[Sans-Culotte]

There is commie propaganda all through the 1960 film of Spartacus. The novel was written by a commie (Howard Fast) and then it had a commie (Trumbo) doing the screenplay. Crassus is portrayed as a bisexual dictator rooting out subversives (a McCarthy/HUAC allusion). Spartacus and the slaves are portrayed as "fighting to end slavery" when that was never their stated goal. They did free a lot of slaves, but that was mainly to enlarge their slave army. The character of Crassus seems to be based more on Sulla (who really was a dictator and bisexual) than on the real Crassus.

Nevertheless, it is a favorite film of mine. It's not particularly accurate, but it is dramatic. I first saw it as a kid and could not believe the ending with all the slaves crucified. It has that great cast, a great music score by Alex North, direction by Kubrick and Saul Bass's wonderful main title design.

[dsc]

“Nevertheless, it is a favorite film of mine. It’s not particularly accurate, but it is dramatic.”

Satan always fishes with tasty bait.

[nyc1]

As I recall, Spartacus and his slaves also would have escaped if they didn’t want to spend their time looting Italy.

Bad choice. Most of them wound up crucified.

[TigerHawk]

I TOO, SAW IT AS A KID. THE MOST IMPRESSIVE SCENE IN THE FILM IS THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE LEGIONS IN THE FINAL BATTLE SCENE.
JUST FABULOUS!...AND WELL BEFORE CGI! THOSE WERE REAL MEN,
WELL TRAINED AND REHEARSED. MUST HAVE TAKEN FOREVER TO SHOOT.

THE FILM DOES NOT HOLD UP ALL THAT WELL AFTER A FEW VIEWINGS, BUT THAT ONE SCENE!!! JUST GREAT!