Spartacus (1960) (Special Edition) - DVD  E-mail this product to a friend

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 Oscarsc; 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. There have been five versions of Spartacus: The original 202-minute version that was shown to preview audiences in July 1960; the pre-censorship general release in July at 189 minutes; the 182-minute censored version released in November; the 1967 version that was drastically cut to 161 minutes; and this 196-minute, fully reconstructed and restored version (which includes the overture, intermission and entr'acte) created in 1991. This version of Spartacus is presented in its original theatrical Super Technirama aspect ratio of 2.2:1. In consultation with restoration expert Robert A. Harris, this new 16x9-enhanced digital transfer was created from a 65mm intermediate positive. The sound was mastered from a six-track discreet wide-proscenium recording that both preserves and reconstructs the original audio version, which has never been heard before. Telecine supervisor: Steve Post/Universal Studios; Telecine colorist: Dan Bernardino/HTV, L.A. Additional color correction provided by Allan Rogers/HBO Studio Productions, NYC, under the supervision of Lee Kline/ The Criterion Collection and Robert A. Harris.