News for
Spartacus (1960)

photos

board

trailer

details

IMDbPro offers the latest entertainment industry news from the Hollywood Reporter. Sign-up for a two-week free trial today. Click here for a free trial!

Douglas Urges Youth To Save the World
12 December 2006 (WENN)
Film legend Kirk Douglas is calling on young people in America to help save the planet. The Spartacus star has written an open letter to the teenagers of America on his 90th birthday, urging them to "fix the world because the situation is intolerable." He says, "Let's face it. The world is in a mess. Generation Y, you are on the cusp. You are the group facing many problems: abject poverty, global warming, genocide, AIDS, and suicide bombers to name a few. These problems exist and the world is silent. We have done very little to solve these problems. Now, we leave it to you."

'King Kong' Named Best Movie of 2005
14 March 2006 (WENN)
Gorilla remake King Kong has been named the Best Film of 2005, picking up top prize at last night's Empire Magazine's film awards. Despite being largely shunned at the Academy Awards earlier this month, the giant monkey movie beat Oscar-winner Crash to the accolade, as voted by the British public. But the racial drama did not go totally unrecognized, with star Thandie Newton hailed as Best Actress. Johnny Depp's inspired performance in Charlie And The Chocolate Factory earned him the male equivalent. Elsewhere, the cast of the Harry Potter movies were honored for their Outstanding Contribution to the British film industry. The movie franchise, worth more than $3.4 billion worldwide, was represented by teen star Daniel Radcliffe, who picked up the award for his role as the boy wizard. Movie legend Tony Curtis flew all the way from Los Angeles to personally accept a Lifetime Achievement Award - the first major award of his career. He was recognized for his roles in hit films including Some Like It Hot, Spartacus and The Defiant Ones. Sir Roger Moore, his co-star in cult TV series The Persuaders, was on hand to present the prize. The ceremony was held in the Hilton London Metropole, with British comedian Bill Bailey hosting.

Douglas Hit with Lawsuit
29 November 2004 (WENN)
Movie veteran Kirk Douglas is being sued by a 64-year-old financial salesman, who claims he was left with a severe hernia after the Spartacus star crashed into him in Beverly Hills. John Robert is seeking compensation of more than $50,000 for lost wages and medical expenses for the crash two years ago. The new suit comes just days before Douglas' 88th birthday. Speaking exclusively to American court show Celebrity Justice, Robert says, "He (Douglas) be a fine man, but he shouldn't be driving a car." Robert claims he was "clipped" by the actor's car while he was standing by the rear door of his own vehicle. The plaintiff alleges his car was damaged and he suffered a hernia. Robert adds, "Frankly, in some strange way, I feel glad I'm alive, and I'm not a cripple." The actor's legal team insists the suit is frivolous and little more than an attempt to take advantage of the star.

Douglas Honored in the Desert
19 October 2004 (WENN)
Movie legend Kirk Douglas has had a street named after him in the California desert town where he has lived for the past 40 years. The Palm Springs City Council officially unveiled Kirk Douglas Way on Sunday in a ceremony honoring the resort town's favorite son. Douglas, who will be honored again in January with the Palm Springs International Film Festival's Lifetime Achievement Award, was surrounded by family and friends - including sons Michael, Peter and Joel - for his first walk down his new way. The Spartacus star was recently honored in Los Angeles, where a new theatre was named after him.

Douglas Urges Hollywood To Care for Its Aged
2 July 2004 (WENN)
Movie veteran Kirk Douglas is urging today's Hollywood stars to pay a visit to their aging predecessors in a heartfelt new trade paper advertisement. Douglas, 87, was astounded when he first paid a visit to the Motion Picture & Television Fund's headquarters, where silver screen icons are cared for in the autumn of their lives, but he fears modern stars ignore the forgotten greats. So, in a full page ad the actor has taken out in Hollywood's trade papers, the Spartacus star states he wants to "encourage young Hollywood to visit 'the home' and start to contribute to its support". He adds, "I am proud to say we in the entertainment field do take care of our people - those in front of and behind the camera. You may never need its wonderful services, but others will."

Oscar, Emmy-Winning Actor Ustinov Dead at 82
29 March 2004 (StudioBriefing)
Peter Ustinov, who won the best supporting actor Oscar twice -- for Spartacus in 1960 and Topkapi in 1964 and won Emmys for best actor in a drama in 1952, 1966 and 1970, died in Switzerland Sunday at the age of 82. He was also sought out as a raconteur on TV talk shows and was a regular guest on The Tonight Show with Jack Paar in the late '50s and early '60s.

Oscar Winner Peter Ustinov Dies at 82
29 March 2004 (WENN)
Legendary character actor Peter Ustinov, who won two Oscars for roles in Spartacus and Topkapi, died Sunday night in Switzerland of heart failure; he was 82. Also a prolific writer, Ustinov began his acting career at the age of 17 and sold his first screenplay (for The True Glory) at 24. At age 30, he earned his first Oscar nomination for his turn as Nero in Quo Vadis?, effectively establishing himself as one of the screen's most versatile supporting actors. Though known to most moviegoers as a portly British character actor, Ustinov was a multi-talented entertainer who also wrote, produced, directed, and starred in the acclaimed 1962 film Billy Budd, wrote innumerable novels and plays (including Romanoff and Juliet), and traveled extensively as a humanitarian, raconteur and humorist. Ustinov's biographer, John Miller, once remarked that the actor, who was knighted in 1990, "had enough careers for about six other men." Though confined to a wheelchair later in his life, Ustinov continued to raise money for UNICEF and most recently appeared in the film Luther. Other notable roles include his turns as Agatha Christie detective Hercule Poirot in Death on the Nile, Evil Under the Sun and Appointment with Death as well as films Lorenzo's Oil, Logan's Run, Hot Millions (for which he also received a Screenplay Oscar nomination), The Sundowners and The Egyptian. --Prepared by IMDb staff

Curtis' Youthful Gay Dalliances
2 October 2002 (WENN)
Some Like It Hot star Tony Curtis has shockingly admitted he indulged in gay sex as a young actor in Hollywood. The ageing lothario, 76, now married to Jill Vandenberg, who has a huge male fan base following homoerotic roles in films such as Spartacus, disclosed the revelations in British gay magazine Attitude. He says, "I was 22 when I arrived in Hollywood in 1948. I had more action than Mount Vesuvius; men, women, animals! I loved it too. I participated where I wanted to and didn't where I didn't. I've always been open about it."

Kirk Douglas Recovering From Blood Infection
20 December 2001 (WENN)
Actor Kirk Douglas was in the hospital for three days last week, suffering from a blood infection. The 85-year-old Spartacus star, father of Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas, prompted a call to the paramedics after he broke out in a shaking fit while playing golf. Kirk, who is now successfully recovering at home, jokes, "I think lots of people thought, 'This is it.'"

Kirk Douglas Wants To Marry Again
25 April 2001 (WENN)
Legendary actor Kirk Douglas wants to get married again -- to his wife of 48 years, Anne. The couple tied the knot for the first time in 1954, but now the Spartacus star wants to do it all over again, in more lavish style. His son, Michael Douglas, married Catherine Zeta-Jones last November in a $1 million affair at New York's Plaza Hotel, and now Kirk wants a bash just as extravagant. The 84-year-old actor says, "If I'm alive in two years, I'll propose again." Kirk wants to keep the momentum going after enjoying what he describes as an enjoyable year for his family. He adds, "Last year was a fantastic year for the family. Aside from Michael and Catherine's wedding, there was Wonder Boys, one of Michael's best pictures. And Traffic, which I think, in years from now, is going to be a historic movie."

Kirk Douglas Honored By John Wayne
17 April 2001 (WENN)
Actor Kirk Douglas has been honored by a fellow Hollywood legend - in the form of an award given by the John Wayne Cancer Institute. The Spartacus star, 84, will receive the 2001 Duke Award at a prestigious bash at the 16th annual Odyssey Ball at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on April 28th. He says of Wayne who died on in 1979, "We got along well. I had a good relationship with Wayne. I liked him. He was really quite a guy. We were happy to participate in the John Wayne Cancer Institute Event which benefits a very important cause." The veteran actor is pleased with the honor, but does not want it to be classed as a lifetime achievement award. "I try to avoid lifetime achievement awards, because it seems to indicate that you might be dead the next day. What lifetime? I just got started."

Douglas' Reunion
26 June 2000 (WENN)
Basic Instinct (1992) star Michael Douglas has made up with his mother after slamming her for comments she made about his father in a book last year. Diana Darid Douglas, who was married to Spartacus (1960) star Kirk Douglas for six years, claimed he was a "sexually voracious bird of prey" in her autobiography In The Wings Michael denounced the comments and has hardly spoken to his mother since, but the two patched things up in an emotional reunion when the Falling Down (1993) star invited her to his wedding to actress Catherine Zeta Jones. A family friend says, "Michael was understandably upset by what his mother wrote about his father. But time is a great healer and he is so buzzed up about his wedding that he wants it to be a special occasion for everyone, whatever may have been said in the past."

Hollywood Props Up For Grabs
9 June 2000 (WENN)
Hollywood's oldest prop-house went into liquidation Thursday - and many items of movie history are up for grabs. Life preservers from the movie Titanic (1997), an umbrella phone from Get Smart and a gladiator helmet from Spartacus (1960) are all up for sale at ELLIS PROPS AND GRAPHICS. Over the years, the prop house gathered together many items being shed from movie studios which have now become antiques. The auction takes place every day for a week at Los Angeles' Universal Hilton hotel, and via the internet. Interested parties can check out Ellis' website at www.ellisprops.com.

Douglas Goes Back To School
25 May 2000 (WENN)
Legendary actor Kirk Douglas has been given an educational honor - a high school has been named after him. WEST GRANADA HIGH SCHOOL's name was changed to Kirk Douglas HIGH SCHOOL Wednesday in recognition of the 83-year-old Spartacus (1960) actor. Douglas told the pupils, "Because I love you I will be checking up on you. You have honored me and I thank all of you." The continuation school is dedicated to helping kids of last resort who are on the verge of dropping out. Douglas' foundation provided a $25, 000 matching grant to the San Fernando Valley school. He told students during an earlier visit that he was familiar with hardship and mistakes. Principal PHIL ROMANS says, "We feel that Mr. Douglas provides a good role model for our kids. "He learned from his mistakes and continued to work hard to accomplish his dreams. Now he is giving back to the community. We are very proud to share his name."

Gladiator: The Next Titanic
7 April 2000 (StudioBriefing)
Columnist Liz Smith, who received an advance look at DreamWorks' upcoming Gladiator (2000), writes today that the film "could be the Titanic of 2001." She pronounces the Ridley Scott-directed movie, due to be released on May 5, "in the epic category of Ben Hur (1959), Spartacus (1960) and Cleopatra (1963), " and adds, "I never thought [I'd] see the likes of Gladiator on screen again."

Where Have All The Good Movies Gone?
3 February 2000 (StudioBriefing)
Washington Post critic Stephen Hunter writing today (Thursday) about the traditional "slow" period at the box office: "These would be times that try movie critics' souls, but for one fact: Movie critics have no souls. Obviously, we sold ours long ago to get these fabulous jobs. So let us just say: These are times that try movie critics' butts. It's hard to sit still through so much swill. The American movie industry seems to have bottomed out. Our bottoms have certainly bottomed out. Nothing decent has arrived in weeks. Two Fridays ago: zip. One Friday ago: nada. Tomorrow: Scream 3 (2000). The vocabulary of contempt is severely taxed; how many times can you find a synonym for 'stinks'?"

NOTE: In Wednesday's edition we reported on a CBS interview with film restorer Robert Harris, in which Harris indicated that Anthony Hopkins had "looped" the voice of Laurence Olivier in a scene of the restored version of Spartacus (1960). We have heard from several film buffs who have advised us that Hopkins himself has spoken about looping the scene and that the matter is a classic bit of movie trivia.

70 Mm Format A Big Highlight Of Festival
29 October 1997 (StudioBriefing)
The Third Annual WideScreen Film Festival will open Friday night at Cal State Long Beach with a screening of Joel Schumacher's 1987 horror film (Friday is Halloween) Lost Boys, The (1987), shot in 70 mm. Schumacher will be present to introduce it and field questions. Other 70 mm films to be included in the festival include Sleeping Beauty (1959), Spartacus (1960), Wild Bunch, The (1969) and My Fair Lady (1964).