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:

Thirty years after filming, Jean Simmons met the baby she held in this film, who now works in the film industry as a stuntwoman.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Spartacus is scored by the trident in the gladiatorial battle the three steaks of 'blood' are already on his chest.

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:

Featured in Prayers for Bobby (2009) (TV)

The Eternal Cry For Freedom

From what little I've read of this film it was lucky to have been made at all. Some very big talents had some very big egos and those egos clashed repeatedly. Original director Anthony Mann was replaced by Stanley Kubrick by Producer/Star Kirk Douglas among other clashes.

But the result was all worth it. The stars all give top notch performances, but the mark of a really great film is the memorability of each individual in the ensemble. To give a few examples, Charles McGraw as the sadistic trainer at the gladiatorial school, John Dall as Sir Laurence Olivier's protégé, and John Ireland as Kirk Douglas's fellow gladiator trainee are all memorable in the brief roles they have.

Kirk Douglas wisely opts for a straightforward interpretation of a hero in the title role of Spartacus. He's a BC everyman, born into a world which hadn't heard anything about human rights, he knows and feels he's not just cattle. Catch the alternating scenes of Douglas and Sir Laurence Olivier addressing the slave army and the Roman Army. Olivier with his years of Shakespearean training coming across as the tyrant to be, and Douglas in simple prose talking about the slaves fighting for their hopes and dreams. Very effective.

The plot concerns a revolt at a gladiatorial school which mushrooms into a crisis for the Roman Empire. Political factions led by Olivier as Crassus and Charles Laughton as Gracchus seek to use the slave revolt to further their own ends.

Laughton as always is a wonder. It's a bit of unusual casting for him because his parts are usually those of very tortured souls. His Gracchus is a sly rogue, but a decent man. One of my favorite movie lines of all time is delivered by him addressing the Roman Senate where he says he'll "take a little republican corruption for a little republican freedom."

Another sly rogue in the film is Peter Ustinov who won the first of his two Oscars as Batiatus the owner of the gladiatorial school. Like so many others I'm sure in those days, he's just trying to come out on the winning side when doing so could be a life or death situation.

Jean Simmons as Varinia, beloved of Spartacus, has the only woman's part of any substance. But when was Ms. Simmons bad in anything. One of the most underrated and under-appreciated actresses in the history of film.

The lessons about man's desire for freedom and to control his own destiny are eternal and valid. And this film will be also.