The Ancients

Spartacus: Life or Legend


Listen Later

‘I am Spartacus!’ In the field of epic film making, the 1960 historical drama ‘Spartacus’ is legendary. Directed by Stanley Kubrick, and starring Kirk Douglas and Laurence Olivier, it is undoubtedly a classic. But how much of the plot has emerged from the true story of a Thracian gladiator and slave who escaped his Roman captors and led an unsuccessful but impressive rebellion against their oppressors? And how much of the film’s message was formed by the personalities involved in its creation, and the context in which it was made?


In her own words, Dr Fiona Radford devoted years of her life to the man with the most memorable chin cleft in the world - Kirk Douglas, specifically as Spartacus. Her thesis traced the production history of this film, examining in particular the effect that the turbulent process had on the portrayal of female characters. Having taught at Macquarie University, ANU and the University of Sydney, she currently teaches history at secondary school level, and her conversation with Tristan in this episode is an eye-opener to 1950s film making as well as the legend of Spartacus.


Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 per month for 3 months with code ANCIENTS - sign up here.


You can take part in our listener survey here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The AncientsBy History Hit

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

2,734 ratings


More shows like The Ancients

View all
In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,455 Listeners

History Extra podcast by Immediate Media

History Extra podcast

3,227 Listeners

The Ancient World by Scott C.

The Ancient World

1,838 Listeners

Dan Snow's History Hit by History Hit

Dan Snow's History Hit

4,729 Listeners

Tides of History by Wondery /  Patrick Wyman

Tides of History

6,309 Listeners

Fall of Civilizations Podcast by Fall of Civilizations Podcast

Fall of Civilizations Podcast

4,962 Listeners

How and Why History by History Hit

How and Why History

112 Listeners

Warfare by History Hit

Warfare

534 Listeners

The Rest Is History by Goalhanger

The Rest Is History

13,535 Listeners

Gone Medieval by History Hit

Gone Medieval

1,789 Listeners

Not Just the Tudors by History Hit

Not Just the Tudors

1,997 Listeners

Short History Of... by NOISER

Short History Of...

2,676 Listeners

Patented: History of Inventions by History Hit

Patented: History of Inventions

178 Listeners

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society by History Hit

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

1,260 Listeners

Echoes of History by History Hit & Assassin's Creed

Echoes of History

269 Listeners

American History Hit by History Hit

American History Hit

1,460 Listeners

Empire by Goalhanger

Empire

2,294 Listeners

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal by History Hit

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

964 Listeners