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Best Performance - Laughton? Olivier? Ustinov?

posted 13 years ago by JazzyBee04
49 replies | jump to latest

The general consenus on this board, and with critics, tends to be that these three actors gave the films best three performances.
I was just wondering what everybody else thought??
Having re-watched Spartacus yesterday with my family, we were completely split on who we thought was the best:
My father - Ustinov, My mother - Laughton, Myself - Olivier.
I just believed that Sir Laurence's acting gave Crassus many different layers and allowed the character to elevate beyond the stereotypical 'villain' title.
Having said that, Ustinov and Laughton were wonderful also.
Any thoughts??

"The essence of all art is giving pleasure in order to recieve it" - Mikhail Baryshnikov.

[–] hammer4 9 years ago

They were all good. It isn't necessary to choose between them.

[–] J-Cush 9 years ago

I think Kirk Douglas gave the best performance, but of those three I've always liked Olivier best.

[–] sirjeremy 9 years ago

All three were excellent, but I'll go with Laughton.

[–] caltrans 9 years ago

I LEAN TO Ustinov. Hard to be that smart and act so juvenile.

[–] Jester2000154113 9 years ago

Olivier. IMO Crassus is the most complex character in the movie, not just a one-note villain.

my movie review website: http://www.jestersreviews.com

[–] Trax-3 9 years ago

Olivier. IMO Crassus is the most complex character in the movie, not just a one-note villain.

Yes, when I think of this movie I find myself thinking of him most often.

[–] jobla 9 years ago

I'd vote for Laughton, although Olivier and Ustinov were also excellent.

[–] KobiyashiMauru 9 years ago

Fantastic performances from all three! It's hard to pick. Everyone of them stole every scene they were in. 👏🙌

Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded. Yogi Berra

[–] PatFilm 9 years ago

Laughton and Ustinov for sure; Olivier who strategically made Kirk Douglas boost his role and let the forces at work downsize the other characters.
When whole cast assembled to have a first reading, Ustinov and Laughton especially noted that the script had completely changed. Olivier considered acting with Laughton as a fight to death, God forbid Laughton would win the acting contest.

Great movie and superb cast and I am including Olvier here :-))

[–] nutsberryfarm 9 years ago

herbert lom 🙌

🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴

[–] TravisLikesSmoothJazz 8 years ago

I loved Olivier

I am an *beep* but my friends compensate for that.

[–] Kawada_Kira (7282) 7 years ago

Definitely Ustinov as Batiatus. He stole every scene he was in. Laughton and Olivier were also great, but Ustinov was certainly the best.

[–] Drooch (5333) 4 years ago

Laughton wins. A big fat blob with a blob head that is 90% jowl, but he’s absolutely magnetic, drawing you in with his resonant voice and sly glare. There’s something so effortless about his delivery, yet we see layers of thought and emotion. He’s a good man but deeply cynical and clever, seeing democracy collapse breaks his heart yet he remains good humoured, even when he takes his own life.

Ustinov outshone everyone but Laughton. It does feel a bit like he’s in a different film but he brings life, energy and humour to some of the more stale sequences. Another fat man who outclasses his prettier co-stars.

I haven’t seen many Olivier performances and I have to say I’ve generally found him underwhelming. That said, he did create a memorable villain with Crassus. He’s kind of an Iago character but with power - cunning, sly, charming and ruthless, but frustrated by his inability to make people love him. He’s a sociopath but not a sadist, and slightly pathetic - tricky stuff but Olivier nails it, even if he can seem rather hammy and ‘technical’ at times.