Director
Stanley Kubrick
Leading Actors/Actresses
Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons
Supporting Actors/Actresses
Peter Ustinov, Charles Laughton
Genre
Adventure, Biography, Drama
Language
English
Awards
Won 4 Academy Awards: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Peter Ustinov), Best Cinematography (Color), Best Art-Direction Set-Direction (Color), Best Costume Design (Color)
Date of Release
1960
Producer
Edward Lewis
Setting and Context
1st Century B.C. Roman Republic
Narrator and Point of View
The point of view is that of Spartacus
Tone and Mood
Realistic, Dramatic
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist is Spartacus, antagonist is Crassus
Major Conflict
The Roman Republic has enslaved men, women and children in order to do their manual labor and provide pleasure in gladiator contests. They do not value the life of the slave as human.
Climax
Spartacus leads a band of slaves to rebel against Crassus and the Roman Republic in order to disband slavery. Crassus and his forces defeat Spartacus and crucify the survivors on the Appian Way leading to Rome.
Foreshadowing
Draba choosing to attempt to kill Crassus during the gladiator match foreshadows how Spartacus will too choose to die before killing another slave.
Understatement
Crassus admiration for Spartacus, and his desire to be a force just as he was that the people turn to and follow.
Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques
n/a
Allusions
This era of slavery alludes to every period of time in the history of man where slavery has been an acceptable practice, and where men fought to stop it.
Paradox
Spartacus could lead his people to safety by leaving on the boats with the Cilicians, but paradoxically chooses to stay to fight the Roman army knowing that they will give their lives doing so.
Parallelism
Crassus' speech to the Roman people on the steps of the Senate parallels Spartacus' speech to his people on a hill in the wilderness.
