Behind the scenes photo of the SPARTACUS (1960) crew preparing for the 'Snails and Oysters' bath scene, with Tony Curtis and Laurence Olivier waiting. This scene was cut from the original release, since it was deemed too risqué. The scene was re-instated in a future restoration. It can be viewed on Youtube.
ReplyDeleteThe needs of the master and a slave's lot in life. The words of this particular scene have much more impact than any visuals could aim to convey:
Crassus: Do you eat oysters?
Antoninus: When I have them, master.
Crassus: Do you eat snails?
Antoninus: No, master.
Crassus: Do you consider the eating of oysters to be moral and the eating of snails to be immoral?
Antoninus: No, master.
Crassus: Of course not. It is all a matter of taste, isn’t it?
Antoninus: Yes, master.
Crassus: And taste is not the same as appetite, and therefore not a question of morals.
Antoninus: It could be argued so, master.
Crassus: My robe, Antoninus. My taste includes both snails and oysters.
Crassus: Antoninus, look. Across the river, there is something you must see. There, boy, is Rome. The might, the majesty, the terror of Rome. There is the power that bestrides the known world like a colossus. No man can withstand Rome. No nation can withstand her. How much less a boy? There's only one way to deal with Rome, Antoninus. You must serve her. You must abase yourself before her. You must grovel at her feet. You must - love her. Isn't that so, Antoninus? Antoninus! Antoninus?