04 Works & Movie, The Art Of The Nude, Naked Jean Simmons in Spartacus , with footnotes # 24

Richard C. Miller (1912-2010)
Jean Simmons in Spartacus

Spartacus (c. 111–71 BC) was a Thracian gladiator who was one of the escaped slave leaders in the Third Servile War, a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Little is known about Spartacus beyond the events of the war, and surviving historical accounts are sometimes contradictory and may not always be reliable. However, all sources agree that he was a former gladiator and an accomplished military leader.

This rebellion, interpreted by some as an example of oppressed people fighting for their freedom against a slave-owning oligarchy, has provided inspiration for many political thinkers, and has been featured in literature, television, and film. Although this interpretation is not specifically contradicted by classical historians, no historical account mentions that the goal was to end slavery in the Republic.

Richard C. Miller (1912-2010)
Jean Simmons and Kirk Douglas filming the nude river scene in Spartacus

Spartacus is also a 1960 American epic historical drama film and stars Kirk Douglas in the title role.

Spartacus forms a quiet relationship with a serving woman named Varinia (Jean Simmons), whom he refuses to rape when she is sent to "entertain" him in his cell. Spartacus and Varinia are subsequently forced to endure numerous humiliations for defying the conditions of servitude. 

The gladiators overwhelm their guards and escape into the Italian countryside. Spartacus is elected chief of the fugitives and decides to lead them out of Italy and back to their homes. More on the Spartacus film

Richard C. Miller (1912-2010)
Jean Simmons and Kirk Douglas filming the nude river scene in Spartacus

Jean Merilyn Simmons, OBE (Order of the British Empire), (31 January 1929 – 22 January 2010) was an English actress and singer. One of J. Arthur Rank's "well-spoken young starlets", she appeared predominantly in films, beginning with those made in Great Britain during and after the Second World War, followed mainly by Hollywood films from 1950 onwards.

Simmons was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Hamlet , and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for Guys and Dolls. Other notable film appearances included Young Bess, The Robe, Elmer Gantry, Spartacus (Her last big movie was Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus), and The Happy Ending, for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress. She also won an Emmy Award for the 1983 miniseries The Thorn Birds. More on Jean Simmons

Richard C. Miller (1912-2010)
Jean Simmons and Kirk Douglas filming the nude river scene in Spartacus

Richard C. Miller (1912-2010) is known for his iconic photographs of Norma Jeane Dougherty (Marilyn Monroe) and James Dean. He photographed many of Hollywood’s biggest celebrities. Dick also documented the construction of the Los Angeles freeways. He was a close friend of the photographer Brett Weston and photographed Brett and his father, Edward Weston.

Dick is also known for his use of the carbro process to make vivid archival carbro images.

His work is part of the permanent collection of the Getty Museum and has been exhibited at that museum. It has also been shown at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum and at private galleries. His photographs appeared in a variety of magazines, including The Saturday Evening Post, Life magazine, Time magazine and others. More on Richard C. Miller

Jean Simmons takes a smoke break on the set of Spartacus 

No comments:

Post a Comment

10 works, The Art Of The Nude, MAN RAY's Kiki of Montparnasse, with footnotes #217

MAN RAY (1890-1976) Portrait de Kiki, c. 1923 Oil on canvas 24 1/8 x 18 in. (61.3 x 45.6 cm.) Private collection Sold for USD 1,623,000 in ...