The mythical tale of a Thracian who became the divining heroic rebel against Rome's social injustices has since entered the realm of global folklore - thanks in part to director Stanley Kubrick’s Spartacus (1960); a somewhat problematic thinking man’s epic that follows the man's exploits from copper mine slave to gladiator in training, and later, defiant freedom fighter.After hamstringing a Roman guard for attempting to beat him into submission, Spartacus (Kirk Douglas) is chained to a God forsaken rock where he presumably will starve to death. He is spared this fate by Senator Lentulus Batiatus (Peter Ustinov) who takes pleasure in training gladiators for the games in the Circus Maximus. Impressed with Spartacus’ musculature, Lentulus sends his new protégée to school – a sort of primitive ‘fight club’ for brutes destined to wind up as ground meat in the Roman forums.
The school is run by a merciless taskmaster, Marcellus (Charles McGraw) a gladiator who has earned his freedom through deed and who uses every opportunity to taunt Spartacus – particularly after he refuses to fight him. Spartacus endures further humiliation from Marcellus after he is given a woman, Varinia (Jean Simmons) - presumably to build stamina - but refuses to simply abuse her for his own sexual gratification.
When visiting senator, Marcus Licinius Crassus (Lawrence Olivier) arrives at Lentulus’ home, requesting his own private gladiator game to the death, Spartacus is pitted against Ethiopian Draba (Woody Strode). And although Draba defeats Spartacus in the arena, he refuses to kill him - instead launching into an attack against his captors that ends with Crassus slitting Draba's throat. Varinia is sold to Crassus with Lentulus promising to deliver her the next time he is in Rome.
Meanwhile, Spartacus attacks and murders Marcellus. The gladiators revolt against the school, breaking out and setting about the countryside to form an army of rebels against the Empire. Crassus is given a male slave, Antoninus (Tony Curtis) as his house boy. Interestingly, there are subtle hints that Crassus intends to procure Antoninus as his concubine. However, before this can occur, Antoninus steals into the night and joins Spartacus' forces.
The rebels enjoy early successes against the Roman Army, liberating more slaves in the process who ultimately join their growing legions. This, of course, infuriates Crassus immensely but very much works in service to Senator Sempronius Gracchus (Charles Laughton) plans to install Julius Caesar (John Gavin) to the throne. A misguided alliance with the Cilicians cripples Spartacus' chances for victory after Crassus buys their loyalty. Realizing the hopelessness of their situation, the Cilician's envoy (Herbert Lom) offers safe passage to Asia for Spartacus and Varinia. Spartacus refuses, opting to remain with the men who have pledged their allegiance to him.
As Crassus' armed forces decimate the rebellion, Spartacus is captured along with his surviving army. Crassus declares that he will spare their lives if they reveal Spartacus' identity to him. In the film's best remembered, and most poignantly scripted moment, the soldiers refuse, flanking Spartacus and standing up, one by one - each declaring that they are Spartacus. Crassus edict sentences Spartacus and his legions to crucifixion - a fate spared Varinia and Spartacus' young son when Lentulus masks their identities as his wife and child. In the final scene, Varinia is briefly reunited with Spartacus, who hangs on his crucifix, dying but with the knowledge that Varinia and his child will endure as free members of a new society.
The backstage politics during Spartacus' preproduction is almost as fascinating as what emerges on the screen. For its time, Spartacus was a new hybrid of the time honoured Roman epic - void of any direct references to Christianity or Jesus as was the forte usually ascribed this type of film. Blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo replaced Howard Fast under the pseudonym Sam Jackson; a move overturned by Kirk Douglas insistence that Trumbo be given screen credit under his own name.
For his part, Stanley Kubrick was rather dissatisfied with the final outcome, despite being given a $12 million budget and 10,500 extras to command; put off by the fact that his hero had no perceivable character flaws and emerged from the tale as a deified patron saint of freedom.
Viewed today, Spartacus exemplifies a certain style in film making wholly absent from our contemporary cinematic landscape. Exteriors were shot outside of Madrid, Spain with the Spanish army subbing in for the Romans during the epic battle sequences. Yet, it must be said that the footage shot in Hollywood belies the shift from one continent to the other. There is an artifice and an artificiality to the sound stage footage - ironically, that Kubrick preferred - but that completely stifles the more visceral and dramatic footage shot in Spain. The juxtaposition of these stylistic polar opposites is, at times jarring to contemporary eyes.
Nevertheless, Spartacus remains impressive to behold. Impressive is also a fairly accurate way to describe Universal's Blu-Ray offering. Although flesh tones are arguably too red on this outing, the higher bit rate in mastering this film has resulted in a level of clarity and fine detail never before witnessed on home video - not even on Criterion's 2-disc SE DVD.
Craggy rock formations and wrinkles in actor's faces jump forth from the screen. Film grain is less evident on this outing and restoration expert Robert A. Harris has given this disc a failing grade, but this reviewer could not help but be impressed by the image quality in general - despite its color correction and possible DNR shortcomings. For the novice collector as well as the more ardent film fan, this edition of Spartacus will probably not disappoint.
The lossless audio is more pronounced, with a more aggressive bass than on the DVD. Where Universal has dropped the ball on this anniversary edition is in its extras. Virtually all of the Criterion extras, including audio commentaries and newly recorded interviews and a featurette on the making of the film have been dropped from this Blu-ray. The only extras we get are a few very brief vintage interviews from Ustinov and Simmons as well as a brief selection of deleted scenes. Those who own the previously issued Criterion set will not want to part with it just yet!
FILM RATING (out of 5 - 5 being the best)
4
VIDEO/AUDIO
4
EXTRAS
2
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