Spartacus

Starring:Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, John Gavin, Nina Foch, John Ireland, Herbert Lom, John Dall, Charles McGraw, Joanna Barnes, Harold J. Stone, Woody Strode, Peter Brocco, Paul Lambert, Robert J. Wilke, Nick Dennis, John Hoyt, Frederick Worlock
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Studio: Universal Studios
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Stanley Kubrick was only 31 years old when Kirk Douglas (star of Kubrick's classic Paths of Glory) recruited the young director to pilot this epic saga, in which the rebellious slave Spartacus (played by Douglas) leads a freedom revolt against the decadent Roman Empire. Kubrick would later disown the film because it was not a personal project--he was merely a director-for-hire--but Spartacus remains one of the best of Hollywood's grand historical epics. With an intelligent screenplay by then-blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo (from a novel by Howard Fast), its message of moral integrity and courageous conviction is still quite powerful, and the all-star cast (including Charles Laughton in full toga) is full of entertaining surprises. Fully restored in 1991 to include scenes deleted from the original 1960 release, the full-length Spartacus is a grand-scale cinematic marvel, offering some of the most awesome battles ever filmed and a central performance by Douglas that's as sensitively emotional as it is intensely heroic. Jean Simmons plays the slave woman who becomes Spartacus's wife, and Peter Ustinov steals the show with his frequently hilarious, Oscar-winning performance as a slave trader who shamelessly curries favor with his Roman superiors. The restored version also includes a formerly deleted bathhouse scene in which Laurence Olivier plays a bisexual Roman senator (with restored dialogue dubbed by Anthony Hopkins) who gets hot and bothered over a slave servant played by Tony Curtis. These and other restored scenes expand the film to just over three hours in length. Despite some forgivable lulls, this is a rousing and substantial drama that grabs and holds your attention. Breaking tradition with sophisticated themes and a downbeat (yet eminently noble) conclusion, Spartacus is a thinking person's epic, rising above mere spectacle with a story as impressive as its widescreen action and Oscar-winning sets. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Spartacus.......2007-06-28

This rousing epic was disowned by Kubrick after a contentious, difficult production, but "Spartacus" still offers grand-scale entertainment, thanks to bold, sure-handed direction and a powerhouse cast. The brawny, clench-jawed Douglas shines in his signature role, while Olivier is suitably poisonous as the cold-blooded Crassus. Other notables include the rotund Peter Ustinov providing comic relief as a cowardly slave-trader, and Charles Laughton, who lends gravitas as a senior Roman senator. If you're craving generous portions of spectacle and sweep, here's your movie.

Excellent movie, excellent price.......2007-06-28

I bought this as a gift for my husband. Received promptly,pleased with packaging. The movie is a definite classic, must have for the DVD collector.

A MESMERIZING SPECTACULAR OF GLADIATOR EPICS!.......2007-05-23

This motion picture is a must for all Gladiator Epic lovers. The movie was made when these films were very popular and all stops were pulled for this classic Roman Picture.. The movie showcases the Great Kirk Douglas in his most memorable performance. The cinematography is spectacular and verY authentic for its time. After all these years, the color is vivid and true to form. A very young Tony Curtis appears with a great cast. You will love the feel for the movie and the sets are very opulent. Notice that if you went to pick this movie at the store, it will still cost alot. That is a sure sign that this movie has gotton better with age. Pick it up today and enjoy!!!
Noel Serrano

A Great Classic.......2007-05-14

Spartacus is one of the best movies from the past. Everything about it is very well-done. The DVD is a great addition to our collection.

Spartacus - Like I remember it !.......2007-05-13

This was a favorite growing up as a kid. Haven't seen it in a long time, so I had to buy it. A great movie, the sound and picture quality was much better then when I saw it growing up. A big time classic !!

Average customer rating:

Spartacus
Excellent movie, excellent price
A MESMERIZING SPECTACULAR OF GLADIATOR EPICS!
A Great Classic
Spartacus - Like I remember it !

Spartacus - Criterion Collection
Starring: Kirk Douglas , Laurence Olivier , Jean Simmons , Charles Laughton , and Peter Ustinov
Director: Stanley Kubrick , Anthony Mann , and John Berry
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005A8TY
Release Date: 2001-04-24

Amazon.com essential video

Description

Stanley Kubrick directed a cast of screen legends-including Kirk Douglas as the indomitable gladiator that led a Roman slave revolt-in the sweeping epic that defined a genre and ushered in a new Hollywood era. The assured acting, lush Technicolor cinematography, bold costumes and visceral fight sequences won Spartacus four Oscars©; the blend of politics and sexual suggestion scandalized audiences. Today Kubrick's controversial classic, the first film to openly defy Hollywood's blacklist, remains a landmark of cinematic artistry and history.

Customer Reviews:

Spartacus.......2007-06-28

Excellent movie, excellent price.......2007-06-28

I bought this as a gift for my husband. Received promptly,pleased with packaging. The movie is a definite classic, must have for the DVD collector.

A MESMERIZING SPECTACULAR OF GLADIATOR EPICS!.......2007-05-23

A Great Classic.......2007-05-14

Spartacus is one of the best movies from the past. Everything about it is very well-done. The DVD is a great addition to our collection.

Spartacus - Like I remember it !.......2007-05-13

Average customer rating:

Spartacus
Excellent movie, excellent price
A MESMERIZING SPECTACULAR OF GLADIATOR EPICS!
A Great Classic
Spartacus - Like I remember it !

Spartacus [HD DVD]
Starring: Joanna Barnes , Arthur Batanides , Buff Brady , Peter Brocco , and Jerry Brown
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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ASIN: B000HT3Q0U
Release Date: 2006-10-24

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

Spartacus.......2007-06-28

Excellent movie, excellent price.......2007-06-28

I bought this as a gift for my husband. Received promptly,pleased with packaging. The movie is a definite classic, must have for the DVD collector.

A MESMERIZING SPECTACULAR OF GLADIATOR EPICS!.......2007-05-23

A Great Classic.......2007-05-14

Spartacus is one of the best movies from the past. Everything about it is very well-done. The DVD is a great addition to our collection.

Spartacus - Like I remember it !.......2007-05-13

Average customer rating:

Okay story
spartacus
sigh, what ARE movie makers thinking?
Looks great, but a bit too cliché'd and not very accurate
"Civilization Hangs on The Cross ~ If The Gods' Love You, You Die In Childhood"

Spartacus - The Complete TV Miniseries
Starring: Goran Visnjic , Alan Bates , Angus Macfadyen , Rhona Mitra , and Ian McNeice
Director: Robert Dornhelm
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002PYTB4
Release Date: 2004-10-26

Customer Reviews:

Okay story.......2007-05-26

Having read up a bit on Spartacus, I was at first disappointed as the story started to play out. But as it got so off historical facts that I started to enjoy it as a fiction story. It is a shame as I would have liked a historic drama.

The acting was okay. I particularly did like some of the actors that played Roman characters.

The filming is not much but satisfactory.

spartacus.......2007-02-07

a good production of the now-familiar story of Spartacus. Goren does a very believable job portraying him.

sigh, what ARE movie makers thinking?.......2006-12-24

Ok, joining in the rant about lousy history, costuming, military tactics et. al.

Just watch the original Kirk Douglass one--they don't even PRETEND to be trying to do anything other than entertain you in that one.

Sorry, the acting wasn't that great (well, except for Ian McNiece, and I just happen to think he's a really good actor) the costuming made me wince and we won't even TALK about the attempts at modern PC. Come on guys--talk to anyone in your family over 2 and you will see that what was PC 10, 15, 20, 30 years ago isn't even considered remotely polite now--never MIND 2k+ years ago. Trying to make an historical personage toe the modern PC line is just stupid. (And, if you'd been unlucky enough to meet him, would probably have gotten your throat slit) So come on, lets just make the movie and SHOW the different perspective that would have ruled then. After all, if I want modern views reinforced, all I have to do is turn on the news or any tv program on in prime time.

Looks great, but a bit too cliché'd and not very accurate.......2006-10-01

With a mythic story like Spartacus, you can't expect too much accuracy and realism, especially with differing stories on the subject. One theory says Spartacus was a Roman, who fought in the legions, but was arrested for treason after refusing to obey commands and defying his commander, and who abandoned his name and took the name Spartacus when he was enslaved. The whole "Thracian" thing developed because at the time there were two types of gladiatorial fighting styles---Gallic and Thracian, and he was Thracian.

Another story goes that he really was a Thracian, who fought in the Roman legions (probably auxiliary) or earned his citizenship and fought in the legions, then the same thing happened and he became a slave and w/e. I don't care which to believe.

In this TV version I was very impressed with the cinematography and costumes and such, but it suffers a lot from cliché's. For one, all the Romans are depicted as villainous, greedy scum who don't care about anything--not even other Romans, by the looks of it; all the slaves are depicted as noble upright men forced into their current position but are all such noble godly men and such.

Another thing which really annoys me is that this Spartacus is a full-blown atheist, which I think should have gotten his stupid little head crushed in by the other slaves--or killed by the black slave when he was ordered to fight him for Marcus Licinius Crassus's viewing pleasure. Listening to his dumb atheistic sayings like "i don't believe in anything unless i can see and touch it" is really lame and cliché', and it doesn't do much for his intelligence, either. Even a true atheist wouldn't base his atheism on something that childish and ignorant.

Then the Roman armor really looks... they've got no armor--no scale plates like some depictions, no hamata lorica chain mail like in historical depictions, but BROWN LEATHER! Even their helmets are brown leather. Really ridiculous. The battle scenes are also very "Gladiator"-esque, with the soldiers pretty much wandering off to pick their own individual fights, but for their sake, they weren't even in formation in that scene, so that's an excuse.

Then there's the slave uprising at the gladiator school, in which for some effed up reason, the legionaries outside go into testudo formation (used for deflecting ARROWS, JAVELINS, SLINGS) and get butchered in seconds by what are essentially gladiators armed with knives, daggers, and some spears.

The performances are quite average on everyone's part, except Ian McNiece who is spectacular, and Angus Macfeyden is stupendous. His acting as Marcus Licinius Crassus is awesome. And I especially love that crazed look of disillusionment he does on the wall in Southern Italy when he discovers Spartacus has sneaked over the walls while distracting the Romans by sending cows with torches strapped to them to make them look like an army in the night. The guy who plays Spartacus is really abysmal.

All in all, probably fun to watch, but if you're really into history like me, you'll be shouting at the TV screen like a lunatic, saying "nuh uh!" and "omg" and "impossible!" and such! One of my biggest complaints was the Senators' irrational and illogical fear that Crassus would overthrow the Republic. If anything, Pompeius should be their biggest concern for that sort of thing, yet they consider him some sort of hero of the Republic (not true) rather than the Picentine upstart he is. And there's absolutely no mention of Lucius Cornelius Sulla at all, who was only just dictator of Rome just a few years before the events and had a tremendous impact on Roman politics at the time. Sort of curious that Ian McNiece is in it, and the year after he would appear in HBO's "Rome" as the newsreader. He should've gotten a bigger role in "Rome" though.

"Civilization Hangs on The Cross ~ If The Gods' Love You, You Die In Childhood".......2006-08-08

'Spartacus' the '04 mini-series starring Goran Visnjic (who?) as Spartacus leads a cast of even lesser known names in a surprisingly good retelling of the famous slave rebellion against Rome, circa first century BC. Almost three hours long, 177 minutes to be exact, the storyline is consistently enjoyable throughout and the allotted viewing time passes quickly.

Plot: A band of gladiator slaves rebel against their masters, first destroying the gladiator school and then the local garrison of Roman troops. As the slave army roams the countryside they attract more slaves to their cause and their numbers multiply. Repeated attempts are made by Rome to destroy the rebels but against all odds the slaves win victory after victory. That is until Spartacus plans for a sea escape are thwarted and all the might of the Roman Empire are summoned to squash the insurrection.

Surprises: I was surprised to see that two of my favorite scenes in the original '60 epic were not included in the mini-series. However, In spite of there absence the film doesn't suffer from their exclusion. This is all in all an excellent production that deserves to be seen.

Cast: Goran Visnjic does a masterful job at balancing the emotive, warlike nature of Spartacus with the more sensitive, cerebral longings of the legendary warrior, while Rhona Mitra as his love interest Varinia displays a much more aggressive, firey nature than we've come to expect from the original Varinia played by Jean Simmons. Rhona is absolutely magnificent! James Frain gives a fantastic performance as well in the role of David, Spartacus second in command. Also strong performances by Angus Macfadyen as Marcus Crassus and my daughter's favorite Paul Telfer as Gannicuc.

Khachaturian - Spartacus / Mukhamedov, Semenyaka, Vetrov, Bilova, Zhuraitis, Bolshoi Ballet

Average customer rating:

Best so far
AS PEOPLE LIKE TO SAY IN MINNESOTA: AWSOME!
STUNNING
The Glory of Spartacus Revealed!

Khachaturian - Spartacus / Mukhamedov, Semenyaka, Vetrov, Bilova, Zhuraitis, Bolshoi Ballet
Starring: Irek Mukhamedov , Maria Bilova , Lyudmilla Semenyaka , Algis Zhuraitis , and Bolshoi Opera Ballet
Manufacturer: Arthaus Musik
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0009X24R0
Release Date: 2005-08-16

Customer Reviews:

Best so far.......2007-04-11

The best version available today. When is a new production going to be in DVD (and may be in HD)with surround sound? who knows...

AS PEOPLE LIKE TO SAY IN MINNESOTA: AWSOME!.......2005-09-23

This is truly worth the price tag even though you may not be a big fan of ballet, this performance will make one out of you. This is just superb on every level. I have the old Bolshoi production which was filmed on a soundstage. Try as they might, they couldn't bring the soundtrack up to modern expectations. The laser disc version came close. I was thrilled to see this new 1990 production on DVD with sound as spectacular as the dancing. The music of this ballet can stand alone. I have it on CD. It's one of the best works by Khachaturian. Add the fantastic dancers and colorful sets and you've got a dynamite production. I highly recommend this one!

STUNNING.......2005-09-10

I am only a minor fan of ballet. However, this performance was truly moving.

Ballet must communicate its story without using dialogue. The choreography and expressive dancing fully succeeded here. The dancers' movements were both strikingly athletic and gracefully delicate and the costumes and scenery were extremely effective in setting the period atmosphere. Aram Khachaturian's music was lush, beautiful and sometimes poignant, well performed by the theater orchestra.

The Romans, led by Crassus, are obviously the bad guys. Having the Roman soldiers march in a goose-step like the Nazis was extremely expressive. Also, in some of the scenes the motions of the aristocratic Romans were more fluid and graceful than those of Spartacus' slave followers, who were more primitive and athletic. This powerful visual symbolism was used to show the class differences between the antagonists.

Phyrigia danced with heart-breaking grace, expressing feminine beauty at its loveliest. Her love scenes with Spartacus were beautifully erotic.

All technical aspects of this dvd were first rate.

This production grabbed my attention from start to finish. Highly recommended.

The Glory of Spartacus Revealed!.......2005-08-16

*If you're reading this review, I assume you have already read the one I wrote about the 1977 film-version of the Spartacus ballet (starring Vasiliev), entitled "A Problematic Film: some remedies". If not, I urge you to read that one first. You can locate it and my reviews about other videos of this ballet in my archives by clicking on my name above.

I am overjoyed that the live 1990 complete performance of the Grigorovich/Bolshoi Spartacus has been reissued on DVD. Incidentally, this was the first Spartacus I ever saw. And interestingly, I got the complete companion CD to this performance before I got the video. So, by the time I purchased the video--which was in VHS format--I already knew the music by heart. As a result, the visuals only added to the enjoyment, and it certainly clarified what some of the sounds I heard were. For example, the crackles at the beginning of Act I turned out to have come from the thrashing of the whips on the floor by Crassus' henchmen.

So, what of the performance? Well, although none of the original cast-members were still performing at this late date, the younger generation proved that it was every bit the successor. The stars in this performance were: Irek Mukhamedov as Spartacus, Lyudmilla Semenyaka as Phrygia, Alexander Vetrov as Crassus, and Maria Bilova as Aegina.

True, Mukhamedov was no Vasiliev; he was about 30 at the time of this performance and was already a tad slower than Vasiliev when he was at that age; note that Vasiliev had to wait till he was about 37 before his legendary film-version was shot--albeit, poorly shot. However, what Mukhamedov lacked he made up for with his athleticism. I would like to call the reader's attention to the leap sequence that he does near the end of Act II, Scene 1, in which the final leap looks like a, for lack of a better term, spinning flying-roundhouse-kick (Vasiliev does a version without the roundhouse in the '79 and omits it entirely in the '77)--that's a mouthful! And he does it lightning-fast (regaining his former speed there, momentarily)--incredible! Sounds martial-art-like? That's how it looked. A friend of mine said of Mukhamedov as being more of an acrobat than a dancer. In any case, Mukhamedov danced the role with aplomb throughout. Semenyaka, the former Kirov dancer, fitted nicely into the Bolshoi company. She dances as Phrygia flawlessly. She nearly matches Bessmertnova in technical brilliance, but is more expressive than the latter.

The two baddies here are also excellent. Granted Vetrov's interpretation is coarser than Liepa's, but he brings to the role his own inimitable style--certainly a far better Crassus than Gabovich ('79 Vasiliev and '84 Mukhamedov) ever was. To me, Bilova was the best Aegina in all of the videos (she danced the same role in the '84 Mukhamedov version). She is slender and statuesque. And her movements are clean and precise, which can't be said for Golikova ('79 Vasiliev). Even Timofeyeva ('77 Vasiliev) was no match.

Also, the corps de ballet gives an excellent performance as usual.

Finally, as I've already raved elsewhere, the '90 version beats all others in picture and sound quality hands down! The DVD version is even better in that respect. For once, you are able to see the background, and what do you know? It ain't always black! And you will hear Khachaturian's complete score (as modified by Grigorovich and Zhuraitis) in stereo. Get this quick!

FOOTNOTE:

1) In the video you will see Grigorovich come onto the stage and take several bows during the final curtain call.

2) The booklet that comes with the DVD states that Lyudmilla Semenyaka was trained at the Moscow Ballet School, when, in fact, she was trained at the Leningrad Ballet School.

Khatchaturian - Spartacus / Irek Mukhamedov, Natalya Bessmertnova, Maria Bylova, Yuri Grigorovich, Bolshoi Ballet

Average customer rating:

A "once in a lifetime performance" A Must See!
Nonessential
Spartacus Marches On -- Again!

Khatchaturian - Spartacus / Irek Mukhamedov, Natalya Bessmertnova, Maria Bylova, Yuri Grigorovich, Bolshoi Ballet
Starring: The Bolshoi Ballet
Manufacturer: Kultur Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Khachaturian - Spartacus / Mukhamedov, Semenyaka, Vetrov, Bilova, Zhuraitis, Bolshoi Ballet
Spartacus
Khachaturian - Spartacus / Vasiliev, Bessmertnova, Bolshoi Ballet
Prokofiev - Romeo and Juliet / Bessmertnova, Mukhamedov, Sharkov, Vetrov, Zhuraitis, Bolshoi
Pique Dame

ASIN: B000EGDBLK
Release Date: 2006-03-28

Description

Spartacus, the story of a Roman slave's fight for freedom, is one of the great epic adventure stories. Grigorovich's choreography fills the huge Bolshoi stage with dynamic scenes of tension and conflict, which give full expression to the virility and strength for which Russia's male dancers are renowned. Irek Mukhamedov brings to the title role a conviction and assurance made possible only by prodigious technique. His partner is Natalya Bessmertnova, supple and expressive in the love scenes, intensely moving in her final grief. The Bolshoi Ballet with music by Aram Khachaturian, and choreography by Yuri Grigorovich. Production Staged By Yuri Grigorovich with Designs By S.B. Virsaladze. Spartacus: Irek Mukhamedov, Crassus: Mikhail Gabovich, Phrygia: Natalya Bessmertnova, Aegina: Maria Bylova, Gladiator: Mikhail Tsivin. Orchestra Of The Bolshoi Theatre, Conductor Alygis Zhyuraitis. "Spartacus is a celebration of male dancing at its most spectacular." THE OBSERVER "Mukhamedov is a dancer of extraordinary technical power and an actor of total dedication." THE GUARDIAN "Even when sitting motionless, Mukhamedov radiates power, and when he bounds the stage he is really awesome." THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Customer Reviews:

A "once in a lifetime performance" A Must See!.......2007-05-08

When I saw this production, my first thought was: Wow! They don't make Men like that very often! Mukhamedov's performance, with his passion, true understanding of the flow of movement and his physical strength, has such beauty and is something you will always remember. For any young (teenage) male dancer in the making and for girls too, this wonderful production will inspire you and let you see what ballet is really about.
Enjoy!

Nonessential.......2006-06-30

Spartacus Marches On -- Again!.......2006-04-10

Well, Irek Mukhamedov has, with this, two Spartacus dvds out. They are both marvelously done. Here, his leading lady is Natalya Bessmertnova as Phrygia(in the other it was Semenyaka). Here, Crassus is played by Mikhail Gobovich(Vetrov in the other), and Aegina is played by the awesome Maria Bylova in both versions. Irek dances with enormous energy and mastery of technique. He has a unique repertoire of choreographic tricks which he generously demonstrates for us every chance he gets. He surely is one of the greatest dancers to come out of Russia. The rest of the cast also put in impressive performances. The sound and image quality are also perfect. This is one of the best choices in Spartacus dvds(the one with Vasiliev, although not as complete, is my other choice).

Khachaturian - Spartacus / Vasiliev, Bessmertnova, Bolshoi Ballet

Average customer rating:

Worth having it
A Problematic Film: some remedies
Best, best, best!
Perfection!
Great ballet

Khachaturian - Spartacus / Vasiliev, Bessmertnova, Bolshoi Ballet
Starring: Nina Timofeyeva , Vladimir Vasilyev , Natalya Bessmertnova , and Maris Liepa
Director: Vadim Derbenyov , and Yuri Grigorovich
Manufacturer: Video Artists International
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000YEDLS
Release Date: 2003-12-02

Customer Reviews:

Worth having it.......2006-06-08

I saw this version of Spartacus first in 1979 at a movie theater. I was a young teenager then. I remember I liked it very much, but I thought the cinematography was rather dated even then and the picture quality was poor, full of blemishes and annoying white dots, even back then. It's also sad that Aegina's parts were severely cut. All that said, it's still an amazing ballet movie. Of course, it is heavily cut (only 90 minutes). But the longest existing version which seems to be the 1990 Bolshoi version with Irek Mokhamedoff is only about 135 minutes long. Grigoryevich did not use the entire score for his choreography, nor did any other choreographer before him. The original score is 3.5 hrs. My recommendation to Spartacus fans is to buy the 1977 as well as the 1990 versions (the latter version's sound quality is unbelievable) plus a CD recording of the full score.

A Problematic Film: some remedies.......2005-07-26

Aram Khachaturian wrote the melodious score to the Spartacus ballet between 1950 and '54. The first choreographer was Leonid Jacobson. His version, which premiered at the Kirov on December 27, 1956, was not a real success. The problem was that the choreography contained too much mime and not enough actual dancing. Two years later, Igor Moiseyev staged a version for the Bolshoi, which had a similar fate; that one received only nine performances. Later there was a revision by Jacobson, which also didn't find favor with the public. Incidentally, excerpts from one of Jacobson's versions (it is not clear which--maybe both) can be seen in "The Glory of the Kirov" DVD; I don't think his choreography was all that bad, really, but you be the judge.

It wasn't till April 9, 1968 did Spartacus achieve its definitive form in a performance given at the Bolshoi, this time, with choreography by Yuri Grigorovich. His version is a three-act ballet divided into two main categories. There are the major soldier/crowd scenes and also the monologues in which one of the four principal dancers is the only one onstage, and he or she dances against a dark background. At the premiere, the four principals were: Vladimir Vasiliev as Spartacus, Ekaterina Maximova as Phrygia, Maris Liepa as Crassus, and Nina Timofeyeva as Aegina. So, with the exception of Maximova, who was replaced by Bessmertnova as Phrygia, these were the dancers in this famous 1977 film, not 1979 as Amazon indicates.

But that's where the good news ends and the problems begin. First, as others have already pointed out, they used some dated cinematic techniques that are downright irritating. For example, they superimposed images to make one scene look like a big battle was going on. Elsewhere, they did a reverse time-lapse (slowing everything down) on Spartacus in one particular leap sequence; I'm sorry, that format just doesn't suit ballet--dance movements should correspond with the music. Furthermore, the picture itself is sometimes very dark, which makes it hard to see the corps de ballet. And the sound quality is only passable.

Even if you can overlook all this, there remains the ultimate sacrilege. Here we have three-quarters of the original principal cast, along with Bessmertnova and a superb corps de ballet dancing their hearts out, and the producer decides to cut forty-odd minutes of dance and music out of the film, which makes the work much less coherent. Notable moments are the beginning of Act II, Scene 1; the Aegina monologue in Act II, Scene 2 (danced to some hauntingly beautiful music); and a series of leaps, performed by Spartacus near the end of Act II, Scene 1.

Now, lest you think I was just carping without actually presenting a solution, I'll let you in on a secret. As far as I'm aware of, there are at least three COMPLETE videos of the Grigorovich/Bolshoi-production Spartacus in existence.

The most recent is the one starring Irek Mukhamedov and Lyudmila Semenyaka, shot live in 1990 (Arthaus Musik DVD). This is by far the best overall video of the ballet. It boasts the best picture and sound quality--with exemplary dancing to boot! Plus Mukhamedov does a version of the Act II, Scene 1, leap sequence, missing in the present film, in which the final leap looks like a spinning flying-roundhouse-kick--AMAZING!

There is another video of Mukhamedov in the role (Kultur DVD), and this time, he partners Bessmertnova in a 1984 live performance. Picture and sound are of good quality. This otherwise solid performance was marred by Mikhail Gabovich's tepid portrayal of Crassus.

A third video (Via Classic DVD) was shot live in 1979. This one is marred by even worse picture and sound quality than the '77. And some of the principals made a couple of mistakes. However, you have the benefit of, again, seeing Vasiliev as Spartacus and, this time, Ekaterina Maximova as (the original) Phrygia in a COMPLETE performance. Sadly, Vasiliev does a less technically-demanding version of the Act II, Scene 1, leap sequence--no roundhouse-kick.

Of the three COMPLETE videos, my #1 choice would be the '90 version, starring Muhamedov, for the very reasons I stated earlier.

His '84 is also recommendable, but it's been surpassed by the version above.

Because of the overall (poor) quality of the '79 Vasiliev, I will recommend it to true aficionados ONLY for its completeness. Alas, if only it were better shot...
NOTE: This DVD is not in NTSC format. Rather, it is in PAL format, which means most DVD players sold in North America will not be able to play it. You can purchase a multi-format compatible DVD player at your local specialty electronics store.

The '77 Vasiliev has been long regarded as the ultimate Spartacus ballet video, because most fans neither have had the opportunity to sample, nor, indeed, even have been aware of the existence of the other Grigorovich/Bolshoi Spartacus videos. The present version is neither fish nor flesh. Buy it for its "cult" status. But if you're looking to experience the ballet in its full glory, I suggest you go elsewhere for that.

For further recommendations...I've created a Listmania List, called "Spartacus Ballet Videos, CDs, and More", for those interested. To locate it, check out my Listmania Lists section by clicking my name.

Happy viewing!

FOOTNOTE:

Khachaturian's original score was NOT used in any of the aforementioned versions of the ballet. Everybody from Jacobson to Grigorovich had used modified versions of the score.

Best, best, best!.......2005-07-07

I watched this ballet for the first time...rarely ever a large-scale work has captured me from the first hearing. I'm moved especially by the work of the composer. Khachaturian is now my favourite composer. His gift is apperantly greater than even Prokofiev's or Shostakovich's. No other composer can make such orgasmic pathos in orchestration. This is simply fantastic!!!

And the slight imperfection of the technical production shouldn't matter at all. This is a must-have ballet!

Perfection!.......2004-11-20

Much has already been written about this, so I will add only a few points. It would be impossible to find a better cast of dancers for this ballet. This is a legendary performance and I have never seen an entire ensemble as up for a performance as this one. This performance is on movie stock, not video stock, sort of like the Russian version of cinemascope. It is technically very well done, especially considering that at this time in history the Soviets didn't participate much in the latest Hollywood technology. The dvd quality is perfect. The lighting is exactly as it is supposed to be. So stop complaining about nonsense and enjoy the perfection! (The dvd includes a nice little extra feature with Vasiliev and Plisetskaya.)

Great ballet.......2004-06-11

Although I haven't purchased the vhs version of Spartacus it seems that some technical problems such as the jump between the scenes and some white points in the film pointed out by some previous reviewers have been diminished in the dvd version (shown in widescreen): I was distracted by those imperfections only three or four times. However what most annoyed me was the "special effects" such as the splitting scenes and superimposing images. The sound quality is poor: there is a constant "hiss" that is hard to be filtered by the receiver. The lightning in the stage is rather dark. However all of that is a minor detail if one consider the work as whole: This is a great ballet that alternates vigorous and sensual dances, supported by powerful and exquisite music rightly conducted, great production and first rate performances by the dancers. Surely a must-buy ballet.

Average customer rating:

Okay story
spartacus
sigh, what ARE movie makers thinking?
Looks great, but a bit too cliché'd and not very accurate
"Civilization Hangs on The Cross ~ If The Gods' Love You, You Die In Childhood"

Spartacus [Region 2]
Starring: Goran Visnjic , Alan Bates , Angus Macfadyen , Rhona Mitra , and Ian McNeice
Director: Robert Dornhelm
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0002W1AKA

Customer Reviews:

Okay story.......2007-05-26

spartacus.......2007-02-07

a good production of the now-familiar story of Spartacus. Goren does a very believable job portraying him.

sigh, what ARE movie makers thinking?.......2006-12-24

Looks great, but a bit too cliché'd and not very accurate.......2006-10-01

"Civilization Hangs on The Cross ~ If The Gods' Love You, You Die In Childhood".......2006-08-08

Average customer rating:

Could have been better

Spartacus
Starring: Khachaturian , Klevtsof , Berezina , and Muravlyov
Manufacturer: Videoland
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Ballet & Dance | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

General | Classical | Styles | Music
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Pique Dame

ASIN: B000F6ZPHM
Release Date: 2006-04-25

Customer Reviews:

Could have been better.......2007-02-07

This DVD was, to say the least, spectacular except for two things:
1) The sound quality was a bit below par, a little raspy when the orchestra would play with great volume.
2) The Russian dialogue was unexpected, but not unpleasant.
Overall, I would recommend this DVD for the serious collector of less frequently performed ballets.

Average customer rating:

Decisive Battles - Spartacus (DVD)

Manufacturer: A & E History Channel
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

Spartacus is one of the most famous figures of the ancient world. A Thracian gladiator with a gift for leadership, he led a huge revolt against Rome at the height of her power.

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