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Spartacus is a sweeping epic film, which follows the Slave revolt of Pre-Imperial Rome in
73 - 71 BC. It is a fantastic, true story (told with some literary license) set against
spectacular backgrounds and with wonderful acting.  The story traces the rise and fall of the leader of the
revolt, Spartacus, played by Kirk Douglas. He is rescued from working in an brutally run
Libyan mine to be trained as a gladiator by Lentulus Batiatus (Peter Ustinov.) The
gladiator school is tough but fair - the men are taught to fight, but in the interests of
morale as well as profit they are not allowed to kill. As a reward for their hard work,
they are sometimes even allowed access to a woman. This is how Spartacus meets Varinia
(Jean Simmons). He treats her kindly and refuses to perform for the amusement of the
overseer, and so a relationship between them begins to develop - later in the film she
becomes his wife.
 The routine of the
school is upset when the very rich and powerful Roman Senator, Marcus Licinius Crassus
(Laurence Olivier), decides to break his journey there. He brings with him two ladies who
demand that four of the trainee gladiators fight to the death for their amusement.
Spartacus is among those chosen, but although he is defeated in the fight, his opponent
refuses to kill him - instead he attempts an attack on Crassus and is himself killed. All
this causes much unrest amongst the gladiators and when Spartacus finds that Varinia has
been sold to Crassus, he flies into a rage and kills the overseer. This is enough to spark
an uprising, and the gladiators break out.
 As the escapees sweep through the southern part of Italy,
looting villas and freeing slaves, Spartacus is chosen as their natural leader. His
mission is to turn the rabble into a respectable fighting force. He hopes that they will
be able to escape to freedom, and to be able to return home.
Rome is in an uproar! Slaves on the loose and killing, robbing or
maiming the citizens. They are, however, 'only slaves' and so a small force of six cohorts
from the City Garrison is dispatched to deal with them. They are under the command of
young Glabrus, a political understudy of Crassus. (The remaining garrison is taken over by
the young Julius Caesar, another of Crassus' up and coming supporters.)
 Spartacus
has his force in respectable shape as the Romans approach. (He's also negotiated an escape
from Italy with the cooperation of the Mediterranean pirates.) The Romans quite obviously
do not take the 'Slave Army' seriously. Spartacus learns that they have encamped nearby
without the normal fortifications. They raid the camp that night. It's a disaster for the
Romans. Their force is wiped out and the camp destroyed. Glabrus is taken prisoner and
returned to Rome in disgrace.
Intermission |
