Spartacus

Spartacus (Kirk Douglas) is a rebellious slave purchased by Lentulus Batiatus (Peter Ustinov), owner of a school for gladiators. For the entertainment of corrupt Roman senator Marcus Licinius Crassus (Laurence Olivier), Batiatus’ gladiators are to stage a fight to the death. On the night before the event, the enslaved trainees are “rewarded” with female companionship. Spartacus’ companion for the evening is Varinia (Jean Simmons), a slave from Brittania. When Spartacus later learns that Varinia has been sold to Crassus, he leads 78 fellow gladiators in revolt. The revolt becomes the principal cog in the wheel of a political struggle. Anthony Mann was the original director of Spartacus, eventually replaced by Stanley Kubrick, who’d previously guided Douglas through Paths of Glory. The film received 4 Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actor for Ustinov.

This film is part of our program Eyes Wide Open or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Stanley Kubrick.