Sins of Rome

Summary

Sins of Rome (Italian: Spartaco) is a 1953 historical drama film directed by Riccardo Freda and loosely based on the life story of Spartacus.[3][4] The rights of film's negatives and copies were bought by the producers of Stanley Kubrick's 1960 film Spartacus, as to prevent eventual new releases of the film that could have damaged the commercial outcome of Kubrick’s film; this resulted in Sins of Rome's withdrawal from market for about thirty years.[5]

Sins of Rome
Directed byRiccardo Freda
Screenplay by
  • Jean Ferrey
  • Maria Bory
  • Gino Visentini[1]
Story byMaria Bory[1]
Produced byCarlo Caiano[2]
Starring
Cinematography
Edited byMario Serandrei[1]
Music byRenzo Rossellini[1]
Production
companies
  • A.P.I. Film
  • Consorzio Spartacus Film
  • Es Establisments Sinag
  • Rialto Film[2]
Distributed byA.P.I. (Italy)
Release date
  • 28 January 1953 (1953-01-28) (Italy)
Running time
105 minutes[1]
Countries
  • Italy
  • France[1]
LanguageItalian
Box office450 million lire

Plot summary edit

In 74 B.C., Spartacus, a Roman soldier of Thracian origins, is enslaved by Crassus after coming to the rescue of the beautiful slave Amytis. Enlisted into Lentulus's gladiators, he attempts repeatedly to escape. When the gladiators begin a revolt, Spartacus becomes their leader and leaves Rome with them. Wounded by Rufus's soldiers during a patrol, he takes refuge with Crassus's young daughter Sabina, who has fallen in love with him. After recovering, Spartacus returns to his men and leads them in a victorious assault on Rufus's fortified camp. The unexpected defeat alarms the senate; Crassus summons Spartacus and promises freedom for him and his followers. Meanwhile, the rebels, unsettled in the absence of their leader, decide to attack the Roman troops. Spartacus joins them and dies in battle, which turns into carnage for the slaves.

Cast edit

Release edit

Sins of Rome was distributed in Italy as Spartaco by A.P.I. on January 28, 1953.[1][2] The film grossed a total of 450 million Italian lire in Italy.[2] The film was released in the United States as Sins of Rome and in the United Kingdom as Spartacus the Gladiator.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Curti 2017, p. 310.
  2. ^ a b c d e Curti 2017, p. 311.
  3. ^ Roberto Chiti; Roberto Poppi; Enrico Lancia. Dizionario del cinema italiano: I film. Gremese, 1991. ISBN 8876055487.
  4. ^ Maria Wyke (1997). Projecting the Past: Ancient Rome, Cinema and History. Routledge, 2013. ISBN 1317796071.
  5. ^ Silke Knippschild, Marta Garcia Morcillo (15 August 2013). Seduction and Power: Antiquity in the Visual and Performing Arts. A&C Black, 2013. ISBN 978-1441190659.

Source edit

  • Curti, Roberto (2017). Riccardo Freda: The Life and Works of a Born Filmmaker. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland.

External links edit