join him. The story contains heroes, villains, a love interest, spectacle and humor. Much of the humor being provided by Peter Ustinov, who won an Academy award for 'Best Actor in a Supporting Role', and his scenes with the great Laurence Olivier.

The clever idea that English actors were cast as Romans and American actors cast as slaves. The brilliant dialogue of the screenplay, written by Dalton Trumbo and the author of the novel 'Spartacus' by Howard Fast treated the audience with great respect. Even the opening titles showing the bust of Crassus crumbling with the emergence of Spartacus sets the scene for the opening of the film.

Spartacus the Movie - Dalton Trumbo
The review of Spartacus cannot be complete without mention of the courageous risk taken by Kirk Douglas in using the name of screenplay writer Dalton Trumbo in the credits of the film. Dalton Trumbo had been blacklisted during the communist witch hunts of the 50's.  Kirk Douglas, the film's producer, was warned not to use Trumbo's name as to do so would risk the film being banned. Kirk Douglas refused to comply and listed Dalton Trumbo's name on the credits. Kirk Douglas can only be commended for his loyalty to Trumbo and his bravery in making this stand by which he effectively broke the Hollywood blacklist.

Spartacus the Movie
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Spartacus the Movie

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Spartacus the Movie