Spartacus (1960)

Director:

Stanley Kubrick

Writers:

Dalton Trumbo (screenplay)
Howard Fast (based on the novel by)
(more)

Release Date:

7 October 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Biography | Drama | History

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Slave | Spartacus | Senator | Freedom | Italy

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Kirk Douglas	...	Spartacus
Laurence Olivier	...	Crassus
Jean Simmons	...	Varinia
Charles Laughton	...	Gracchus
Peter Ustinov	...	Batiatus
John Gavin	...	Julius Caesar
Nina Foch	...	Helena Glabrus
John Ireland	...	Crixus
Herbert Lom	...	Tigranes Levantus
John Dall	...	Marcus Publius Glabrus
Charles McGraw	...	Marcellus
Joanna Barnes	...	Claudia Marius
Harold J. Stone	...	David
Woody Strode	...	Draba
Peter Brocco	...	Ramon
Paul Lambert	...	Gannicus
Robert J. Wilke	...	Guard Captain
Nick Dennis	...	Dionysius (as Nicholas Dennis)
John Hoyt	...	Caius
Frederick Worlock	...	Laelius (as Frederic Worlock)
Tony Curtis	...	Antoninus
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Philip Altman	...	Slave (uncredited)
Dave Armstrong	...	Small Role (uncredited)
John Barton	...	Slave (uncredited)
Arthur Batanides	...	Legionnaire (uncredited)
Paul Baxley	...	Gladiator (uncredited)
John Benson	...	Guard (uncredited)
Shari Lee Bernath	...	Little Girl (uncredited)
Norman Bishop	...	Pirate (uncredited)
Bill Blackburn	...	Prisoner (uncredited)
David Bond	...	Slave (uncredited)
Buff Brady	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Don Bramblett	...	Gladiator (uncredited)
Courtney Brown	...	Pirate (uncredited)
Jerry Brown	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Rudy Bukich	...	Gladiator (uncredited)
Bob Burns	...	Pirate (uncredited)
Paul E. Burns	...	Fimbria (uncredited)
Polly Burson	...	Slave (uncredited)
Wayne Burson	...	Guard (uncredited)
Joe Canutt	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Tap Canutt	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Al Carmichael	...	Gladiator (uncredited)
Bill Catching	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Chuck Courtney	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Dick Crockett	...	Guard (uncredited)
John Daheim	...	Capua Guard (uncredited)
Carol Daniels	...	Christian Girl (uncredited)
Tony Dante	...	Roman Solider / Christian Solider (uncredited)
Doris Darling	...	Slave (uncredited)
Ted de Corsia	...	Legionnaire (uncredited)
Terence de Marney	...	Majordomo (uncredited)
Frank Donahue	...	Gladiator (uncredited)
Mary Donovan	...	Slave (uncredited)
Craig Duncan	...	Petitioner (uncredited)
Johnny Duncan	...	Beheaded Man (uncredited)
Louie Elias	...	Gladiator (uncredited)
Maurice Elias	...	Gladiator (uncredited)
Roy Engel	...	Roman Businessman (uncredited)
Richard Farnsworth	...	Salt Mine Slave / Gladiator / Slave General (uncredited)
Logan Field	...	Centurion (uncredited)
Lila Finn	...	Slave (uncredited)
Charlotte Fletcher	...	Mother with Child (uncredited)
Robert Fuller	...	Extra (uncredited)
Jeanne Gerson	...	Woman Selling Chestnuts (uncredited)
Seamon Glass	...	Pirate (uncredited)
Joe Gold	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Harold Goodwin	...	Slave (uncredited)
Sol Gorss	...	Slave Leader (uncredited)
Marvin Goux	...	Trainer (uncredited)
James Griffith	...	Otho (uncredited)
Jack Grinnage	...	Petitioner (uncredited)
Donna Hall	...	Slave (uncredited)
Don Happy	...	Slave (uncredited)
Edith Happy	...	Slave (uncredited)
Betty Harford	...	Slave (uncredited)
Brad Harris	...	Gladiator (uncredited)
Harry Harvey Jr.	...	Slave (uncredited)
Joe Haworth	...	Marius (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Vinton Hayworth	...	Metallius (uncredited)
Wayne Heffley	...	Slave Guard (uncredited)
Manuel Herreros	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Bob Herron	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Hallene Hill	...	Beggar Woman (uncredited)
Charles Horvath	...	Slave Leader (uncredited)
Basil Howes	...	Orderly (uncredited)
Robert F. Hoy	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Loren Janes	...	Salt Mine Slave / Gladiator / Slave General (uncredited)
Jil Jarmyn	...	Julia (uncredited)
Anthony Jochim	...	Petitioner (uncredited)
Duke Johnson	...	Juggler (uncredited)
Harry C. Johnson	...	Juggler (uncredited)
Paul Keast	...	Roman Businessman (uncredited)
Valley Keene	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Pete Kellett	...	Slave (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp	...	Roman Senator (uncredited)
George Kennedy	...	Rebel Soldier (uncredited)
Hubie Kerns	...	Gladiator (uncredited)
Aron Kincaid	...	Crassus' Standard-Bearer (uncredited)
Desmond Koch	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Irvin 'Zabo' Koszewski	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Paul Kruger	...	Roman Senator (uncredited)
Stubby Kruger	...	Pirate (uncredited)
Carey Loftin	...	Guard (uncredited)
Dayton Lummis	...	Symmachus (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Otto Malde	...	Roman General (uncredited)
Michael Masters	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Joan McKellen	...	Slave (uncredited)
Gordon Mitchell	...	Gladiator (uncredited)
Bob Morgan	...	Galeno (uncredited)
Boyd 'Red' Morgan	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Rod Normond	...	Guard (uncredited)
Tracy Olsen	...	Girl (uncredited)
Dayton Osmond	...	Boy Chicken Seller (uncredited)
Eddie Parker	...	Slave (uncredited)
Harvey Parry	...	Guard (uncredited)
Regis Parton	...	Gladiator (uncredited)
Victor Paul	...	Gladiator (uncredited)
Leonard Penn	...	Garrison Officer (uncredited)
Gil Perkins	...	Slave Leader (uncredited)
Jack Perkins	...	Gladiator (uncredited)
Vic Perrin	...	Narrator (uncredited)
Larry Perron	...	Guard (uncredited)
Preston Peterson	...	Pirate (uncredited)
Lorrie Pettit	...	Slave (uncredited)
Eugene Poole	...	Pirate (uncredited)
Bill Raisch	...	Soldier Whose Arm is Hacked Off (uncredited)
Chuck Roberson	...	Slave (uncredited)
George Robotham	...	Pirate (uncredited)
Ronnie Rondell Jr.	...	Guard (uncredited)
Wally Rose	...	Gladiator (uncredited)
Frosty Royce	...	Slave (uncredited)
Autumn Russell	...	Slave Girl (uncredited)
Russell Saunders	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Aaron Saxon	...	Gladiator (uncredited)
Charles Schaeffer	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Jim Sears	...	Gladiator (uncredited)
Bill Shannon	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Alex Sharp	...	Gladiator (uncredited)
Tom Steele	...	Gladiator (uncredited)
John Stephenson	...	Centurion (uncredited)
Robert Stevenson	...	Legionnaire (uncredited)
Kay Stewart	...	Slave Girl (uncredited)
Jerry Summers	...	Gladiator (uncredited)
Jo Summers	...	Slave Girl (uncredited)
Ken Terrell	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Glen Thompson	...	Gladiator (uncredited)
Larry Thor	...	Staff Officer (uncredited)
Helen Thurston	...	Slave (uncredited)
John Traux	...	Prisoner (uncredited)
Don Turner	...	Guard (uncredited)
Lili Valenty	...	Old Crone (uncredited)
Buddy Van Horn	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	...	Trainer (uncredited)
Louise Vincent	...	Slave at Gracchus' Home (uncredited)
Peter Virgo	...	Guard (uncredited)
Will J. White	...	Guard (uncredited)
Judy Whitney	...	Child (uncredited)
Charles Wilcox	...	Gladiator (uncredited)
Billy Williams	...	Gladiator (uncredited)
Jack Williams	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Lynda Lee Williams	...	Slave Girl (uncredited)
Carleton Young	...	Herald (uncredited)
Fred Zendar	...	Guard (uncredited)

Directed by
Stanley Kubrick

Writing credits
Dalton Trumbo		(screenplay)
Howard Fast		(based on the novel by)
Peter Ustinov		uncredited
Calder Willingham		battle scenes (uncredited)

Produced by
Kirk Douglas	....	executive producer
Edward Lewis	....	producer
Edward Muhl	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Alex North

Cinematography by
Russell Metty		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Robert Lawrence		(film editor)
Irving Lerner		(uncredited)

Production Design by
Alexander Golitzen
Roger Forse		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Eric Orbom

Set Decoration by
Russell A. Gausman
Julia Heron

Costume Design by
Valles		(costumes)
William Ware Theiss		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Larry Germain	....	hair stylist
Bud Westmore	....	makeup artist
Jay Sebring	....	hair designer: Kirk Douglas (uncredited)

Production Management
Norman Deming	....	unit production manager
Eduardo García Maroto	....	unit production manager: Spain (uncredited)
Tadeo Villalba	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marshall Green	....	assistant director
Yakima Canutt	....	second unit director (uncredited)
Joseph E. Kenney	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Irving Lerner	....	second unit director (uncredited)
Foster H. Phinney	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Charles Scott	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Julio Sempere	....	third assistant director (uncredited in original version)
Robert Webb	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
James Welch	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Claude Gillingwater Jr.	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Johnny Peacock	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Joe Lapis	....	sound
Ronald Pierce	....	sound
Murray Spivack	....	sound
Waldon O. Watson	....	sound
Glenn E. Anderson	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Jack Foley	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Jack Foley	....	sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Wah Chang	....	creator: forced perspective figures (uncredited)
Don Sahlin	....	crew: forced perspective figures (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Saul Bass	....	design consultant
Robert Fortenberry Jr.	....	camera operator (1991 restoration)
John Rupkalvis	....	camera operator (1991 restoration)
Paul Rutan Jr.	....	manager of optical operations (1991 restoration)
Peter Ellenshaw	....	matte artist (uncredited)
Russell Lawson	....	matte artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Stilyan Mavrov	....	stunt performer
Ray Austin	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paul Baxley	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Benson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Norman Bishop	....	stunts (uncredited)
Buff Brady	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jerry Brown	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Bruggeman	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ron Burke	....	stunts (uncredited)
Polly Burson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Wayne Burson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Canutt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tap Canutt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Yakima Canutt	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Yakima Canutt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Catching	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Courtney	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dick Crockett	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Daheim	....	stunts (uncredited)
Louie Elias	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tony Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Richard Farnsworth	....	stunts (uncredited)
Harold Goodwin	....	stunts (uncredited)
Sol Gorss	....	stunts (uncredited)
Brad Harris	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Herron	....	stunts (uncredited)
Charles Horvath	....	stunts (uncredited)
Robert F. Hoy	....	stunts (uncredited)
Loren Janes	....	stunt double: Kirk Douglas (uncredited)
Hubie Kerns	....	stunts (uncredited)
Stubby Kruger	....	stunts (uncredited)
Carey Loftin	....	stunts (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons	....	stunts (uncredited)
Michael Masters	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Miles	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Morgan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Boyd 'Red' Morgan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Parker	....	stunts (uncredited)
Harvey Parry	....	stunts (uncredited)
Regis Parton	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gil Perkins	....	stunts (uncredited)
Peter Peterson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Roberson	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Robotham	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ronnie Rondell Jr.	....	stunts (uncredited)
Wally Rose	....	stunts (uncredited)
Russell Saunders	....	stunts (uncredited)
Charles Schaeffer	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Shannon	....	stunts (uncredited)
Alex Sharp	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tom Steele	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jerry Summers	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ken Terrell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Don Turner	....	stunts (uncredited)
Buddy Van Horn	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	....	stunts (uncredited)
Red West	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jack Williams	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Clifford Stine	....	photographer: additional scenes
George Dye	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Michael P. Joyce	....	film loader (uncredited)
Bob Rose	....	additional grip (uncredited)
Harry L. Wolf	....	camera operator (uncredited)
William Read Woodfield	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ruggero Peruzzi	....	wardrobe (as Peruzzi)
Bill Thomas	....	costumes: Miss Simmons
Joan Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Joseph Gershenson	....	score co-conductor
Alex North	....	music conductor
Arnold Schwarzwald	....	music editor
Maurice De Packh	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Joseph Gershenson	....	music supervisor (uncredited)
Samuel Matlovsky	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Edward B. Powell	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
David Tamkin	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Saul Bass	....	design consultant
Saul Bass	....	main titles
Fred A. Chulack	....	assistant to the film editor (as Fred Chulack)
Stan Margulies	....	production aide
Vittorio Nino Novarese	....	historical & technical advisor
Robert Schulte	....	assistant to the film editor
Jeff Corey	....	acting coach (uncredited)
Bob Larson	....	executive in charge of production: Bryna Productions (uncredited)
Jeff Livingston	....	executive coordinator: sales and advertising (uncredited)
Anthony Mann	....	director: Libyan slave camp scenes (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Bryna Productions (presents) (as Bryna Productions, Inc.)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1960) (USA) (theatrical) (as Universal International)
• Universal Pictures (1960) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures France (UPF) (1961) (France) (theatrical)
• Bio-Kuva (1962) (Finland) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1969) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Väinän Filmi (1968) (Finland) (theatrical) (70 mm print)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1977) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Esselte Video (1988) (Finland) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• CIC Video (1992) (Finland) (VHS)
• Criterion Collection, The (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1991) (USA) (VHS) (restored version)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1995) (Finland) (TV) (TV2)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS) (widescreen)
• Universal Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• CIC Video (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2000) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Egmont Entertainment (2000) (Finland) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Home Video (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (HD-DVD) (restored) (uncut)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Cinéma International Corporation (CIC) (1964) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Cinéma International Corporation (CIC) (1968) (Sweden) (theatrical) (70 mm)
• Universal Film (1962) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (19??) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Argentina Video Home (2001) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Argentina Video Home (2006) (Argentina) (DVD) (1-disc edition)
• Argentina Video Home (2009) (Argentina) (DVD) (Colección Cine Epico)
• Argentina Video Home (2010) (Argentina) (DVD)
• CIC Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Nordisk Film (2000) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2004) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2007) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2010) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (HD DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (50th Anniversary Edition)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Costumi d'Arte  wardrobe
• Crest Digital  restoration work
• Ditta Peruzzi  wardrobe (as Peruzzi)
• Mayflower Recording  adr recording
• RGB Optical  65mm preservation composite negative produced by (1991 restoration)
• The Sound Choice  sound editing (1991 restoration) (as Sound Choice)
• Universal Studios Sound Facilities  re-recorded at (1991 restoration) (as Universal Studios Sound Department)
• Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research  special thanks (1991 restoration) (as University of Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research)

Also Known As:

"Spartacus: Rebel Against Rome" - USA (poster title)

Runtime:

184 min (premiere version) | Sweden:187 min (1968 re-release) | USA:161 min (1967 re-release) | USA:197 min (1991 restored version) | 184 min (theatrical version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Mono (Westrex Recording System) (35 mm prints, original release)

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Canada:AA (Ontario) (restored version) | Canada:G (Manitoba) (1967 version) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) (restored version) | Canada:PG (Ontario) (original release) | Denmark:15 | France:U | Germany:12 | Ireland:PG | Netherlands:12 (video rating) | Norway:16 (1963) | Sweden:15 (cut) (1962) | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 (restored version) | West Germany:16 | UK:A (original rating) (cut) | Canada:G (Nova Scotia) (1967 version) | Canada:G (Quebec) (restored version) | Spain:13 | Iceland:12 | Finland:K-14 (1992) | Finland:K-16 (1962) | South Korea:12 | Brazil:12 | New Zealand:PG | Sweden:15 (uncut) (1968) | USA:Approved (PCA #19623) | Portugal:M/12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain

Company:

Bryna Productions

Trivia:

Contrary to what the book and film portray, the historical Spartacus was born free in Thrace (a region nowadays divided among modern-day Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey) and may have served in the Thracian army or even the Roman army in Macedonia (Rome often impressed soldiers of armies it had defeated into its own army). It is thought that he was either captured in battle or deserted the army and later captured (depends on what side he fought on) and then sold into slavery.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The trainer blows a pea-whistle to call in the slaves. The first pea-whistle wasn't invented until the 19th century, although the Romans are known to use other whistles on board slave-galleys in order to keep the correct pace.

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...

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in History of the World: Part I (1981)

Spartacus or How I learnt to live away from Hollywood

This is Kubrick's farewell to Hollywood. I would have liked to be a fly on the wall. I don't believe for a minute that it was a cordial parting of the ways. I mean, Kubrick never returned, never! With "Paths of Glory" Kubrick gave Kirk Douglas, not just his best part as an actor, but his best movie. By the time Douglas called Kubrick to "take over" "Spartacus" Douglas was already a huge star with too much saying in the matter. Look at it, it's clear. "Spartacus" is more Douglas than Kubrick. Great fun to watch, yes, absolutely. A terrific script by black listed Dalton Trumbo. Some fight sequences unequalled in the history of film. Look at the fight between Douglas and Woody Strode and compare it to the ones in "Troy" or "Gladiator" for that matter. It is sad an embarrassing to realise how low we've fallen. Computer generated images or not. The cast is unbelievable but it's clearly not Kubrick's. The casting of his movies was part of his master plan. He would cast a Ryan O'Neil as Barry Lyndon for instance so he can blend perfectly with the magnificent tapestry, without adding any colours of his own. The same can be said of Keir Dullea, in 2001, a robotic non entity in a showdown with a voice. When he needed actors to be at the very pinnacle of his universe he went to Peter Sellers, Malcolm McDowell or James Mason. Even the casting of Tom Cruise made a lot of sense. He used the star and his wife to talk about the dreamlike powers of betrayal. In "Spartacus" Tony Curtis, plays Antoninus, a teacher of the classics. A campy idea never seen in a Kubrick film, before or since. To be fair, there are some spot on, brilliant pieces of casting. Charles Laughton is, as usual, superb. Peter Ustinov, terrific. Laurence Olivier manages to give a multifaceted portrait of weakness, fear and greed. Jean Simmons makes the reason to survive totally believable. But the cutesy love scene between her and a shiny muscular, coiffed Spartacus is truly terrible. As a final blow, the scene is enveloped in a sticky, corny music theme. Having said all that. Don't you dare missing this epic. I'ts Kubrick's goodbye to Hollywood and like everything else that the master said or do, he really meant it.