Despite studio nervousness about record-breaking cost, and possible right-wing backlash over a Bible-less, revolutionary epic, Universal’s biggest smash up to that time and winner of four Academy Awards – Ustinov’s, and for cinematography, sets, and costumes. The massive 1991 restoration – now more eye-popping than ever in this new 4K restoration – returned colorful scenes of gore, and the celebrated censored scene of Olivier discussing “oysters and snails” in a bath with Tony Curtis, with Anthony Hopkins replacing missing soundtrack with his celebrated imitation of the deceased Olivier.

Executive producer Douglas’ duties included sending each luminary a custom-tailored script in which he or she had the most interesting part, canning post-Jimmy Stewart Westerns and pre- El Cid director Anthony Mann after the first week of shooting (the Death Valley opening is his) for his 31-year-old Paths of Glory director, and publicly acknowledging blacklistee Dalton Trumbo as the author of the screenplay, thereby crucially aiding in breaking the decade-long political lockout.

Thus the phrase 'I am Spartacus!' is often used to humorously start a chorus of responses of 'No, I am Spartacus' among a group.(1960) “I am Spartacus.” “I am Spartacus!” “I AM SPARTACUS!!” Kirk Douglas, a slave drafted for the gladiator arena, decides, once he’s got a sword in hand and been spared by African combatant Woody Strode, that it’s time for the oppressed to take on the Roman Republic – where the backstabbing and intrigue equal the battlefield exploits, and where steely-eyed dictator wannabe Laurence Olivier has to contend with crafty ward-heeling senator Charles Laughton, his slave-dealing pal Peter Ustinov (Academy Award, Best Supporting Actor), and his protégé John Gavin’s Caesar. Upon hearing this and not wanting his friends to be executed, Spartacus stands up and says ' I am Spartacus.' However, the loyalty of his friends is so great that each of them stands forward in succession, shouting 'I am Spartacus!' until the shouts dissolve into a cacophony of thousands of former slaves each insisting 'I am Spartacus!' Bewildered and still not knowing which of them is Spartacus, but impressed by the loyalty he inspires in his army, the Roman general has all of the slaves crucified in a miles-long display alongside the Appian Way leading back to Rome. After the army of former Roman slaves led by Spartacus is defeated in battle by legions of the Roman army, a Roman general stands before the captured surviving members of the slave army and demands that they turn over Spartacus, or else all of the former slaves will be executed.

Refers to a scene in the movie ' Spartacus' starring Kirk Douglas as Spartacus.

I am spartacus by kirk douglas