Talk:Spartacus (film)

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Archives Contents 1 Spoiler Alert 2 Dialogue Issue 3 Snails and olives 4 Inaccuracy? 5 Versions/Plot 6 other 7 Failed GA 8 Gracchus 9 Removing inaccurcy

[edit] Spoiler Alert

Does anyone else agree that a "spoiler alert" on this film is unwarranted (it's not a twist-ending thriller or mystery whodunnit).

This, to me, is tantamount to putting a "spoiler alert" on Oliver Stone's JFK to reveal that he was asassinated or on The Passion to reveal HE was hung at the end. -- Zosodada

[edit] Dialogue Issue

By rhetorical I was trying to say that the discussion as a whole was (on one level) a logical argument. Since we can't agree on where the word rhetorical fits in, I'm happy to leave it out.

Regarding this being an "attempted seduction", that seems like a strong interpretation. The scene seems to me more like Crassus feeling out Antoninus to see if there is any interest, not as a full-on attempt to woo Antoninus into bed.

The interpretation that it is a seduction scene is pretty widely held. I agree with you that the discussion involves a "logical" argument, but that does not make it rhetorical. In no way is the discussion as a whole rhetorical. Slrubenstein

Fair enough. I don't feel strongly enough to try to find another way to rephrase this. I do feel the article is improved by quoting the dialogue in question, as it lets the reader interpret what is going on for themself.

It had be be left open to interpretation due to then-current censorship practices. Mkweise

I have no objection to including the dialogue -- and it is true that the scene works through innuendo. But it really is a common interpretation: I just used google to find online reviews and these were the first two:

From TVGuide online: "The restorers took advantage of this opportunity to insert some footage that was considered too suggestive for the film's initial release, a thinly-veiled attempted seduction of Curtis by Olivier."

From Epinions review: "The bloodiest battle scenes were restored as were the scenes of Laurence Olivier doing the infamous homosexual seduction in the baths."

and this was maybe the fourth or fifth review: From Thebigpicturedvd.com: "This attempt at seduction provides Antoninus urgent incentive to flee from Crassus and join the revolt against him." Slrubenstein

The soundtrack to the seduction scene was lost. For the reissue Curtis had to re-dub the lines alongside another actor whose name I've forgotten impersonating Olivier. Anyone happen to remember who? --Lee M

It was Anthony Hopkins. RickK 02:11 18 Jul 2003 (UTC)

Right. Now how could I forget that? Lee M 01:59, 8 Aug 2003 (UTC)

[edit] Snails and olives

I remember dragging the SO to see the full version in London some years ago. I remember the comparison being made between green and black olives. Perhaps there were several version? ExpatEgghead 11:11, 12 July 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Inaccuracy?

At present the article says under trhe deading "Historical inaccuracies" - In the opening of the film, Spartacus is shown performing labor on what appears to be a rock quarry. Most slaves in ancient Rome worked in agricultural environments. - If most worked in agircultural environments then by implication some worked in other environment including breaking rocks. Is the author suggesting that slaves weren't used in quaries? I can't see how this can be called an historical inaccuracy. I'm removing it. Jooler 23:18, 29 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Versions/Plot

I added a section header for "Versions" that seems appropriate. It could use a Plot description, don't you think? I would do it, but film buff that I am, this is one I haven't seen. John 01:38, 30 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] other

Now in the Plot Summary they, like, call Sicilians Cicilians. Which happen to be a type of bug or crestacion or wha-ever (it really doesn't matter. Bt I don't want to change because it might have, like, some sort of reason.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 65.16.183.162 (talk • contribs).

Because they're not Sicilians. They're Cilicians. ...._(Complain)^{(Let us to it pell-mell)} 01:38, 8 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Failed GA

This article failed the GA noms due to lack of references and wikification. Tarret 00:29, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Gracchus

Was Gracchus a real historical figure? If not his inclusion in the movie can probably be labled a historical inaccuracy. --YankeeDoodle14 20:17, 21 July 2006 (UTC)

• No, he wasn't real. But the film wasn't trying to be real. And the article points out that he's fictional. ...._(Complain)^{(Let us to it pell-mell)} 05:19, 27 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Removing inaccurcy

I took this out

Spartacus' original escape plan did not involve Cilician pirates, but rather fleeing north to Gaul and heading to Spain to join forces with another Roman rebel, Quintus Sertorius, a partisan of Gaius Marius's still fighting the government instituted by Sulla. It is widely believed that the German and Gallic parts of the army (under their own leaders) wanted to keep fighting the Romans, and that his own men wanted to turn south and loot the Roman countryside further.

1. The deal with the Cilician Pirates is mentioned in Plutarch's Life of Crassus, 10:1-3. It may not have been the orginal plan - but given that Plutarch also describes the slaves defeating several armies, being clear to escape north over the Alps, and not doing so but going back to southern Italy, we don't know what the slaves' plans were. We don't have any accounts from their perspective after all.
2. No historical source mentions the desire of Spartacus to join Quintus Sertorius, who was assassinated about the time that the Third Servile War was ongoing
3. Sulla died before the events here, so it is doubtful that Sertorius was still fighting Sulla's government. Sertorius was in fact trying to avoid being re-conquered by Pompey.
4. There is no historical account which mentions the "German and Gallic parts" under Crixus specifically "split off" and wanted to stay and keep raiding. This is an interpretation of several mentioned events (including a mention by Plutarch that some of his men wanted to stay and keep raiding), but this is nowhere specifically stated - other interpretations also exist.

Vedexent 22:31, 14 September 2006 (UTC)