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Spartacus - 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray (Bilingual)

Kirk Douglas (Actor, Producer), Laurence Olivier (Actor), Stanley Kubrick (Director) Format: Blu-ray
4.6 out of 5 stars 4,601 ratings
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July 21 2020
4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray
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Genre Drama, Action & Adventure
Format Subtitled, 4K, NTSC
Contributor Bill Thomas, Robert Lawrence, Tony Curtis, Russell Metty, Peter Ustinov, Stanley Kubrick, John Gavin, Laurence Olivier, Charles Laughton, Valles, Edward Lewis, Dalton Trumbo, Kirk Douglas, Jean Simmons, Woody Strode See more
Initial release date 2020-07-21
Language English
Runtime 3 hours and 17 minutes
Studio Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Colour Unknown
Manufacturer Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
UPC 191329137161
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From the manufacturer

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Spartacus

Director Stanley Kubrick tells the tale of Spartacus (Kirk Douglas), the bold gladiator slave and Varinia (Jean Simmons), the woman who believed in his cause. Challenged by the power-hungry General Crassus (Laurence Olivier), Spartacus is forced to face his convictions and the power of Imperial Rome at its glorious height. The inspirational true account of man's eternal struggle for freedom, Spartacus combines history with spectacle to create a moving drama of love and commitment.

Product description

Spartacus, the genre-defining epic from director Stanley Kubrick, is the legendary tale of a bold gladiator (Kirk Douglas) who led a triumphant Roman slave revolt. Restored from large format 35MM original film elements, this action-packed spectacle won four Academy Awards® including Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction. Featuring a cast of screen legends such as Laurence Olivier, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, Jean Simmons, John Gavin and Tony Curtis, this uncut and fully restored masterpiece is an inspirational true account of man's eternal struggle for freedom.


Bonus Content:

  • Features Dolby Vision and HDR10 for Brighter, Deeper, More Lifelike Color
  • I Am Spartacus: A Conversation with Kirk Douglas
  • Restoring Spartacus
  • Archival Interviews
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Behind the Scenes Footage
  • Vintage Newsreels
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • Behind-The-Scenes Footage
  • Image Gallery
]]>

Product details

  • Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 2.20:1
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Parcel Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 17 x 13.5 x 1.5 cm; 99.79 g
  • Canadian Home Video Rating ‏ : ‎ Parental Guidance (PG)
  • Manufacturer reference ‏ : ‎ cpt-auo-76
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Stanley Kubrick
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ Subtitled, 4K, NTSC
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 3 hours and 17 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ July 21 2020
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Tony Curtis, Peter Ustinov, Charles Laughton
  • Language ‏ : ‎ Japanese (DTS 5.1), French (DTS 5.1), Spanish (DTS 5.1), Portuguese (DTS 5.1)
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
  • Producers ‏ : ‎ Edward Lewis, Kirk Douglas
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08929ZBWS
  • Country of origin ‏ : ‎ Canada
  • Writers ‏ : ‎ Dalton Trumbo
  • 鶹 Rank: #8,214 in Movies & TV Shows (See Top 100 in Movies & TV Shows)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 4,601 ratings

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4,601 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise the quality, image, and sound of the Blu-ray movie. They mention it's an excellent epic, one of the best movies of Kirk Douglas, and a must-have for any movie buff. Customers also appreciate the vibrant coloring, accurate detailing, and depth of quality. They also say the restoration is astonishing, bringing entertainment and detail.

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QualityImage qualityVideo qualitySound qualityRestorationEntertainmentDetail
38 customers mention "Quality"38 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the quality of the movie. They mention it's an excellent classic, one of the best movies of Kirk Douglas, and a must-see for any movie buff. Customers also say it's a glorious Hollywood feature with top Hollywood actors.

"Used in my cinema room, great movie" Read more

"Great movie" Read more

"It really is a good movie. A 3 hours and 15 minutes sandals and swords classic...." Read more

"...have a full home theater system to enjoy the full dynamics of this classic movie. Would definitely recommend !!" Read more

15 customers mention "Image quality"15 positive0 negative

Customers are satisfied with the image quality of the movie. They mention it looks absolutely awesome, the Blu-ray restoration looks fantastic, and the black levels are inky deep and natural. They also say it's a masterpiece from the "Bigger is Better" era in Hollywood.

"...Wow. Jaw-dropping beautiful. This is a meticulous restoration...." Read more

"...A 3 hours and 15 minutes sandals and swords classic. The Blu-ray restoration looks fantastic, and was taken from the original film reels...." Read more

"...Blu Ray Restored Edition showing an impressive clear picture and vivid colours. The sound has been remastered in 7.1 DTS. A worthy purchase." Read more

"...before then you know this is a must own, and this movie has never looked better! An absolute must own on 4K!" Read more

13 customers mention "Video quality"13 positive0 negative

Customers are satisfied with the video quality of the product. They mention it's great 4K, rich film, and depth of quality not matched by today's CGI-driven movies. They also appreciate the amazing 4K restoration and magnificent photography.

"...I bought the Blu Ray Restored Edition showing an impressive clear picture and vivid colours. The sound has been remastered in 7.1 DTS...." Read more

"...+ Sony 4K Blu-ray player and it compares favorably with several 4K Blu-ray movies I watched on my new Vizio 43" 4K TV...." Read more

"...Russell Metty's magnificent photography is best seen in the indoor and day-for-night scenes. Alex North's music score is terrific, as well...." Read more

"...them til now. Rich film." Read more

12 customers mention "Sound quality"12 positive0 negative

Customers are satisfied with the sound quality of the movie. They mention it has surprisingly good sound, with French soundtrack included, and the audio remastered in 7.1 DTS. They also appreciate the excellent flesh tones and noise reduction.

"...This is an astonishing restoration both in terms of visual and sound, bringing Spartacus to the same level as Ben-Hur's restoration...." Read more

"...This is a film that builds surprisingly quietly(despite it's bombastic battle sequences) to an unusually moving set denouements that should leave..." Read more

"...I'm not setup for surround but the 7.1 sounded very good...." Read more

"...It features a cleaned up [both audio and video] movie with the audio upgraded to 5.1...." Read more

6 customers mention "Restoration"6 positive0 negative

Customers are satisfied with the restoration of the movie. They mention it's an astonishing restoration, both in terms of visual and sound.

"...Wow. Jaw-dropping beautiful. This is a meticulous restoration...." Read more

"I agree with D. Gianniou. This is an astonishing restoration both in terms of visual and sound, bringing Spartacus to the same level as Ben-Hur's..." Read more

"The movie that took the world by storm in 1960 has been restored to perfection." Read more

"Restoration was on point, terrific true story and the picture was spectatular" Read more

4 customers mention "Entertainment"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the movie entertaining, enjoyable, and a real treat to watch. They say it's full of action, suspense, and terrific acting.

"...The sense of true immersion is striking, and the nuanced attention to detail is startling...." Read more

"...At any rate, it was an enjoyable experience in both regular Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray viewing options!" Read more

"A real treat to watch, especially if you have a 4k tv and a blu-ray player that can up-convert..." Read more

"...This movie will make you cry, cheer, thrill you and applaud it. it is full of action, suspense and terrific acting by all." Read more

3 customers mention "Detail"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the detail of the movie. They mention the grandiose production using real people and outdoor sets gives the movie a depth of quality.

"...mild grain structure that helps accentuate the amazing depth, accurate detailing and vibrant coloring the film has to offer...." Read more

"...The grandiose production using real people and outdoor sets gives the movie a depth of quality not matched by today's CGI driven epics...." Read more

"...Detail, color balance, everything here is top-notch. Any collector will be pleased." Read more

Top reviews from Canada

  • vlad
    5.0 out of 5 stars and undying love cascade through the main characters throughout the final moments
    Reviewed in Canada on May 28, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    restored edition. The film is based on the actual historical uprising of Roman slaves between 71-73 b.c. The film deals frankly and often disturbingly with the cavalier treatment of this underclass, specificly the men who were trained to fight to the death as gladiators, all for the entertainment of the Roman ruling elite. This is a film that builds surprisingly quietly(despite it's bombastic battle sequences) to an unusually moving set denouements that should leave all but the hardest of hearts moved. Friendship, loyalty, political correctness, freedom, justice, and undying love cascade through the main characters throughout the final moments, leading to a devastating pair of final scenes between Douglas and Curtis, and then Douglas and Simmons. This may in fact be the thinking mans epic but it pulls at the heart as few films of this type ever have. Wow. Jaw-dropping beautiful. This is a meticulous restoration. It's clean and filmic, retaining a very mild grain structure that helps accentuate the amazing depth, accurate detailing and vibrant coloring the film has to offer. The amount of detail is striking. Evident in skin, clothing textures revealing some of the most inborn complex details imaginable, seen in nuanced fabrics, sweaty faces, Each grain of sand, pebble, blades of grass, leaf and other natural details are refined and sharp, even at some distance. Black levels are inky deep and natural. Flesh tones are excellent. Banding, noise reduction, aliasing, edge enhancement, and other anomalies are nowhere to be found. This is a startling improvement, in every way over previous editions. Spartacus' DTS-HD MA 7.1 lossless soundtrack is a new remix. Music is the dominant factor, and is a real treat. It manages width, depth, and power without loss of the finer points of Alex North's Oscar-nominated score. The sense of true immersion is striking, and the nuanced attention to detail is startling. The track has a potent low end; the orchestral percussion elements are fantastic. Battle scenes have a satisfyingly robust bit of chaos. Dialogue is well prioritized, center balanced and clear for the duration. This is a superb soundtrack that marvellously compliments the newly restored 1080p picture and the film in general. This is absolutely a must own despite the extras leaving a bit to be desired, and a must-see for all audiences. Highly Recommended.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • baknabil
    5.0 out of 5 stars It is very good UHD , real 4K quality
    Reviewed in Canada on July 3, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Professional grade 4k movie
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  • Pierre Ritchot
    4.0 out of 5 stars Merci
    Reviewed in Canada on March 29, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Il y a une erreur dans la description : 4K pas de langue française seulement dans Blu-Ray.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • From a Musician's Pen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Before "Gladiator" There Was "Spartacus"!
    Reviewed in Canada on April 1, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    It really is a good movie. A 3 hours and 15 minutes sandals and swords classic. The Blu-ray restoration looks fantastic, and was taken from the original film reels. The movie has a 7.1 and 5.1 audio track. I'm not setup for surround but the 7.1 sounded very good. There are only about a half hour of special features, including an interview with Kirk Douglas as a senior, which was nice to see. It's similar to Ben Hur in style. You can definitely see plot and scenes that the film "Gladiator" (Russell Crowe) took from Spartacus. Kirk Douglas was also the producer of the film, so it's an accomplishment that the film got made at all.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Michel Boies
    5.0 out of 5 stars tout est bien
    Reviewed in Canada on April 11, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    qualité du produit
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  • Gis A. Bun
    5.0 out of 5 stars Probably one of the best movies from the 1960s...
    Reviewed in Canada on February 24, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    If you get the 2019 edition you have an extra dozen minutes to look at. It features a cleaned up [both audio and video] movie with the audio upgraded to 5.1.
    Contains maybe 45 minutes of extras including some deleted or alternate scenes [too bad they decided not to clean up them or released in HD.
    The big extra is a roughly 10 minute interview with a frail Kirk Douglas a few years before he died. subtitles are included as he is hard to understand.
    There are a bunch of short features, interviews and news reels from 1960 [in black and white].
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  • Régis B.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sorry for answering so late
    Reviewed in Canada on January 29, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Thank you for the movie 🍿 I received. It was in perfect condition. I'm very satisfied with my purchase. Regis B.
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  • stephan
    5.0 out of 5 stars A true classic beautifully restored
    Reviewed in Canada on February 27, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    A fine cinema classic feature of the 60s. I bought the Blu Ray Restored Edition showing an impressive clear picture and vivid colours. The sound has been remastered in 7.1 DTS. A worthy purchase.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • JackFisher
    5.0 out of 5 stars Classico senza tempo
    Reviewed in Italy on January 29, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Film storico sempre bello. Grandi interpreti, grande film. Dura quasi tre ore ma si vede volentieri. Buona la qualità video e con alcuni contenuti speciali per niente scontati per un film cosí vecchio.
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  • B. Casás Rama
    5.0 out of 5 stars Top-Edition eines bewegenden Meisterwerks!!!
    Reviewed in Germany on November 3, 2004
    Verified Purchase
    SPARTACUS wird immer wieder in einem Atemzug mit BEN HUR genannt, wenn es darum geht, diesen Film einzuordnen. Man könnte auch QUO VADIS nennen, wenn man dieser Logik folgt. Ich habe BEN HUR nicht nur etliche Male geguckt und kenne alle Details, habe auch das Buch gelesen, ebenso bei QUO VADIS. Und in beiden Fällen muss ich sagen, dass, vor allem bei QUO VADIS, das Buch besser ist. Bei BEN HUR ist man natürlich von dem gigantischen Aufwand beeindruckt, und auch die Geschichte rührt bis zu einem gewissen Punkt an, und über das Wagenrennen noch Worte zu verlieren, ist ja wohl unnötig. Klasse inszeniert! Aber nun bin ich nicht mehr sooo jung und sooo naiv und lasse mich eben nicht allein von der Pracht eines monumentalen Werks blenden, ohne auf die Geschichte und auf die Schauspieler im Detail zu achten. Und genau hier gibt es entscheidende Unterschiede zwischen diesen "Monumentalfilmen". Kostüme perfekt, Kulissen perfekt, Farbe überwältigend etc. Doch bei der Geschichte verliert BEN HUR um Längen! Und QUO VADIS wirkt inzwischen überholt. Es ist immer dieselbe Leier: Christen gegen ROM... Oder eben, wie bei BEN HUR, Juden, die Christus nahe sind(Szene als CHARLTON HESTON zu den Galeeren geführt wird und Wasser von Jesus gereicht bekommt!), die das "Wunder" der Wunder, nämlich die Entstehung des Christentums, erleben. Nun, ich halte die Entstehung des Christentums nicht für eine derart primitive Angelegenheit, dass man sie locker mir nichts dir nichts mit Hilfe eines Films, auch noch inmitten von Action, nachvollziehen kann. Es wirkt klischeehaft, anspruchslos, populistisch. Nichtsdestotrotz hat mich BEN HUR immer betroffen gemacht, ich habe diesen Film immer geliebt. Aber nun habe ich SPARTACUS erneut gesehen, und ich muss sagen: SPARTACUS ist näher an unserer Realität, an dem, was wir anstreben, was uns wichtig ist. Hier geht es nicht um eine Familie, die auseinander gerissen wird, um durch ein Wunder wieder zueinander zu finden, was ich mittlerweile für kitschig und schwach halte. Bei SPARTACUS geht es um den Kampf für die FREIHEIT, für die WÜRDE des Menschen. Und es ist ein Film für die LIEBE zwischen zwei Menschen, die ein einziges Mal frei träumen dürfen, bevor dieser Traum von ROM ausgelöscht wird. Das Geniale an diesem Film ist die Darstellung der handelnden Figuren, ihre Tiefe, ihre Mehrdimensionalität. Wo bei BEN HUR ganz klar ist, wer hier GUT und wer BÖSE ist, zeigt SPARTACUS die Macht der Sachzwänge, die Auseinandersetzungen zwischen Römern, ihr Zwist untereinander, und das auch noch mit genialen Darstellern wie CHARLES LAUGHTON, PETER USTINOV, LAURENCE OLIVIER!!! Großartig! Da kommt BEN HUR natürlich nicht mit. CHARLTON HESTON spielt wie immer: steif und groß und ein ganzer HELD... Und sein Gegenspieler STEPHEN BOYD ist zwar ein wirklich guter Schauspieler, aber er hat eben die Rolle, die er hat. Die Guten sind sehr gut, die Bösen eben böse. Und auch das Gute an Rom, nämlich die Rettung von Juda BEN HUR aus der Galeerensklaverei, ist letztendlich nur ein Mittel, um die Handlung Richtung Rache voranzutreiben, also nicht wirklich ein ausgleichendes Element oder die Darstellung der Komplexität auch bei den Römern. BEN HUR ist toll für die Augen, aber flach in der Aussage und völlig durchschaubar und vorhersehbar, SPARTACUS ist zutiefst menschlich, aufrüttelnd und traurig, denn man sieht, dass auch die "bösen Römer" edle Charakterzüge haben (LAUGHTON), der Sklavenhändler ist nicht wirklich nur ein schlechter Mensch, auch JULIUS CÄSAR ist eine sensible und komplexe Erscheinung, der naive aufstrebende Patrizier im Senat, sehr interessant dargestellt. Bei SPARTACUS steckt ganz einfach mehr GRIPS hinter der Story, und dass KIRK DUGLAS gegenüber CHARLTON HESTON unendlich mehr überzeugt, braucht man wohl nicht zu sagen. Ein faszinierender SPARTACUS, zerrissen, und doch naiv wie ein Kind, ein großer Kämpfer und doch im Kampf unterlegen (bei dem Schauduell gegen WOODY STRODE). Diese Passage ist meines Erachtens eine der rührendsten und schönsten des ganzen Films! SPARTACUS ist kein Überheld wie CHARLTON HESTON in BEN HUR und die ganze Geschichte ist voller Nuancen, und das fasziniert. Auch GLADIATOR kommt da übrigens nicht mit. Bis auf ganz wenige Szenen, die man woanders in solchen Filmen, die anrühren sollen, immer wieder auch sieht, ist SPARTACUS künstlerisch gelungen, hat TIEFE, und die Schlachtenszenen überzeugen, die Kämpfe sind sehr gut inszeniert, gegenüber dem computergenerierten Mist, der uns heute dauernd um die Ohren gehauen wird, ist das eine Erholung!
    Zur Qualität der DVD:
    Das Bild ist tatsächlich besser als bei der anderen Version, auch wenn das Ausgangsmaterial dasselbe gewesen sein muss. Und die eingefügten Szenen, aufgefallen ist mir die Szene zwischen OLIVIER und CURTIS, bringen neue Nuancen in den Film und machen ihn noch komplexer. Es sind zwar andere Stimmen, aber das stört nicht wirklich, denn der Inhalt der Dialoge ist superb. Überhaupt sind die Dialoge exzellent!!! Der Ton ist klar besser geworden, da werden sich alle die freuen, die über eine entsprechende Anlage verfügen aber auch der Rest wird dafür dankbar sein.
    Zu den Extras:
    Es sind ein paar nette Extras dabei, die man sich gern anschaut, aber das Interview mit PETER USTINOV aus dem Jahre 1992 ist schlicht überragend bis sensationell!!! Das Interview aus dem Jahre 1960 ist schön, aber das von 1992 tatsächlich wertvoll! Ich denke, diese Extras machen diese EDITION in Verbindung mit der verbesserten Bild-und Tonqualität zu einer würdigen SPECIAL EDITION.
    Mein Tipp: Kaufen!!!
    P.S.: Ich werde trotz allem BEN HUR immer wieder angucken und vor allem das Wagenrennen immer toll finden...
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  • Carl Thomson
    5.0 out of 5 stars I'm Spartacus
    Reviewed in Australia on December 26, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    An epic film with great story telling and excellent performances. The 4k transfer is very good considering the movie was made in 1959/1960. A worthwhile purchase when on special.
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  • christian
    5.0 out of 5 stars DVD de très bonne qualité
    Reviewed in France on July 10, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    A titre personnel, Très bon DVD
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  • MICHAEL STONEHILL
    5.0 out of 5 stars UNIVERSAL FINALLY GIVES "SPARTACUS" THE RESPECT IT DESERVES WITH A STUNNING & RESTORED NEW BLU-RAY
    Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    When Universal released "Spartacus"(1960) on Blu-ray for the first time for it's 50th Anniversary in 2010, there was a universal(no pun intended) outcry because of it's less than stellar presentation. Complaints by fans, customers and reviewers were so numerous that many thought they'd never see a true representation of the film in their lifetime. What a difference five years makes. Universal's new 2015 restored version of "Spartacus" should put all that to rest once and for all. This new restored version is simply stunning and Universal deserves credit for finally giving one of their most famous(and valuable) films from it's library the respect it deserves. According to the information that appears on screen at the end of the film "a 2015 4K digital restoration from a 6K scan of the 1991 reconstructed version supervised by Robert A. Harris" was used for this new Blu-ray presentation. I saw the 1991 reconstructed version in 70 mm when it played at one of the Cinerama theaters in San Diego and remember being very impressed when I walked out of the theater. When Criterion released the standard DVD some years ago I immediately bought it and this has been my go to copy for years. That's all changed now with this new 2015 Blu-ray. One thing that viewers will notice right away is how Russell Metty's Oscar winning cinematography dazzles the eye. Colors are sharp and vivid with even the smallest details very prominent. This is very apparent in the art direction, set decorations and costumes all of which won Oscars that year. Metty, who photographed "Touch of Evil" and "The Misfits" during his long career with Universal, had disagreements with director Stanley Kubrick during filming and his insistence on using natural lighting during nighttime scenes(campfires, torches, etc.) conflicted with Kubrick opinions on how the film should be photographed. The results are very apparent now in this restored version with the faces of the actors taking on a more natural glow(mainly yellow) from the flames of the torches inside tents that make the whole scene more authentic than using the studio lighting that Kubrick preferred. Daylight scenes are another wonder and just pop off the screen. Greens, reds, blues, yellows are not only striking but vivid in every scene((Bitrate: 23.49). Since the 1991 reconstruction was used for this new restoration there are still some soft scenes where close-ups are not as crystal clear as other portions but these scenes are few and do not detract from the overall presentation. The story of a slave rebellion(under the leadership of Spartacus) against their Roman masters in 73 B.C. is engrossing from beginning to end. Director Kubrick wisely keeps the whole film focused on the love story between Spartacus(Kirk Douglas) and Varinia(Jean Simmons) and the love they have for each other despite all the events that surround them. The final battle between the slaves and the Roman legions is heartbreaking but leads to a very satisfying ending that proves that love and hope can bring about change no matter what. Douglas and Simmons get great support from Laurence Olivier, Charles Laughton, Tony Curtis and Peter Ustinov(who won an Oscar). "Spartacus" is 197 minutes(Aspect ratio: 2.20:1) and contains the following subtitles: English SDH, French and Spanish. The Audio(DTS-HD MA 7.1 English and DTS French 5.1) is another highlight and free of any noise artifacts(hiss, pop, crackle, etc.) with Alex North's music being especially prominent. Special features include: I am Spartacus(9:39) a 2015 interview with Kirk Douglas; Restoring Spartacus(9:00); Four deleted scenes(7:41); Archival Interviews with Peter Ustinov and Jean Simmons(6:00); Behind the Scenes footage(5:10); Five vintage newsreels(4:59); an Image gallery and the original theatrical trailer. The Blu-ray disc itself is housed in a standard and solid Blu-ray case(not an eco-cutout) and comes inside a cardboard slipcase for added protection. Universal's restored version of "Spartacus" is long overdue and is a must own for any home film library. It comes highly recommended.
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