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Part 2 opens with the defeated Glabrus explaining the fight to an outraged Senate. He
is forced to admit his lack of proper defenses. Crassus' political opponents, led by wily
and very likable Lentulus Gracchus (played to a 'T' by Charles Laughton), maneuver Crassus
into pronouncing sentence himself. Glabrus is banished.  As the
growing Slave Army slowly moves through the countryside there is debate in the Senate
about simply letting them go. However, the politics of Rome cause this to be impossible.
It's bad business, after all, to allow the escape to go unpunished. And, Crassus sees the
defeat of Spartacus' army as a chance for him to increase his power in the Republic. The
Romans send a proper army to deal with Spartacus. This one is mauled too with 19,000
casualties.
 This inevitably leads to a final battle between the slaves and the Roman
army; this time led by Crassus himself. There are two more Roman armies enroute too and
Spartacus is almost trapped in the 'heel' of Italy. Instead, he advances toward Rome and
Crassus' army.
The dawn at last comes when there is no more room for maneuver and the slaves must face
Crassus. The battle is one of the most memorable in movie history, with thousands of
extras cast. The carnage is extraordinary. At the end, there are bodies everywhere as the
victorious Crassus surveys the field.
Varinia and her newborn are taken captive. So too are Spartacus and Antonius. Crassus
attempts in vain to deduce the identity of Spartacus.  Crassus attempts to
determine who Spartacus is, but the prisoners will not identify him. Many make the
claim of "I am Spartacus!". As punishment the survivors are crucified on
the road to Rome. In reality, 6,000 were nailed up along the road, but not Spartacus
himself. Plutarch has him killed in the battle.
"And so making directly towards Crassus himself,
through the midst of arms and wounds, he missed him, but slew two centurions that fell
upon him together. At last being deserted by those that were about him, he himself stood
his ground, and, surrounded by the enemy, bravely defending himself, was cut in
pieces."
 In the movie,
Antonius and Spartacus are saved to be crucified last. But, Crassus orders a fight to the
death between the two. Antonius is the loser and Spartacus is nailed up just outside the
gates of Rome. At the end, Varinia achieves her freedom at the behest of Gracchus and
lovingly departs from a dying Spartacus.
Spartacus is first rate
Hollywood entertainment in the grand style of the epic. As history, however, it takes
significant liberties. The slaves, particularly Spartacus and Varinia, were not nearly as
noble as they are portrayed. And the Romans, particularly Crassus, were not nearly as
evil. Still, it's well worth the viewing.
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