Musings!

Spartacus (Massimo Girotti) has a love/hate relationship with Sabina (Gianna Maria Canale) in SPARTACUS - SINS OF ROME (1953)

Many scenes were cut in the US version but this one, a sorta daring one for its time, remained. Unlike the Kubrick version, this Spartacus had to deal with being the love interest of Sabina,the spoiled daughter of a powerful Roman ruler. He's forced to be with her, against his will but we can see that as much as he hates it he also doesn't mind living a 'normal' life. This conflict in him makes him more interesting. IMO, the story of Spartacus needed this conflict. He rebelled against Rome even though he wouldn't mind living a good life. Spartacus' love/hate relationship with Sabina is extreme. It makes the movie more dramatic. 

The hair styles of actresses in movies set in the past often conflict with the setting. They are almost always anachronistic. Not in this movie. Gianna's *big* hair was the total opposite of the conservative 1950s. This is one aspect that makes the movie look modern even today.