In an epic length film, Spartacus, the great-grandfather of William Wallace and cousin of Maximus, leads an uprising of slaves against Rome. Whenever you know that a film is going to be three hours and sixteen minutes you watch waiting for trivial scenes that ought to have been left out. While Spartacus does have a few such scenes (the Senate room confrontations come to mind), the time is generally well used. We are constantly engaged as story keeps moving forward.

The film is massive for a 1960 production and director Stanley Kubrick spares no expense. Thousands of extras with competently done costumes create an impressive picture. Sets are nicely made and special effect backgrounds, while not convincing, are pleasantly done. Kirk Douglas does just fine as Spartacus, as does Lawrence Olivier as Crassus, the arch-enemy. Beyond the two of them, however, we get a good handful of poorly said lines, with an occasional cheesy or unlikely occurrence. The worst part of the film is the incessant loud brass section that all fifties and sixties seem to feel they need.

On the overall, however, Spartacus can rightly be called a masterpiece for its time. Spartacus could easily be criticized today for being too “good” a character – having no apparent flaws. Equally unbelievable may be the fact that such a calm, cultivated character could have come from nothing but a life of slavery. He never had the time for such education like William Wallace got from his uncle. Despite all this, I like Spartacus. His concern honestly does extend beyond himself and his love is genuine. For example, he’s probably had no education or background that would tell him it would have been wrong to rape Virinia the night he was given her. Everyone else was doing it. But there was something in him that defied all of that – he consciously chose to respond to the Other on his own.

Perhaps the best evidence for his character is how much he is loved by the men who are willing to die with him, or for him. The legendary “I am Spartacus” scene is worth its fame as a thematic climax of the film. Crassus, who lives to see Spartacus dead, struggles with the idea that people love him because he in power, but not for his own sake. He fails with Spartacus’ wife, Varinia (Jean Simmons) as well as his former servant Antoninus (Tony Curtis), who becomes the catalyst for the “I am Spartacus” event.

Christ analogies are difficult to avoid, even though crucifixion is a common form of death in the period. Spartacus, a common man, rises to free a burdened people and gives his life to help them gain it…but they don’t. No slave, beyond his wife, is any freer after three plus hours. It appears a failure. Such was the opinion of the life of Christ as well. Though Crassus seems to have won, we are repeatedly reminded that he still lives in fear. In fear of what the legend of Spartacus may do.

Year: