Spartacus [Criterion Collection] [2 Discs]

Director: Stanley Kubrick Stanley Kubrick

Overview

Universal Pictures originally released Spartacus as a bare-bones DVD, and The Criterion Collection also released the film as a three-disc laserdisc with most of the same extras as this disc. Neither can hold a candle to this splendid two-disc release. The film's transfer is stunning. Spartacus' long-troubled restoration history, supervised by the preeminent film restorer Robert A. Harris (who also restored Lawrence of Arabia and Vertigo to their undisputed glories), has been well documented. The arduous process yields results that are nothing short of amazing. Shown in its original aspect ratio of 2.2:1, enhanced for widescreen TVs, the picture was digitally transferred from a 65 mm intermediate positive. Though Kirk Douglas does seem a bit too red at times, the color correction is stable, tends not to bleed, and seems perfectly balanced overall. The high-contrast picture is sharp throughout, giving many modern-day films a run for their money in terms of visual quality. There is no evidence of compression artifacts whatsoever. The film's 5.1 and 2.0 soundtracks have also been remastered and reconstructed from multiple elements. Alex North's thunderous score really shines here. Disc one contains two audio commentaries. The first track, which was originally recorded for the earlier laserdisc release from 1992, contains insights, observations, and production details from producer/actor Douglas, actor Peter Ustinov, novelist Howard Fast, producer Edward Lewis, restoration expert Harris, and legendary designer Saul Bass. This is simply one of the best DVD commentary tracks around, as all of the contributors have ample time to reminisce about the film's sometimes troubled production. Ustinov almost steals the show with some of his more acerbic comments. The second track is a scene-by-scene analysis taken from screenwriter Dalton Trumbo's notes, written after he viewed a rough cut of the film. The track is narrated by Michael McConnohie and also contains some Alex North music compositions. Disc one also contains an informative restoration demonstration. Disc two contains a wealth of information, including some rare deleted scenes, vintage newsreel footage of the film's premiere, some rather amusing promotional interviews of Ustinov and actress Jean Simmons, another great interview with the droll Ustinov from 1992, an excellent documentary concerning the Hollywood Ten (of which Trumbo was a member) and much, much more.

Product Details

Release Date:	04/24/2001
UPC:	0715515011723
Original Release:	1960
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	Criterion Collection
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[monaural, Dolby Digital, stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	3:16:00
Sales rank:	1,613

Special Features

Disc one: the restored 1991 Super Technirama version of Spartacus; audio commentary by actors Kirk Douglas, Peter Ustinov, novelist Howard Fast, producer Edward Lewis, restoration expert Robert A. Harris, and designer Saul Bass; scene-by-scene analysis by Dalton Trumbo; restoration demonstration; additional Alex North score compositions Disc two: Behind-the-scenes "gladiatorial school" footage; deleted footage; gallery of production stills, lobby cards, posters, print ads, a comic book; sketches by director Stanley Kubrick; Saul Bass's storyboards; vintage newsreel footage; 1960 interview with Jean Simmons and Peter Ustinov; 1992 video interview with Peter Ustinov; 1960 documentary The Hollywood Ten, plus archival material about the blacklist; original theatrical trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Kirk Douglas	Spartacus
Laurence Olivier	Marcus Licinius Crassus
Jean Simmons	Varinia
Charles Laughton	Gracchus
Tony Curtis	Antoninus
Peter Ustinov	Lentulus Batiatus
John Gavin	Julius Caesar
Nina Foch	Helena Glabrus
Herbert Lom	Tigranes
John Ireland	Crixus
John Dall	Glabrus
Charles McGraw	Marcellus
Joanna Barnes	Claudia Marius
Woody Strode	Draba
Harold J. Stone	David
Peter Brocco	Ramon
Paul Lambert	Gannicus
Bob Wilke	Guard Captain
Nick Dennis	Dionysius
John Hoyt	Caius
Frederic Worlock	Laelius
Dayton Lummis	Symmachus
Lili Valenty	Old Crone
Jil Jarmyn	Julia,Julia
Jo Summers	Slave Girl
Autumn Russell	Slave Girl
Kay Stewart	Slave Girl
Lynda Williams	Slave Girl
Louise Vincent	Slave Girl
James Griffith	Otho
Joe Haworth	Marius,Metallius
Dale Van Sickel	Trainer
Carleton Young	Herald
Hallene Hill	Beggar Woman
Paul E. Burns	Fimbria,Pirate
Leonard Penn	Garrison Officer
Harry Harvey Jr.	Slave
Eddie Parker	Slave
Harold Goodwin	Slave
Chuck Roberson	Slave
Saul Gorss	Slave Leader
Charles Horvath	Slave Leader
Gil Perkins	Slave Leader
Dick Crockett	Guard
Harvey Parry	Guard
Rod Normond	Guard
Larry Perron	Guard
Carey Loftin	Guard
Regis Parton	Actor,Gladiator
Bob Morgan	Gladiator,Ad Lib
Tom Steele	Gladiator
Aaron Saxon	Gladiator
Wally Rose	Gladiator
Ken Terrell	Ad Lib
Otto Malde	Roman General
Russell Saunders	Actor
Seamon Glass	Pirate
George Robotham	Pirate
Harold Kruger	Pirate
Chuck Courtney	Soldier
Russ Saunders	Soldier
Valley Keene	Soldier
Tap Canutt	Soldier,Soldier
Wayne Van Horn	Soldier
Brad Harris	Soldier
Jerry Brown	Soldier
Chuck Hayward	Soldier
Buff Brady	Soldier
Cliff Lyons	Soldier
Anthony Hopkins	Marcus Licinius Crassus (some scenes, 1991 restoratio
Rube Schaffer	Soldier
Ted de Corsia	Legionnaire
Arthur Batanides	Legionnaire
Bob Stevenson	Legionnaire
Terence de Marney	Major Domo
Alex North	Composer

Technical Credits

Peter Ustinov

Calder Willingham

Dalton Trumbo

Stanley Kubrick	Director
Peter Ustinov	Screenwriter
Calder Willingham	Screenwriter
Dalton Trumbo	Screenwriter
Kirk Douglas	Executive Producer
Edward Lewis	Producer
Wah Chang	Special Effects
Yakima Canutt	Stunts

Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Spartacus
1. Overture [:10]
2. Opening Credits [4:02]
3. "A Disease Called Human Slavery" [3:42]
4. The Gladiatorial School [5:36]
5. Spartacus Meets Varinia [5:43]
6. Training [4:41]
7. A Slave's Courtship [1:30]
8. Crassus Orders a Show [6:36]
9. Selecting the Gladiators [4:52]
10. Crassus Buys Varinia [3:30]
11. Fight To the Death [2:53]
12. The Slaves Revolt [7:36]
13. The Roman Senate [6:51]
14. A Singer Of Songs [4:05]
15. Crassus Admonishes Glabrus [1:37]
16. A Natural Leader [3:02]
17. Spartacus Finds Varinia [5:38]
18. "A Tendency Toward Corpulence" [4:34]
19. Oysters and Snails [3:36]
20. Slave Camp At Vesuvius [3:55]
21. Antoninus Entertains [4:49]
22. Splendor In the Grass [3:41]
23. The Pirates' Agent Cuts a Deal [3:08]
24. The Roman Garrison Falls [5:51]
25. Entr'acte [6:08]
26. Glabrus Is Sentenced [2:23]
27. To the Sea [4:14]
28. Varinia's News [3:43]
29. Caesar Is Made Commander [2:47]
30. Celebrant Slaves [1:15]
31. Strategizing Against Spartacus [1:43]
32. A Jubilant Arrival [5:04]
33. Tigranus Brings Ill Tidings [1:34]
34. Calls To Arms [4:52]
35. A Deal Is Struck [5:51]
36. The Eve Of Battle [3:09]
37. The Battle [5:23]
38. "I Am Spartacus" [9:35]
39. Batiatus Pleads His Case [1:37]
40. "A Bad Attack Of Dignity" [4:14]
41. The List Of Traitors [3:43]
42. Crassus Woos Varinia [2:39]
43. Spartacus Fights Antoninus [6:19]
44. Gracchus' Last Laugh [9:22]
45. A Son Who Is Free [2:28]
46. Restoration Credits [3:41]
1. How It Began [:10]
2. The Inspiration For Spartacus [4:02]
3. Death Valley [3:42]
4. The Gladiatorial Set [5:36]
5. A Tough Scene To Play [5:43]
6. "Most Authentic Part Of the Film" [4:41]
7. Douglas Brings In Kubrick [1:30]
8. Ustinov On Olivier [6:36]
9. The Politics Of Spartacus [4:52]
10. Fast On Varinia [3:30]
11. "The Great Scene In the Film" [2:53]
12. Actings's Inherent Dangers [7:36]
13. Laughton's Frustrations [6:51]
14. Trumbo's Approach to Decadence [4:05]
15. Similarities In Cultures [1:37]
16. Breaking the Blacklist [3:02]
17. Restoration Issues [5:38]
18. "A Harmonious Tennis Match" [4:34]
19. Olivier's Crassus [3:36]
20. Kubrick Exerts Control [3:55]
21. Slaves In Ancient Rome [4:49]
22. Casting Varinia [3:41]
23. Technicolor Printing [3:08]
24. The Role Of Saul Bass [5:51]
25. Key Art [6:08]
26. An Antagonistic Relation [2:23]
27. Missing Footage Restored [4:14]
28. The Naked Scenes [3:43]
29. Filming In Spain [2:47]
30. Coddling Actors [1:15]
31. The Actors Disagree [1:43]
32. Different Directorial Styles [5:04]
33. Bass and the Final Battle [1:34]
34. Roman Fighting Strategies [4:52]
35. Frustration With Roman Pictures [5:51]
36. Two Sides Of Spartacus [3:09]
37. The Issue Of Violence [5:23]
38. A Love Story [9:35]
39. Olivier and the Horse [1:37]
40. When Movies Were Events [4:14]
41. Injecting Political Humor [3:43]
42. Ustinov On Acting [2:39]
43. "A Scene Of Love" [6:19]
44. Trumbo's Initial Reactions [9:22]
45. The Crucifixion Scene Offends [2:28]
46. Fond Remembrances [3:41]
1. Battle Over the Screenplay [:10]
2. Spartacus' Noble Aims [4:02]
3. The Frightful Animal [3:42]
4. An Excised Subplot [5:36]
5. The Power Of Spartacus' Restraint [5:43]
6. Score Variation #1 [4:41]
7. Powerful Acting [1:30]
8. Two Worlds Collide [6:36]
9. (No Analysis Provided) [4:52]
10. Large Vs. Small Spartacus [3:30]
11. The Death Of Draba [2:53]
12. Spartacus Comes Into Power [7:36]
13. Two Main Adversaries [6:51]
14. (No Analysis Provided) [4:05]
15. Emergence Of Large Spartacus [1:37]
16. Large Replaces Small [3:02]
17. Trumbo Is Overruled [5:38]
18. Ustinov's Contributions [4:34]
19. Homosexuality In Ancient Rome [3:36]
20. Public House/Slum Street Scenes [3:55]
21. A "Need For the Specific" [4:49]
22. Problems With the Love Scene [3:41]
23. Spartacus As An Equal [3:08]
24. Portrayal Of Slave Women [5:51]
25. The Cast's Full Potential [6:08]
26. Expanse Of Time [2:23]
27. Score Variation #2 [4:14]
28. Reaction To Varinia's Pregnancy [3:43]
29. Historical Context [2:47]
30. Caesar's Rise To Power [1:15]
31. Spartacus' Effect on Roman Society [1:43]
32. Futility Of the Slave Revolt [5:04]
33. Slave Clothing and Appearance [1:34]
34. Large Vs. Small [4:52]
35. "Stonewall" Ustinov [5:51]
36. "Can't We Get It Right?" [3:09]
37. Sexual Politics [5:23]
38. Score Variation #3 [9:35]
39. Olivier Comes Off Best [1:37]
40. Muddling the Film's Meaning [4:14]
41. The Crassus Character [3:43]
42. Writing By Committee [2:39]
43. Risk Of Homosexual Implications [6:19]
44. Balancing Scenes [9:22]
45. Score Variation #4 [2:28]
46. American Legion Boycott [3:41]
Disc #2 -- Spartacus
1. Secular Spartacus [3:04]
2. Kirk In Palm Springs [2:08]
3. Comedy and Tragedy [2:00]
4. Working With Kubrick [1:05]
5. Anthony Mann [1:10]
6. The First Reading [4:22]
7. Laughton's Fans [2:42]
8. Airplane Prank [:55]
9. Hedda Hopper [:55]
10. Payola [1:09]
11. Dalton Trumbo [2:12]
12. Oscars And Numerology [2:36]

Menu

Disc #1 -- Spartacus
   Play the Movie
   Chapters
   Audio Options
      Dolby Surround Film Soundtrack
      Dolby Digital 5.1 Film Soundtrack
      Dolby Digital 2.0 Commentary
      Dolby Digital 1.0 Screenwriter Analysis
   Commentary
      Play
      Index
   Screenwriter Analysis and Score Variations
      Play Analysis
      Index
      Study of the Score
   Restoration Demonstration
   Color Bars
Disc #2 -- Spartacus
   Deleted Scenes
      Spartacus Meets Varinia
         Play U.K. Version
         Play U.S. Version
      1967 Finale
         Play
      Gracchus' Suicide
         Play
      Public House/Slum Street
         Begin
   Behind-The-Scenes Footage
      Play
   Spartacus Via Newsreel
      Play
      London Premiere
      Curtis Wins a "Bambi"
      Olivier In Hollywood
      Douglas Immortalized
      Douglas In New York
   Jean Simmons TV Interview
      Play
   Peter Ustinov Reminisces
      1992 Interview
      1992 Index
      1960 Interview
   Breaking the Blacklist
      The Hollywood Ten
         Play
      Spartacus and The Blacklist
      Dalton Trumbo
      American Legion Letter
   The MPAA Responds
   Saul Bass Storyboards
      Begin
   Promotional Materials
      Production Stills
      Lobby Cards
      Posters & Print Ads
      Comic Book
      Original Theatrical Trailer
   Stanley Kubrick
      Kubrick And Spartacus
      Kubrick's Sketches

Editorial Reviews

Stanley Kubrick's first big-budget movie, a rousing testament to the unquenchable human thirst for freedom, was phenomenally successful when first released in 1960 and is today regarded -- rightfully so -- as one of the truly great cinematic spectacles. It was certainly a career highpoint for Kirk Douglas, who is superbly stoic as Spartacus, the former gladiator who led an army of fellow slaves against their Roman oppressors. But his was only one of many vivid characterizations. Equally memorable are Laurence Olivier's deliciously sly aristocrat, Peter Ustinov's conniving promoter, Jean Simmons's adoring maiden, Tony Curtis's rebellious slave, and Charles Laughton's wily senator. Kubrick's legendary perfectionism (which sparked repeated on-set clashes with producer/star Douglas) manifested itself in astonishingly intricate period re-creations and large-scale stagings of battle scenes. He added his own flourishes to the script, written by blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo, and never allowed spectacle, action, or pageantry to overshadow human emotion. An enormous influence on Gladiator, this sprawling epic has consistently thrilled moviegoers.

Barnes & Noble - Ed Hulse