Other Films & TV


Gladiator harkens back to the 'sword and sandals' epics of the 1950's and 1960's. The film draws story elements from The Fall of the Roman Empire and Spartacus. It also draws on the epic look of the city of Rome and a story that crosses much of the Roman Empire much like what can be found in Ben-Hur and Cleopatra.


Other Hollywood films set in the Roman Empire:

1. Ben-Hur (1959)
- Starred Charlton Heston
- Directed by William Wyler
- Won 11 Academy Awards


2. Cleopatra (1963)
- Starred Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and Rex Harrison


3. Fall of the Roman Empire (1964)
- Starred Stephen Boyd, Sophia Loren, James Mason, Christopher Plummer and Alec Guinness
- Directed by Anthony Mann


4. Spartacus (1960)
- Starred Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier and Tony Curtis
- Directed by Stanley Kubrick


Recent TV Series set in the Roman Empire:

1. Rome (2005-2007)
- Starred Kevin McKidd (Grey's Atanomy), Polly Walker and James Purefoy
- HBO Series that was Emmy-nominated/awarded in several technical categories


2. Spartacus (2010-)
- Stars Lucy Lawless (Xena), John Hannah (The Mummy) and Andy Whitfield


Other Hollywood 'sword and sandals' films since Gladiator:

1. 300 (2006)
- Spartans (Greeks) fight the Battle of Thermopylae
- Starred Gerard Butler, Dominic West and Lena Headey. Based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller


2. Troy (2004)
- Greek army lays siege to the city of Troy
- Starred Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom, Eric Bana, Diane Kruger, Sean Bean and Peter O'Toole
- Directed by Wolfgang Petersen








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