''Spartacus'' is a 2004 North American
miniseries
In the United States, a miniseries or mini-series is a television show or series that tells a story in a predetermined, limited number of episodes. Many miniseries can also be referred to, and shown, as a television film. " Limited series" is ...
directed by
Robert Dornhelm and produced by Ted Kurdyla from a teleplay by
Robert Schenkkan. It aired over two nights on the
USA Network
USA Network (or simply USA) is an American basic cable television channel owned by the NBCUniversal Media Group division of Comcast's NBCUniversal. It was launched in 1977 as Madison Square Garden Sports Network, one of the first national sports ...
, and stars
Goran Visnjic,
Alan Bates (in his final television appearance),
Angus Macfadyen,
Rhona Mitra,
Ian McNeice,
Ross Kemp and
Ben Cross.
It is based on the 1951
novel of the same name by
Howard Fast.
The plot, setting, and costumes are nearly identical to those of
Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick (; July 26, 1928 – March 7, 1999) was an American filmmaker and photographer. Widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Stanley Kubrick filmography, his films were nearly all adaptations of novels or sho ...
's
1960 version; however, this adaptation follows Howard Fast's novel more closely than does Kubrick's film. (Two of the more noticeable omissions from the new adaptation are the "I am Spartacus!" scene and the reunion of Spartacus and his wife after the battle.) The miniseries is shown as a story a woman narrates to her son, who are later revealed to be Spartacus' wife and son.
A notable piece of dramatic license has Spartacus' son born exactly at the moment Spartacus dies in battle.
As Marcus Crassus and Pompey Magnus are being proclaimed co-consuls, the announcer calls Rome an Empire, when it was still a Republic at the time. However, in contemporary Latin, the meaning of “Imperium“, empire, just meant area where one exercises power.
Plot
The Gaul woman Varinia (
Rhona Mitra) and her village are attacked by the Romans. Her entire village is taken into slavery, and she is sold to
Lentulus Batiatus (
Ian McNeice).
Spartacus
Spartacus (; ) was a Thracians, Thracian gladiator (Thraex) who was one of the Slavery in ancient Rome, escaped slave leaders in the Third Servile War, a major Slave rebellion, slave uprising against the Roman Republic.
Historical accounts o ...
(
Goran Višnjić), a Thracian slave condemned to the mines, attempts to protect another slave. Spartacus is nearly crucified before Batiatus purchases the man. Spartacus and a handful of other slaves are brought to Batiatus' ''
ludus'' to be trained as gladiators. Spartacus and the other slaves are brought to the gladiators to eat, where he meets Nardo (
Chris Jarman), Draba (
Henry Simmons) and David (
James Frain). Before a fight breaks out between Draba and Gannicus (
Paul Telfer), they are stopped by their trainer Cinna (
Ross Kemp).
Cast
*
Goran Višnjić as
Spartacus
Spartacus (; ) was a Thracians, Thracian gladiator (Thraex) who was one of the Slavery in ancient Rome, escaped slave leaders in the Third Servile War, a major Slave rebellion, slave uprising against the Roman Republic.
Historical accounts o ...
*
Alan Bates as Antonius Agrippa
*
Angus Macfadyen as
Marcus Crassus
*
Rhona Mitra as Varinia, Spartacus' wife
*
Ian McNeice as
Lentulus Batiatus
* Paul Kynman as
Crixus
*
Paul Telfer as
Gannicus
*
James Frain as David
*
Henry Simmons as Draba
*
Chris Jarman as Nordo
*
Ross Kemp as Cinna
*
Ben Cross as Titus Glabrus, based on
Gaius Claudius Glaber
* Niall Refoy as Publius Maximus, based on
Publius Varinius
*
George Calil as
Pompey Magnus
*
Richard Dillane as
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar (12 or 13 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in Caesar's civil wa ...
See also
*
List of historical drama films
*
List of films set in ancient Rome
*
List of films featuring slavery
Film has been the most influential medium in the presentation of the history of slavery to the general public. The American film industry has had a complex relationship with slavery, and until recent decades often avoided the topic. Films such a ...
*
Third Servile War
The Third Servile War, also called the Gladiator War and the War of Spartacus by Plutarch, was the last in a series of slave rebellions against the Roman Republic known as the Servile Wars. This third rebellion was the only one that directl ...
* ''
Spartacus
Spartacus (; ) was a Thracians, Thracian gladiator (Thraex) who was one of the Slavery in ancient Rome, escaped slave leaders in the Third Servile War, a major Slave rebellion, slave uprising against the Roman Republic.
Historical accounts o ...
'' (2010 TV series)
References
External links
*
*
{{USANetwork Shows
2004 television films
2004 films
American biographical films
Films set in ancient Rome
Films set in classical antiquity
Depictions of Spartacus on television
USA Network original films
Cultural depictions of Marcus Licinius Crassus
Films directed by Robert Dornhelm
2000s English-language films
2000s American films
Cultural depictions of Pompey
Depictions of Julius Caesar on film