Spartacus (1960)

Happy Labor Day!  Here's a movie about slaves.    I had never seen this movie before Tuesday night.  It was listed under Netflix's categories as an Epic and it really lived up to the title.  Clocking in at 3 and a quarter hours, this is not a movie for casual viewing.  It's good, though.  A classic.

Spartacus (Kirk Douglas) was born into slavery and sold to work in the salt mines of Libya at 13.  He grew up angry and resentful of his Roman masters and eventually was sold to Batiatus (Peter Ustinov) to be trained as a gladiator.  Despite the casual cruelty of his profession, Batiatus ran the most well-respected gladitorial academy in Italy and the students are treated like top athletes.  There, Spartacus meets Varinia (Jean Simmons), a beautiful slave girl.  All too soon, however, some Roman nobles show up to ruin everything.  Crassus (Laurence Olivier), his new brother-in-law Glabrus (John Dall), and their wives (Nina Foch and Joanna Barnes) are in the mood to celebrate with some fights to the death despite Batiatus' protests that it's bad for morale.  The fighters are chosen, Spartacus among them, and then brought out in pairs to fight.  Meanwhile, Crassus spots Varinia and buys her on the spot.  Spartacus loses the match, but is spared when his opponent goes all "Are you not entertained?!" on the spectators and gets killed by Crassus.  After that little kerfuffle, all it takes is one more little push and Spartacus starts a full-blown insurrection, freeing slaves across the countryside.  Rome's Senate, led by Senator Gracchus (Charles Laughton), is all for just letting them get the hell out of the country but Crassus smells an opportunity.

I think pretty much everyone should be familiar with this story, but in case you're not I won't spoil it.  It's a good story that is elevated by some excellent actors.  Also, directed by Stanley Kubrick.  Not exactly chump change there.  It won four Oscars out of the six it was nominated for, including Best Supporting Actor for Peter Ustinov.  Unsuprisingly, since he steals every scene that he's in with his weaselly, whiny, cowardice.  Immensely talented, he also played the voice of Prince John in Disney's animated Robin Hood.