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After seeing some truly remarkable films about China,I am reminded that there was a TV series and even a new film in the works about the noblest of revolutions,abet a failed one, in western history.SPARTACUS !!!! Released in 1960 and running a bit long at 184 minutes,this film is old school hollywood.A story that develops characters than builds to a climax as only they could back when hollywood was making magic.Why then do I take off 1 star?? Very long to built to the climax by todays standard and the film is a little dated but still quite powerful.You can see how a few more modern films "stole"from this classic.Like the famous line,"I am not a animal"from Elephant man,a film I didn't like BUT was a big hit none the less.The the over all bonding and love amongst the downtrodden warriors seen in "Gladiator"which I did review but it might never have been made unless Spartacus led the way first.I'm sure you know its a early Kubrick film and a A+ cast led by Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier and Jean Simmons.So all I can say is if your not hooked on ONLY action,but want a story and a morality lesson as well,than this is a MUST SEE.
Trailer URL follows the pix and a IMDB summary below.
In 73 BCE, a Thracian slave leads a revolt at a gladiatorial school run by Lentulus Batiatus. The uprising soon spreads across Italy involving thousand of slaves. The plan is to acquire sufficient funds to hire ships from Silesian pirates who could the transport them to other lands from Brandisium in the south of Italy. The Roman Senator Gracchus schemes to have Marcus Publius Glabrus, Commander of the garrison of Rome, lead an army against the slaves who are living on Vesuvius. When Glabrus is defeated his mentor, Senator and General Marcus Licinius Crassus is greatly embarrassed and leads his own army against the slaves. Spartacus and the thousands of freed slaves successfully make their way to Brandisium only to find that the Silesians have abandoned them. They then turn north and must face the might of Rome. Written by garykmcd
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