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Released by: Fox
Released on: February 25th, 2014.
Director: Rudolpho Mate
Cast: Richard Egan, Ralph Richardson, Diane Baker, Barry Coe, David Farrar
Year: 1962
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The Movie:
Yes Virginia before Gerard Butler's macho antics in the absurd 300 there was a movie about the Spartans and their clash with the warmongering Persians.
1962's THE 300 SPARTANS was very much a product of its time in some particularly bad ways. Ostensibly about Greek warriors and Persian barbarians the polyglot of accents on display here is both absurd and amusing. This was an era of film where great British actors were often found wandering about in WWII epics playing Germans with pommy London elocution. We also saw things like white actresses (with dark hair though!) playing half-caste characters. And at a posterior busting 114 minutes THE 300 SPARTANS is bloated by a solid throughly unnecessary half hour.
The plot is threadbare - evil Persian ruler Xerxes (David Farrar) has assembled a massive army of mostly slaves and begun a successful military incursion into Greece. He's headed for Sparta and closing in fast. Hopelessly outmanned Spartan King Leonidas (Richard Egan) has appealed, through his trusted advisor Themistocles (Sir Ralph Richardson) to the rulers at Corinth for reinforcements. Not only have they agreed to this they have also agreed to cede military authority over the entire Greek armed forces to Leonidas to aid in the defense of Sparta. There's even a dangling carrot of the Greek fleet mentioned! Three guesses how this all works out?
Richard Egan's King Leonidas doesn't have Gerard Butler's imposing physique or basic charisma. He was a journeyman actor and classic mid level star. A bit dull but dependable. He receives ample support from (Themistocles Ralph Richardson) advisor Themistocles however. But none of this is enough. In the midst of all this talking and talking some more sits the film's true Achilles heel. A lame subplot featuring star crossed lovers Ellas Diane and Phyllon (Barry Coe) that plays like Romeo and Juliet for dummies. Their dialog ranges from banal to risible. They also have zero chemistry together.
While films of this period were obviously hampered in their ability to show realistic violence by both the social and production mores of their day what makes THE 300 SPARTANS so resolutely boring is the complete lack of momentum. The final reel and climactic battle mildly redeems the film but it comes as far too little far too late. Period productions like THE BLUE MAX and even earlier films like THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI and BEN HUR managed to gin up plenty of excitement onscreen without the benefit of showing a blood shower. Decent scripts and committed performances probably helped though. THE 300 SPARTANS has neither.
The final nail in the coffin is the clumsy sub textual strains that the hamfisted script weaves in relating to the then raging Cold War using references to freedom loving Greeks and craven Persians. This simmering stew finally boils over into a silly war movie/costume drama. With some decent cinematography.
Video/Audio/Extras:
Bluntly put this a below average transfer. Digital image manipulation (sharpening) is evident and while it isn't disastrous, it doesn't help the already faded elements. Colors are often off here - especially in the skin tones. Reds and brighter hues wander off into drabber hues far too often. Print damage isn't much in evidence but the elements have clearly degraded. This 1080p AVC encoded transfer in 2.35:1. won't be winning any awards. And yes a lot of the movie was shot "soft" but that does not explain the transfer's flaws entirely. Fox have improved over the previously issued DVD here but this a weaker catalog effort.
Audio is the original mono track in DTS-HD Master Audio. Dialog is clear and centered and the track gets the job done. Crackles, pops and audible distortion are not present. Indies cued this as perfectly serviceable.
Extras consist of the USA theatrical trailer and tv spots and the Spanish theatrical trailer all in 480i. The Spanish trailer is mildly amusing.
The Final Word:
Poorly plotted and executed and laden with silly elements and devoid of any real excitement THE 300 SPARTANS cannot be recommended. Fox's below average transfer also helps sink this Greek warship. Superfans of Gerard Butler's later shenanigans or those interested in seeing what fired up the childhood imagination of Frank Miller might want to give this a look though.
Click on the images below for full sized Blu-ray screen caps!
