Spartacus (1960) ft. Peterson W. Hill

Dana and Tom with 5x Club member, Peterson W. Hill (Co-Host of the War Starts at Midnight podcast) discuss Spartacus (1960) for its 65th Anniversary: directed by Stanley Kubrick, written by Dalton Trumbo, Cinematography by Russell Metty, Music by Alex North, starring Kirk Douglas, Jean Simmons, Tony Curtis, Laurence Olivier, Charles Laughton, and Peter Ustinov.

Plot Summary: Spartacus tells the story of a slave in ancient Rome who refuses to accept a life of cruelty and injustice. Born into slavery, Spartacus is forced to fight as a gladiator for the entertainment of wealthy Romans. However, his strength, courage, and sense of dignity inspire other slaves to follow him when he leads a massive revolt, freeing thousands of men, women, and children.

Spartacus dreams of escaping Rome’s control and living freely. However, the Roman army is powerful and relentless. Despite many victories, Spartacus and his followers cannot escape Rome’s reach. In the end, Spartacus is captured and crucified, but his spirit of resistance lives on. The film shows how his fight for freedom challenged the might of an empire and became a symbol of courage against oppression.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction, Cast, and Background for Sparatacus

03:24 Relationship(s) to Spartacus

09:00 Kirk Douglas' Crowning Achievement?

15:59 Plot Summary for Spartacus

17:04 What is Spartacus About?

21:54 Where is Spartacus in the Kubrick Rankings?

26:16 Did You Know?

31:39 First Break

32:28 What's Happening with Peterson?

38:19 The Cinema Legacy Poll - #79-71

50:50 Best Performance(s)

01:05:45 Best Scene(s)

01:14:59 Second Break

01:15:45 Best/Funniest Lines

01:18:07 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy

01:25:43 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance

01:32:12 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty

01:37:53 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness

01:42:10 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability

01:45:11 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Final Total

01:47:20 Remaining Questions for Spartacus

01:52:21 Thank You Peterson and Final Thoughts

02:01:53 Credits

Guest:

Peterson W. Hill - Co-Host of the War Starts at Midnight podcast

• @petersonwhill on IG, Letterboxd, and Twitter
• Previous Guest on Gone Girl (2014), Parasite (2019), Fight Club (1999), Ben-Hur (1959), Up in the Air (2009), The Shop Around the Corner (1940), La Dolce Vita (1960), The Social Network (2010) Revisit, Pather Panchali (1955), Se7en (1995)

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For more on the episode, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/spartacus-1960-ft-peterson-w-hill

For the entire rankings list so far, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/greatest-movie-of-all-time-list

Keywords:

Spartacus, Kirk Douglas, Stanley Kubrick, film analysis, movie themes, cinema history, freedom, oppression, classic films, movie reviews, classic films, Chaplin, Keaton, Sunrise, Beauty and the Beast, E.T., Ordinary People, international cinema, best picture, Dalton Trumbo, Jean Simmons, Peter Ustinov, Gladiator, Braveheart, Laurence Olivier, Charles Laughton, Tony Curtis

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