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IMDbPro

The 300 Spartans

  • 19621962
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 54m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
7.2K
YOUR RATING
The 300 Spartans (1962)
Trailer for this epic period drama
Play trailer2:37
1 Video
84 Photos
  • Adventure
  • Drama
  • History
A small Army of Greeks spearheaded by three hundred Spartans do battle with the whole invading Persian Army.A small Army of Greeks spearheaded by three hundred Spartans do battle with the whole invading Persian Army.A small Army of Greeks spearheaded by three hundred Spartans do battle with the whole invading Persian Army.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
7.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Rudolph Maté
  • Writers
    • George St. George
    • Ugo Liberatore(original story material)
    • Remigio Del Grosso(original story material)
  • Stars
    • Richard Egan
    • Ralph Richardson
    • Diane Baker
Top credits
  • Director
    • Rudolph Maté
  • Writers
    • George St. George
    • Ugo Liberatore(original story material)
    • Remigio Del Grosso(original story material)
  • Stars
    • Richard Egan
    • Ralph Richardson
    • Diane Baker
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 118User reviews
    • 16Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    The 300 Spartans
    Trailer 2:37
    The 300 Spartans

    Photos84

    The 300 Spartans (1962)
    The 300 Spartans (1962)
    The 300 Spartans (1962)
    Susan Hayward and Victor Mature in Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954)
    The 300 Spartans (1962)
    The 300 Spartans (1962)
    The 300 Spartans (1962)
    The 300 Spartans (1962)
    The 300 Spartans (1962)
    The 300 Spartans (1962)
    The 300 Spartans (1962)
    The 300 Spartans (1962)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Richard Egan
    Richard Egan
    • King Leonidas
    Ralph Richardson
    Ralph Richardson
    • Themistocles of Athens
    • (as Sir Ralph Richardson)
    Diane Baker
    Diane Baker
    • Ellas
    Barry Coe
    Barry Coe
    • Phylon
    David Farrar
    David Farrar
    • Xerxes
    Donald Houston
    Donald Houston
    • Hydarnes
    Anna Synodinou
    Anna Synodinou
    • Gorgo
    Kieron Moore
    Kieron Moore
    • Ephialtes
    John Crawford
    John Crawford
    • Agathon the Spartan Spy
    Robert Brown
    Robert Brown
    • Pentheus
    Laurence Naismith
    Laurence Naismith
    • First Delegate
    Anne Wakefield
    • Artemisa
    Ivan Triesault
    Ivan Triesault
    • Demaratus
    Charles Fawcett
    • Megistias
    Michalis Nikolinakos
    Michalis Nikolinakos
    • Myron
    • (as Michael Nikolinakos)
    Sandro Giglio
    Sandro Giglio
    • Xenathon
    Anna Raftopoulou
    • Toris
    Dimos Starenios
    Dimos Starenios
    • Samos
    • Director
      • Rudolph Maté
    • Writers
      • George St. George
      • Ugo Liberatore(original story material)
      • Remigio Del Grosso(original story material)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sir Ralph Richardson has only four scenes, despite being second billed.
    • Goofs
      While most of the Spartans wear the correct headgear, Leonidas and his officers wear Roman legionnaire style helmets that wouldn't be around for about 200 years. (This may have been so that they could easily be identified.)
    • Quotes

      Hydarnes, Commander of the Immortals: [Xerxes has sent an emissary to demand the Spartan surrender] yesterday, we only probed your positions. When we attack today, our arrows will blot out the sun!

      Leonidas, Spartan King: Good; then we will fight in the shade.

      Hydarnes, Commander of the Immortals: Leonidas; you cannot win this fight.

      Leonidas, Spartan King: Every day we stand is another day for Greece.

      [Starts to walk off]

      Hydarnes, Commander of the Immortals: Leonidas, wait! Xerxes says that if you and your men lay down your arms, he will allow you to leave peaceably.

      Leonidas, Spartan King: [In Greek] Come and take them!

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits prologue: In the Year 480 B.C. King Xerxes of Persia set in motion his enormous slave empire to crush the small group of independent Greek states-the only stronghold of freedom still remaining in the then known world . . .
    • Connections
      Edited into The Time Tunnel: Revenge of the Gods (1966)

    User reviews118

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    A real story of how Leonidas led a small army of Spartans to do battle with the whole invading Persian army commanded by Xerxes
    This compelling picture results to be an enjoyable flick combining historic events , drama and breathtaking fights . Big production that blends historical battles , cross-swords , feats and spectacular images. Here are magnificently brought to life the heroics deeds about battle of Thermopylae , the only trail to arrive Athens . The events (480 B.C) are well developed , these are the followings : King Leonidas (Richard Egan) establishes an alliance with Greeks polis facing the invading Persian army . There appears Themistocles (Sir Ralph Richardson has only four scenes, despite being second billed) who was an Athenian politician and general , he was one of a new breed of non-aristocratic politicians who rose to prominence in the early years of the Athenian democracy ; Themistocles is forced to an unwilling alliance with the traditional rival of Athens, oligarchic Sparta whose might lies with its superior infantry troops . As Leonidas leading a small army formed by valiant warriors to carry out a mighty battle epic of a handful of men forming the invincible "flying wedge" . The army called Falange is constituted by 300 Spartans named Hoplitas wielding the shield Heplon and long lances , plus 700 Thespians, while the soldiers Phocios sent by Leonidas to protect separated pass flee. They fight against a killer horde five million strong soldiers . The 300 hold off an immense Persian army commanded by king Xerxes (the final film for David Farrar , after which he retired to South Africa), over 100.000, though the famous historian Heredoto, possibly excessive, wrote they were 1.700.000. Meantime in Sparta are happening intrigues surrounding the Greek council . Later on , a nasty traitor , actually a local shepherd , named Ephialtes (Kieran Moore) informed Persians of a hidden way that could utilize to besiege the Spartans . The real heroism of 300 Spartans helped shape the course of Western Civilization, allowing the Greek city states time to organize an army which repelled the Persians . The impact of the battle was enormous , as the Hellens lost their fright for the Persians and led by Themistocles created their proper defense and allowing the Greek city states organize their own army and retain the fearful enemy. Ultimately the Persians are vanquished in the battles of Salamina, Platea and Mycala.

    This is an acceptable film produced and directed by Rudolph Mate with great cast as Richard Egan as king Spartan Leonidas and Ralph Richardson as Themistocles , Diane Baker as Ellas , Barry Coe as Phylon , David Farrar as Xerxes ,Donald Houston as Hydarnes , among others . The flick packs nice production design , characters with elaborate costumes and a seamless combination of natural sets as well as studios , including lots of battles . A spectacular and colorful version about Battle of Thermopylae between Leonidas leading his small army of Greeks spearheaded by 300 Spartans against Xerxes . Enjoyable movie blends historic events , drama and breathtaking fights . Every little scene has been given maximum detail, as gowns, environment and set design . Evocative and glimmer cinematography by Geoffrey Unsworth , being shot on location in Perachora, Athens, Gulf of Corinth, Loutraki, Greece . Vibrating and shaking musical score by Manos Hatzidakis . This historical picture was professionally directed by Rudolph Mate.

    Other adaptations about this historic tale are the followings : ¨300¨ by Zack Snyder with Gerard Butler , Lena Headey , Vincent Regan , David Wedham ; when Comic artist Frank Miller saw ¨The Lion Of Sparta", as a boy and said : "it changed the course of my creative life". His graphic novel "300", about the Battle of Thermopylae, was the basis for 300 (2006) ¨. Its follow-up ¨300: Rise of an Empire¨ (2014) by Noam Munro with Sullivan Stapleton , Eva Greene , Rodrigo Santoro . And a phenomenal documentary, ¨The Last stand of the 300¨, produced by History Channel which is totally necessary seeing it along with 300 . The film will appeal to epic deeds enthusiasts and history lovers.
    helpful•5
    1
    • ma-cortes
    • Feb 20, 2016

    FAQ2

    • Greek Army---Was "Sparta" Filmed in Greece?
    • Chicago Opening Happened When?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 1962 (Austria)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der Löwe von Sparta
    • Filming locations
      • Perachora, Greece
    • Production company
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • £500,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 54 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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