- Persia: "Our arrows will blot out the sun!"
- Sparta: "Good! Then we will fight in the shade..."
With these famous lines from the movie THE 300 SPARTANS, I decided to begin my comment since the words best resemble what clash really took place a long time ago at Thermopylae - one of the most known and captivating battles in history when a mere wave of a few free men dared say "NO" to the ocean of "immortal" Asian hoards. But there are other, more important words that immediately direct our attention on the right track:
"Oh, Stranger, tell the Spartans that we lie here obedient to their word."
For centuries, the sublime words written at Thermopylae addressed to a stranger, anyone who is passing by have touched people. Artists drew paintings, writers wrote stories, and, in 1962 Rudolph Mate used perhaps the most powerful medium of our times, cinema. At the heyday of epic movies, he made THE 300 SPARTANS keeping to all significant "commandments" of a spectacle but also maintaining other important cases that have been noticed in time.
It's true that THE 300 SPARTANS is a visually stunning spectacle. But it is very important to mention that this film, besides the lavish sets, costumes, magnificent crowd scenes made in accordance with the spirit of a colossal movie, is a very captivating and absorbing insight into the historical characters. King Leonidas (Richard Egan) also carries human responsibilities, has a wife whom he loves, owns a very balanced view of his people, is aware of strengths and weaknesses, knows the lack of loyalty, the bitterness of treason but despite all of these, he is equally ready to return on the shield or with it for his people, for Sparta. Phylon (Barry Coe) is a simple Spartan soldier who is, for the time being, deprived of honor to join the army. Although he loves his beautiful woman Ellas (Diane Baker), he is ready to march a huge distance to become one of those who fight. Being granted the right to defend his country is of ultimate importance to him, that's how he was brought up, that's what he has been living for. The family shame (his father's treason) is something he has to cope with for long but individual effort and straightforward desire make him worthy dying for ideals at last. Therefore, we can as well state that THE 300 SPARTANS differs from the latest movie 300 exactly in that character development - the characters here are not only strong men who only fight well and are directed towards dining in hell but human beings with the feelings that they are bound to control, psychological strength that they must retain, and ideals that they live and die for.
The performances are absolutely terrific though some people may not appear to be cast well to their parts. Richard Egan is marvelous as Leonidas. He has that nobility in his manners and that undeniable courage which Leonidas must have had. His best moments include the final sequence when he talks to his men: We must fulfill our duty so that Sparta can be free. Ralph Richardson is very appealing as Themistocles, a remarkable diplomat for whom truth is a heady wine and according to whom there are no hopeless wars but only hopeless cowards. Barry Coe, in spite of his youthful face and gentle manners, does a fine job as persistent Phylon. And David Farrar as Xerxes...here opinions may differ, even more intensely in the latest year when we have seen Rodrigo Santoro in this role. Despite possible comparison, one thing is true, Farrar is too old and through his acting, he rather reminds me of some experienced, tired, and not a very convincing ruler than the exotic, vital, desirous of power and honors master of Persia. Moreover, the pair of Xerxes and Artemisa (Anne Wakefield) makes it all a bit humorous. Yet, I leave that open to everyone's view.
Another factor, except for character development, that goes outside the rules of a spectacle are powerful moments and script. They make THE 300 SPARTANS more similar to SPARTACUS than THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. The absolutely memorable conversation of Leonidas and Hydarnes (Donald Houston) I entailed at the beginning became a symbol of the movie in years. Another brilliant moment is at the cottage of a mountaineer: "Gods create beautiful women and later transform them into wives." Moreover, except for many other terrific script moments, Xerxes is showed at the beginning on his throne saying memorably "At Marathon, my father sent a mere wave, now I lead an ocean." The final scene, though a bit too short, has an unforgettable feeling that can hardly be expressed: the shields kill all Spartans but they are not afraid, they are with their king. I usually reflected on the fact what really made those Spartans immortal in history: was it their tragic end or the absolute loyalty and obedience that they retained to the last breath?
THE 300 SPARTANS is a must see not only for history buffs but for all viewers. The film is made in an accurate way, constitutes a nice history lesson that also talks to modern times and explains much from human ideals universal throughout the world history. It's a captivating story of courage, loyalty, ideals protection and death in dignity. No wonder why this is the film which also moved Frank Miller in his youth and prompted him to write a graphic novel and finally to make a movie.
Indeed, it was the time when an oasis of free patriots clashed with the desert of warriors in captivity and the oasis won in human hearts. 8/10