Spartacus – 65th Anniversary

The Midwest Classic Movie Series takes movies from the 1910’s to the 1960’s that have stood the test of time to be considered classic and puts them where they belong – back on the big screen. The Historic Midwest Theater is the perfect setting to watch these films as it transports you back to the era they were released in. Whether you saw them on one of their original runs or only on TV, make your way to a M.C.M. screening on the 3rd Saturday of the Month.

A tale of the Roman Empire that takes place in 1st Century BC. Even though it takes place before the birth of Christ, it is about a man who stood up against the Roman empire and helped unite his people. A spiritual relative to the story of Christ this Easter weekend.

Kirk Douglas is Spartacus. A slave working in the mines, who’s fighting spirit gets him noticed by a gladiator trainer (Charles Laughton). Spartacus finds himself fighting in the gladiator ring where he rises in the ranks of the fighters. There he meets Antonius (Tony Curtis) and a slave girl who becomes the love of his life, Varinia (Jean Simmons). Spartacus leads a revolt and forms an army to challenge the Roman Empire. Crasses (Laurance Olivier) , a senator aiming to become a dictator over Rome, thinks he can use this rebellion to get the power he is after. Little does he know that Spartacus is not a man who can be defeated easily.

Winner of 4 Academy Awards, Spartacus is the first movie directed by Stanley Kubrick to be shown in our Midwest Classic Movies Series.

Released – 1960   Rated – PG-13   Run Time – 3 hours 17 minutes

The 2025 M.C.M. Season is sponsored by Northfield Retirement Communities.