Spartacus

As one of the most famous film epics Spartacus takes us, battle by battle, through a slave uprising in Roman Italy and the intrigues of the Senate. The central figure, Spartacus (Kirk Douglas), is a gladiator-trained slave with more brains and balls than most. He has dreamed of freedom ever since being made a slave which tends to make him more insolent than his equals. Opposing this dream is the full weight of the Roman …

…high standard and the scenes of fighting (both in the Senate and in the training school) are excellent. The feel of the period is induced remarkably well - it really seems that the Romans hardly regard slaves as being human at all. Add all of these components to a rousing score and you're left with a story which lifts the spirits and causes revolutions. Try and watch the restored version, particularly for the bathtime scene.