60th Anniversary of "Spartacus"

 

Today is the 60th anniversary of the release of one of my favorite movies - Spartacus. I have probably seen this movie more than any other movie because I would show it in my Western Civilization classes. I have the dialogue memorized. I have read several books on the subject. If you have seen the movie, I thought some of you might be interested in how the final script by Dalton Trumbo differed from the actual movie by Stanley Kubrick.

 

I found a copy of Dalton Trumbo’s “revised final script” ) to “Spartacus” and it was fascinating to see how the movie was different than the final script.  Although Trumbo was one of the greatest screenwriters of all time and won the Academy Award for Original Screenplay, it is interesting to note that, in my opinion, all the changes made to the script were improvements and made the movie better.  I am not sure why the changes and additions and omissions were made after the script was supposedly finalized.  It could be that Trumbo suggested changes during the shooting.  Some of the changes might have been done by Stanley Kubrick or Kirk Douglas (or other cast members).  Here is a list of some of the more interesting changes, additions, and omissions:

 

1.  Originally the movie was supposed to start with the scene where Crassus addresses his officers before the final battle.  He tells them to understand that the slaves are fighting like free men.  Don’t underestimate them like our other armies have.  He mentions that Spartacus is what the Egyptians called a “koruu” which means third generation slave.  This sets up the transition to Spartacus in the mines (the actual opening of the movie).

 

2.  In the scene where Marcellus dares Spartacus to kill him, Spartacus us given a long sword and Marcellus has a dagger.  Spartacus tries to kill him, but Marcellus gets in several dagger cuts until he collapses in exhaustion.  Earlier, when Batiatus mentions Spartacus to Marcellus, he does not tell Marcellus not to overdo it.

 

3.  In the conjugal visit scene, Batiatus refers to Varinia biting him, so he puts him in with another “animal” – Spartacus.

 

4.  A mock battle between the gladiators was cut.  In that battle, Spartacus offers to help Draba up, but Draba pulls him down and puts his sword to his throat.  

 

5.  In the Spartacus – Draba match, Spartacus gets ensnared and Draba moves in for the kill.  Batiatus has the line:  “Kill him, you imbecile!”  Draba does not throw a spear at the audience.  He kills a guard on the way to trying to get to Crassus.  He takes two pila in the back.

 

6.  Two gladiator characters got cut – David the Jew and Gannicus.

 

7.  Varinia bribes a guard to visit Spartacus in his cell.

 

8.  In the kitchen revolt, Spartacus tips a cauldron onto Marcellus.

 

9.  The script includes the scene where Varinia escapes from Batiatus.

 

10.. When Spartacus returns to the school, he stops the fight between two Romans, but then he says “let’s burn this place down.”  There is no discussion of a plan.

 

11.  There are two other slaves in the snails/oysters scene.  After Crassus does his monologue about Rome and turns to find Antoninus gone, he runs into his bed chamber calling for him.

 

12.  Tigranes Levantus (the pirate negotiator) does not appear in the final script!   When they reach Brundisium, Antoninus is sent ahead and reports back to Spartacus that there are no ships.

 

13.  Spartacus does not give a speech before they leave Brundisium.

 

14.  When the gladiators are yelling “I am Spartacus!”, they are mocking the Romans and even Spartacus joins in.  They are also yelling other things.

 

15.  Batiatus offers to finger Spartacus in the line of captives.  Crassus declines the offer and has Batiatus flogged.  Crassus calls out Antoninus and adds Spartacus after he laughs at him.

 

16.  When Crassus comes to see Spartacus, Spartacus taunts him before spitting on him.

 

17.  When Spartacus is on the crucifix, there is a dialogue between two soldiers discussing the cheating of one of their wives.

 

18.  There is no scene where Batiatus introduces Varinia to Gracchus.

 

19.  The script has a scene where Gracchus commits suicide in a bathtub.