I survived this one, although it put Bronwen to sleep. Where are Steve Reeves, Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis, and Howard Fast when we need them most?. In the early 1960s, Spartacus praises the slaves rising against their masters. Here the slaves struggle to free Rome from the bad emperor to create. . the slave-based Republic?. Historically banal, its fun to watch for the work of Ridley Scott as director. Russell Crowe does an good job as the general-slave-gladiator, and Oliver Reed is a real pleasure as the gladiator master, Proximus. The rest, well, it’s boring stuff all things considered. It evoked nary an emotion from me.