WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Spartacus
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 02 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Kirk Douglas, Peter Ustinov, Laurence Olivier.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 5
Sound Rating: 3.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): MCA/Universal Home Video
(Catalog Number): 41130
(MPAA Rating): Not Rated
(Retail Price): $44.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 196
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1960
(LD Release Date): 12/92
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Stanley Kubrick
(Screenplay/Written By): Dalton Trumbo
(Story): NA
(Music): Alex North
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Alexander Golitzen
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Robert Lawrence
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Kirk Douglas
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Edward Lewis

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.21:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): RE:
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Director Stanley Kubrick’s first outing as a studio filmmaker set the stage for his later cinematic explorations: big action, big screen, big sound. Douglas plays a slave who leads a revolt against imperial Rome. Includes 5 minutes cut from the original release.

LaserDisc Picture:
This edition utilized the same black and white preservation elements that were produced in the original Technicolor® Super Technirama® 70 theatrical format. The aspect ratio is 2.21:1. A dye transferred Technicolor print was used as the basis for color correction for the digital video transfer.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The music, by Alex North, is a marvelously rich score recorded no doubt on one of the old magnificent sound stages using minimal stereo miking. It has a lush, warm, and panoramic soundscape that heightens the sensorial experience of this widescreen presentation.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: