With the release of the Trumbo film, I thought I would take a look at what I consider the writer’s finest and most ambitious work, Spartacus. I was fortunate enough to locate a copy of the script to download that is labeled as “Revised Final Screenplay”. In addition to the script, it offers some interesting bonus features such as hand written notes and a shooting schedule. There is a reason we remember Dalton Trumbo. Yes, he had the intestinal fortitude to defy the House Un-American Activities Commission; but he was also a writer of enormous ability. Spartacus is a beautifully crafted script that is both entertaining and literate. For example, I loved this character description of Lentulus Batiatus, who was so wonderfully played by British actor Peter Ustinov: “BATIATUS is fanning himself, an exhausted look on his face. He is a man of middle weight and middle years, soft as butter from good living, and keen as a knife from acquiring the wherewithal for his way of life.” I have rarely read a character description that is so simple, yet evokes such perfect imagery. I was also impressed with how Trumbo wrote a period piece that nicely captures the Roman Patrician class while making it feel so contemporary. Though I’m not as thrilled with the depiction of Spartacus and his slave army, Trumbo’s work, with Stanley Kubrick’s direction, far exceeded most of the sword and sandal epics that preceded them. In any case, here is the link to Dalton Trumbo's masterwork of script writing: https://indiegroundfilms.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/spartacus.pdf
Screenwriting : Read the classic Dalton Trumbo script Spartacus by Phillip E. Hardy, "The Real Deal"
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Thanks for the tip and for shining a light for others to follow.
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I just finished reading Trumbo and then began searching for scripts he had written. Found this post. Thanks for posting!!
Thank you for posting the link, it's downloading as I type!
Long ago I read a book "The King of Paris" - by Guy Endore. Amazing biography of Alexandre Dumas. (This was pre-internet days). I keep a copy with me at all times. Later, I learned Endore had written a number of 'famous' screenplays. Wow! Still later, I learned he was the 'beard' for Trumbo and others - putting their work in front of producers, and taking credit (and a small fee) to keep them solvent during the Black list days. He did this at their request mind you. And everyone KNEW who the 'real' writers were. It's a fascinating tale in its own right. Endore was talented, but not nearly as prolific as his early credits indicate!