Factual error: The weaponry of the Romans and their use is wrong (as they are in all Hollywood movies playing in the Ancient Mediterranean that I know): Instead of one spear, each legionary would carry two weighted javelins, called Pila (singular: Pilum), which had a long narrow iron head. The purpose of these were to throw them at the enemy before melee; if they did not kill their targets, the pila would get stuck in their shields. The head shaft would bend, making the pila useless for 'return' to their original owners, and with the added weight of the javelin, the enemies' shields were rendered useless as well. Following this, the Romans attacked with short swords (the Gladii; singular Gladius).
Spartacus (1960)
Ending / spoiler
Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
Starring: Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Charles Laughton, Jean Simmons
Genres: Action, Adventure, Biography, Drama, History, Romance, War
The rebellion of the slaves is going good but then the romans win the battle. All the slaves are rounded up including spartacus and told if spartacus stood up the other slaves would be set free, but if spartacus stood up he would be crucified. So instead 1 by 1 all the slaves stand up saying they are spartacus, so they all get crucified. In the end spartacus and his friend are left alive so then they fight it out and the winner gets crucified and the loser is already dead. So spartacus wins the battle and gets crucified.
Mustafa
More mistakes in Spartacus
Spartacus: And maybe there's no peace in this world, for us or for anyone else, I don't know. But I do know that, as long as we live, we must remain true to ourselves.
Trivia: There were some battle scenes which were filmed with real amputees and maimed extras, as Kubrick was keen to give them authenticity and convey the brutality of war, but these were removed when preview audiences were disgusted by them.
Join the mailing list
Separate from membership, this is to get updates about mistakes in recent releases. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Check out the mistake & trivia books, on Kindle and in paperback.