Stanley Kubrick’s Spartacus was released in 1960.
The historical epic tells the story of Spartacus, an enslaved gladiator who leads a major revolt against the Roman Republic. Kirk Douglas stars in the title role and also served as the film’s producer. Kubrick replaced original director Anthony Mann early in production, making Spartacus the only film he directed without complete control over the final cut.
The picture was adapted from Howard Fast’s 1951 novel, with a screenplay by Dalton Trumbo. Its production was unusually large for Kubrick, featuring extensive sets, thousands of extras, and major stars including Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, and Peter Ustinov. Ustinov won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Spartacus became a major commercial success and won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It is sometimes separated from Kubrick’s more personal projects because of its studio-driven production, but the experience helped him gain greater creative control over later films. The movie is also remembered for the line “I’m Spartacus!” and its depiction of solidarity.