Spartacus: Restored Edition

The ultimate gladiator action film, Spartacus returns in an all-new fully restored 55th anniversary Blu-ray extended edition of the 1991 reconstructed version of the film, with 12 additional minutes of footage. The story centers on the defiant and bold slave-turned revolutionary (Douglas) who leads a violent revolt against the decadent Roman Republic. Spartacus and other slaves are sold to an owner of a school for gladiators. Spartacus excels and is rewarded with a slave women, Varinia, for his pleasure in which he demurs. However they eventually fall for each other before a death match for a corrupt Roman senator, Marcus Crassus. After the brutal spectacle, Spartacus is enraged by the death of his friends and the loss of his love. He leads a revolt and bolts. Marching across the countryside to escape over the sea to their homelands, he is elated to find Varinia. Their quest becomes entwined with the political aspirations of Crassus and sets the fate of all three. The film won four Academy Awards®, including Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction, as well as a Golden Globe for Best Picture. (Gary Reber)