The 300 Spartans

Starring:Richard Egan, Ralph Richardson, Diane Baker, Barry Coe, David Farrar, Donald Houston, Anna Synodinou, Kieron Moore, John Crawford, Robert Brown, Laurence Naismith, Anne Wakefield, Ivan Triesault, Charles Fawcett, Michalis Nikolinakos, Sandro Giglio, Anna Raftopoulou, Dimos Starenios, Yorgos Moutsios, Nikos Papakonstantinou
Director: Rudolph Maté
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

The futile yet inspiring stand of 300 Greek soldiers against the hugest army ever assembled in the ancient world inspired this typical example of Hollywood epic movie-making. King Leonidas of Sparta (Richard Egan, Demetrius and the Gladiators), prevented by political squabbling from sending his entire army to defend the narrow pass of Thermopylae, sets out with his personal bodyguard to fight off the ambitious Persian king, Xerxes. Along the way are a pair of young lovers, scantily clad dancing girls, and treachery though a secret mountain path. The 300 Spartans, made in 1961, has an overstated cold war subtext--there's much talk of freedom vs. slavery--and there are a few too many shots of armored men marching through the Greek countryside, but the historical conflict has a fundamentally stirring quality. Also featuring Sir Ralph Richardson (Dr. Zhivago, Dragonslayer) as a wily Athenian politician. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

A good, but not great epic.......2007-06-24

I've watched this DVD 3 or 4 times, which I wouldn't have done if I didn't like it.

It's in between an A and B movie - Cinemasope, color and location shooting are the "A" part, mid-level actors and budget are limiting factors. The love story is a bit of a tack on, but it is handled reasonably well.

Notably, this is a fairly accurate account of the battle and the events that led up to it. The Greeks did ultimately defeat the Persians under Xerxes, and this was a key event in western history.

I actually like that that movie did not have a blockbuster budget, the battle has to be shown on a small scale, making it more personal. Note the final scene, which is historically accurate. If you are an American, you might remember the Alamo.

Well worth it if you like this this sort of movie. For the more casual viewer, try "Cleopatra", (Elizabeth Taylor, ca. 1963), or "Spartacus", also ca. 1963.

Do not confuse this with the ordinary "sword and toga" B Movies hollywood churned out in the late 1950's and early '60's.

Spartan portrayal of Spartans.......2007-06-02

The writers and producers of The 300 Spartans had their hearts in the right place when they set about to make this film in the swords and sandals era. They included many "facts" (history back then was as much an art form as a journalistic one) of the event and filmed on location. Overall, however, it reeks of limited budget. Film stock was not the best. The typical we-must-use-an-American-lead-and-all-other-Greeks-must-have-British-accents casting is the greatest weakness. But for those who can't be bothered picking up a history book or using their imaginations, this flick comes closer to the truth than the very stylized '300' of Frank Miller. That film is an exercise in pure, over-the-top entertainment that cares not a whit that the battle had no giants, rhinos, or African elephants (from Persia?). Better casting, more Tarentinoesque gore, and more of the bravado of the most macho battalion of soldiers the world has ever seen would have pushed this film to four stars in my estimation. If you're a reader and love ancient warfare, seek out my novel To Move the World.

300 spartans.......2007-05-19

i bought this movie to compare with the 300. not even in the same universe. this is so poorly acted and directed that its awonder anyone would put their names on it. the story of the spartans at Thermopylae is so big and compelling you wouldnt think a director and actors could make it so small and comical.

The 300 Spartans.......2007-05-14

This was a great movie to preview in conjunction with the current 300 movie. It showed the tremendous technoloy differences from the 1960's to the present time.

Good to OK.......2007-05-13

Good plot/history detail, bad combat action sequences. The SCA could have done much better in this film than Hollywood. 300 the movie is better.

Average customer rating:

The Making Of 300
Starring: Lena Headey , Rodrigo Santaro , David Wenham , and Dominic West
Director: Zack Snyder
Manufacturer: Warner Bros
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Production Design
Cast Interviews
Adapting 300
Stunt Work
Creatures

ASIN: B000SNKJHI

Product Description

Exclusive Bonus DVD with over 30 minutes of Behind-The-Scenes footage. A SNEAK PEAK AT 300: Exclusive look inside 300 with behind-the-scenes footage. FIRST LOOK: Director Zack Snyder provides a glimpse into the amazing world of 300 and discusses the process and challenges of bringing the graphic novel to life. PRODUCTION DESIGN: A first glance at the set designs and the inspiration behind them. TRAINING: Inside look at the intensive and rigorous excercise program the actors went through prior to filming. WARDROBE: Learn about the creative process involved in creating a wardrobe insoired by the painterly pages of the graphic novel. STUNT WORK: An in-depth look at the amazing amount of stunt work that was required while making 300. CREATURES: The story brhind the make-up, latex, and creative blood that transformed Frank Miller's artwork to the screen. ADAPTING 300: Frank Miller and Zack Snyder give new insights into the process of translating Miller's vision of the tale into a motion picture. SPARTAN CULTURE: Learn about Spartan Society and training rituals. INTERVIEWS WITH THE CAST: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey and Rodrigo Santaro each describe his/her role in the film. 300 MARCH TO GLORY: Asneak peak of the new videogame. 300 MOBILE GAME TRAILER

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