The problem with Spartacus is that it doesn’t have a clear definition. The filmmakers couldn’t decide whether it was a sword and sandals epic, a message film or something that shows off Kirk Douglas’ physique. There is one fact about it. The movie is epic. The only problem is, it followed another epic, Ben-Hur. This movie was about Rome, and it swept the Academy Awards. Spartacus wasn’t even nominated, nor was it’s star, Kirk Douglas. Spartacus also suffers from a lack of strong acting. It has a solid performance from it’s lead, Douglas. Charles Laughton is very good as the Roman senator, Gracchus. He is often overlooked in this role: probably because of his many fine roles. Laughton, in his role as Gracchus, does show the political intrigue of the senate. The battles between Gracchus and Crassus, (Laurence Olivier), helps the viewer’s of movie, forget the underlying faults.
Laurence Olivier was a trained Shakespearean actor. He has many roles critics can discuss. His role as Crassus isn’t one. He doesn’t bring to life the politician and general, responsible for going after Spartacus.The other bit of casting is Tony Curtis as Antoninus; Crassus slave who joins Spartacus revolt. He is an actor whose best suit is comedy. He doesn’t fit as someone who can fight alongside Spartacus. He spends a lot of the movie entertaining. This is mostly by reading poetry, and telling stories. One more bit of miscasting is Jean Simmons as Varinia. She is a slave who escapes to join her love, Spartacus. Her main goal in the movie seems to be to look pretty. She does this quite well. Unfortunately, she is a very talented actress, who like most in the film, are overshadowed by Kirk Douglas.
This gets back to the star of this very long movie, Kirk Douglas. He poses for the camera, like many actors. He gives a speech to his army of slaves. It isn’t Shakespearean by any means. Douglas’s delivery and the camera focusing on his head and shoulder’s make it effective. Kirk Douglas, like all movie stars, has a distinct style. It ranges from over the top, to overstated facial gestures. The facial gestures might work better, if Spartacus were a silent epic. This isn’t Douglas’s best film, by any means. He shines in Gunfight at the O. K. Corral. He is also a good foil to John Wayne in The War Wagon. He did put himself over the top with Spartacus, both professionally and financially. A few years before this film, Kirk Douglas’ Hollywood money was gone. It was stolen by an unscrupulous accountant. He recovered very well from this financial disaster. Spartacus became the highest grossing film of the year.
Spartacus is based on the novel, written by Howard Fast. It was adapted to the screen by Dalton Trumbo, a blacklisted Hollywood screenwriter. Trumbo was given the job by Douglas, despite many objections. He salvaged his career somewhat, with the movie’s success. The script does go back and forth. Spartacus is a slave in the salt mines, who is being slowly put to death by starving. He is spotted by Batiatus, (Peter Ustinov), an unscrupulous slave dealer. Batiatus isn’t bothered by Spartacus rebellious streak. He feels it will be good in his gladiator school. He learns the hard way. Spartacus is taunted by the school’s instructor, when Varinia, is bought as a slave for Crassus’ Roman household. Spartacus is enraged, and brutally murders him. This leads to an all out revolt led by Spartacus. The gladiators escape and along the way, Spartacus recruits an army of slaves. They spread terror and fear throughout the countryside. This leads to the climactic battle between Spartacus army and Crassus legions.
The story uses slavery as it’s focus. It shows how demeaning and dehumanizing it was. The narration at the beginning, points out the evil of slavery. It was a staple of civilization, only being defeated, after The American Civil War. Spartacus understands that slavery can be beaten, when a fellow gladiator, Draba, (Woody Strode),spares his life. Draba tired of gladiator life attempts to kill Crassus and others of the nobility. He is killed, thus planting the seeds of rebellion in the mind of Spartacus. This has Batiatus barely escaping. It also gives him pause to think about a career change. Events and politics, force him to leave his misbegotten career, by the film’s end. The movie has a few memorable quotes. One is I’m Spartacus. Another is Spartacus saying when a free man dies, he loses the good things in life, but when a slave dies, his pain ends. This quote seems to sum up the movie’s anti-slavery message. The political posturing gives an insight into the last few decades of the Roman Republic, with some interesting dialogue. The film’s focus is on the revolt, showing hope in the faces of the slaves who follow Spartacus quest for freedom. This scene is very powerful, with long and close shots. The climactic battle has blood guts and gore. Spartacus is at first shown on his horse leading his soldiers into battle. Later, to illustrate the might of Rome, and his dire situation, Spartacus is unhorsed. He fights on foot, witnessing the deaths of those around him. These scenes were photographed by Russell Metty, who won an Oscar for cinematography.
This movie like any of this type require hard work. There were many stunts in Spartacus. They required many hard working and mostly uncredited men. The stunt coordinator was Yakima Canutt. He was famous for his work with John Wayne, often being his stunt double. His most famous stunt was the chariot race in Ben-Hur. A movie like Spartacus could not be done without people like Yakima Canutt, and men like him.
There are many films like Spartacus, that are epic in scale. More than a few are better. It is the look of the film, that stands out. The shots of armies and the vast landscapes, to name a few. Epic films require several hours of a viewer’s time. Ben-Hur is the best of them. Many have seen that movie. If you have watched this movie a few times, then watch Spartacus. It would be a good exercise in contrast and compare. It would also be a way to pass a few hours, on a rainy day.