He made the most expensive film of its era-but more importantly, his moral courage in giving public credit to Trumbo effectively ended the notorious Hollywood blacklist.Ī master storyteller, Douglas paints a vivid and often humorous portrait in I Am Spartacus! The book is enhanced by newly discovered period photography of the stars and filmmakers both on and off the set. Writing from his heart and from his own meticulously researched archives, Kirk Douglas, at ninety-five, looks back at his audacious decisions. No, Im Spartacus A classic 1960 film by Stanley Kubrick, starring Kirk Douglas in one of his most famous roles, Laurence Olivier, Charles Laughton, Jean. As both producer and star of the film, he faced explosive moments with young director Stanley Kubrick, struggles with a leading lady, and negotiations with giant personalities, including Sir Laurence Olivier, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, and Lew Wasserman. With the financial future of his young family at stake, Douglas plunged into a tumultuous production both on- and off-screen. Douglas's source material was already a hot property, as the novel Spartacus was written by Howard Fast while he was in jail for defying HUAC. Trumbo was one of the 'Unfriendly Ten,' men who had gone to prison rather than testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee about their political affiliations. In a risky move, Douglas chose Dalton Trumbo, a blacklisted screenwriter, to write Spartacus. Douglas began producing the movie in the midst of the politically charged era when Hollywood's moguls refused to hire anyone accused of Communist sympathies. Now, more than fifty years after the release of his enduring epic Spartacus, Douglas reveals the riveting drama behind the making of the legendary gladiator film. Writing from his heart and from his own meticulously researched archives, Kirk Douglas, at ninety-five, looks back candidly and often with self-effacing humor at his audacious decision to give public credit to Trumbo, thus effectively ending the notorious Hollywood blacklist.One of the world's most iconic movie stars, Kirk Douglas has distinguished himself as a producer, philanthropist, and author of ten works of fiction and memoir. As both producer and star of the film, Douglas faced explosive moments with young director Stanley Kubrick and struggles with giant personalities, including Sir Laurence Olivier, Charles Laughton, and Peter Ustinov. Producing the movie in the midst of the politically charged era when Hollywood's moguls refused to hire anyone accused of Communist sympathies. Perfect for Film Buffs: Stanley Kubricks 1961 classic Spartacus won four Academy Awards and is a regular. One of the world's most iconic movie stars, Kirk Douglas has distinguished himself as a producer, philanthropist, and author.

I am spartacus by kirk douglas