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Spartacus (1960)

8.0
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Ratings: 8.0/10 from 72,272 users  
Reviews: 247 user | 106 critic

The slave Spartacus leads a violent revolt against the decadent Roman Republic.

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(screenplay), (based on the novel by), 2 more credits »
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Title: Spartacus (1960)

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Won 4 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 9 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Gracchus
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Peter Brocco ...
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Storyline

In 73 BCE, a Thracian slave leads a revolt at a gladiatorial school run by Lentulus Batiatus. The uprising soon spreads across the Italian Peninsula involving thousand of slaves. The plan is to acquire sufficient funds to acquire ships from Silesian pirates who could then transport them to other lands from Brandisium in the south. The Roman Senator Gracchus schemes to have Marcus Publius Glabrus, Commander of the garrison of Rome, lead an army against the slaves who are living on Vesuvius. When Glabrus is defeated his mentor, Senator and General Marcus Licinius Crassus is greatly embarrassed and leads his own army against the slaves. Spartacus and the thousands of freed slaves successfully make their way to Brandisium only to find that the Silesians have abandoned them. They then turn north and must face the might of Rome. Written by garykmcd

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

slave | spartacus | senator | freedom | italy | See more »

Taglines:

They trained him to kill for their pleasure. . .but they trained him a little too well. . . See more »


Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

7 October 1960 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Spartacus: Rebel Against Rome  »

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (premiere) | (1968 re-release) | (1967 re-release) | (1991 restored) | (theatrical)

Sound Mix:

(70 mm prints)| (Westrex Recording System) (35 mm prints, original release)

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Ingrid Bergman, Jeanne Moreau, and Elsa Martinelli rejected the role of Varinia. Sabine Bethmann was then cast, but when Stanley Kubrick arrived he fired her and offered the part to Simmons, who was initially rejected for the role because British accents were initially reserved for the actors playing Romans. See more »

Goofs

While in the senate house Gaio Giulio Cesare is wearing the traditional white robe trimmed with a purple border, however when he walks out onto the steps with Gracchus he is wearing a gray robe trimmed with white vine leaves. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: In the last century before the birth of the new faith called Christianity, which was destined to overthrow the pagan tyranny of Rome and bring about a new society, the Roman Republic stood at the very center of the civilized world. "Of all things fairest," sang the poet, "first among cities and home of the gods is golden Rome." Yet, even at the zenith of her pride and power, the Republic lay fatally stricken with a disease called human slavery. The age of the dictator was at hand, ...
See more »

Crazy Credits

The opening titles appear in a montage of silhouetted Roman sculptures and tablets, which according to title designer Saul Bass is meant to evoke the strength and power of the Roman Empire. The montage ends with a zoom into the eye of a crumbling Roman bust, which hints at the Empire's coming decline and fall. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Conan the Barbarian (1982) See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
great commentary on DVD
7 September 2005 | by (United States) – See all my reviews

I think the movie is quite good; what I want to add to the comments already made is just this:

The commentary (on the DVD) by screenplay writer Dalton Trumbo is great. Kirk Douglas said it was the greatest analysis of film-making ever. He explains the purpose of every scene, very openly and honestly critiquing the changes the actors made, for (in his estimation) better or worse.

There is another track of commentary by the actors. The actors had an unusual degree of latitude in re-writing their lines and forming their characters.


32 of 55 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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