The film was directed by zack snyder and stars gerard butler as leonidas i revered king of sparta, lena headey as leonidas wife queen gorgo, dominic west as the traitorous councilman theron, david wenham as diliosone of the 300 spartans that. On the last day of the battle, leonidas was surrounded and sent most of his troops away covering their retreat with a valiant last stand. Finally a complete story on a single topic, so long since i saw a documentary that was not a collection of trivia and a covert invitation to visit somewhere and spend money. Frank miller explains that he wanted king leonidas to stand out from the other spartans so that you can easily identify him in the group of other spartans. The lone survivor took the story back to his people. Some who have watched the film considered it to be a commentary of the cold war. The 300 spartans is a 1962 film depicting the battle of thermopylae. Essentially true story of how spartan king leonidas led an extremely small army of greek soldiers 300 of his personal body guards from sparta to hold off an invading persian army now thought to have numbered 250,000. Winner best feature film at the london greek film festival.
The total number of greek forces, with a certain amount of disagreement on the particulars, is generally accepted to be roughly between 25006000. Nowadays its probably best known as part of the inspiration for frank millers famous graphic novel 300 and its subsequent film adaptation. If you like the 300 spartans you are looking for epic, serious and exciting movies about with soldier, heroes, heroic mission, battles, adventure, warrior and master warrior themes of adventure, drama and history genre shot in usa. How many spartans survived in the movie 300 answers. Well, the true story includes more than just 300 spartans, since numerous other greek allies were present with the spartan contingent. The real story tv is a documentary directed by stanislaw karpinski. The 300 spartans movie trailer and videos tv guide. You can watch the 300 spartans online on videoondemand services netflix, hbo now, paytv or movie theatres with original audio in english.
The 300 spartans official trailer an overlong spectacle that tells how a band of only 300 spartans fended off an army of thousands in the battle of thermopylae in 480 bc. In anticipation of the second part of the story about the 300 spartans, i could not forget to mention the first movie dedicated to this topic, filmed by zack snyder in 2006. Nearly 400 volunteer extras, that must have taken some organizing. It is a sequel to the 2007 film 300, taking place before, during, and after the main. Yes, it was a true story, although the movie wasnt historically correct on some points, it was a more of a glorification of the actual event. Shortly before this film arrived, i had been pointed to this particularly scourifying critique of frank millers 300 2006. The story of leonidas and the legendary battle of the 300 at. The persians attack, and great numbers of their soldiers are slaughtered in the narrow pass. There were several instances where the director should have stuck to the real historical accounts. It stars richard egan as leonidas, ralph richardson as themistocles and david farrar as xerxes. Just with 300 spartans the movie 300 gave a great message. Its something of a throwback to the kind of early cinemascope spectacles 20th centuryfox and the other hollywood studios produced when that widescreen format was new, during 195354. This website is dedicated to king leonidas, the 300 spartans, 700 thespians and other greek warriors who fought to the death during the battle of thermopylae hot gates in august, 480 b. Leonidas and his 300 spartans and the battle of thermopylae.
Why do you think herodotus introduces the oracle at this point in the story. These features include a pictureinpicture feature entitled the complete 300. A detailed look at the battle of thermopylae in 480 bc greece between leonidas and his 300 spartans versus xerxes 250, 000 persian invaders. Putting aside the myths and legends surrounding the 300 spartans, this documentary takes a detailed look at the battle of thermopylae in 480 bc, leading to the last stand of the 300 spartans, other greeks and the great spartan king, leonidas. It was also the last film appearance of david farrar, who then chose to retire from acting. Queen gorgo of sparta tells her men about the battle of marathon, in which king. But the spartans are betrayed by a goatherd, ephialtes, who tells the persians of a littleknown trail by which they can traverse the mountain and attack the spartans from the rear. Spartans movie 300 is really an amazing thrilling movie. I did find a copy of the 300 spartans at my local library and i did watch it. I have not yet watched the second part, and i can hardly imagine what the continuation of the story could be, considering all the main characters died. What was the true story of the 300 spartans and the. The spartan and thespian last stand has been immortalized in the works of herodotus and glorified in the 1962 movie the 300 spartans starring richard egan, along with many other mediums consisting of. The last stand of the 300 spartans top documentary films.
Gareth jones, have completed courses in classical studies. Yes, it was a true story, although the movie wasnt historically correct on some. The truth is, though, that spartans werent invincible in battle at all. Presented by dr michael scott of cambridge university, with. This movie has been premiered in australian hd theatres in 1962 movies 1962. Spartans movie depicts the fate, power, unity and mental strength of their 300 spartans. Alot of people love this movie because this era had a great impact on.
What is the real story of the 300 spartans answers. Except for diane baker, the acting in the 300 spartans is wooden and the direction is uninspired. World premiere, london greek film festival, may, 2016. Dilios, as a guy who knows how not to wreck a good story with truth. World premiere, london greek film festival, may, 2016, winner. The film is a shotforshot adaptation of the comic book, similar to the film adaptation of sin city. On the 3rd day of the battle, when leonidas was being surrounded, he sent. Page 1 of the movies 300 spartans, the category 2 stories at twisting the hellmouth. The 300 spartans see also the rather less bloodythirsty 1962 film version of that name is about the battle of thermopylae the hot gates in the film which enjoyed a cameo role in the second persian invasion of greece in the 5th century bc. Watch 300 spartans the real story online 2015 movie. What evidence does coutu use to support her claim that improvisation requires resilience. Frank millers original graphic novel 300 was inspired by the film the 300 spartans, which miller first saw at age 6. The 2006 fantasy action film 300, directed by zack snyder and written by snyder.
Most people who have watched zack snyders famous 2007 fantasy historical film 300, might think they know the ancient greek story of leonidas and the battle. Putting aside the myths and legends, this documentary takes a detailed look at the battle of thermopylae in 480 bc greece leading to the last stand of the 300 spartans and. In 1970, despite the attributed cold war connotations, the film was dubbed in russian and shown in the ussr. What was the real mission of leonidas and the 300 spartans. I went to greece and researched the story as much as i could walked the. When it was released many saw it as an allegory for the cold war. Though warned of the imminent danger, leonidas chooses to make a stand. Before i go into details ill just replay the summary here. The 300 spartans was the last film of richard egans sevenyear contract with 20th century fox. The official video trailer for 300 spartans the real story streaming worldwide.
Good question, the movie 300 is based on the battle of thermopylae, holding off. The legend is fabulous, the real story is astonishing. The real 300 spartans history behind the frank miller 300 graphic novel and the film. After they have completed their reading, students are asked some of the following questions.
After rewatching 300 last week i felt compelled to track down the film that inspired it, hoping too that i might discover a discarded classic of swordandsandal cinema. Snyder photocopied panels from the comic book, from which he planned the preceding and succeeding shots. With alex copeland, patrick frost, peter godfrey, josif jovanovski. The spartans and other greeks were very like the persians in that when they conquered a foe they made these conquered foes their slaves. In an addition to the wrong details in the movie 300 is that the right of passage. Dilioss story continues and a persian herald arrives at the gates of sparta. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. One of its main objections to millers representation of thermopylae is that it eradicates the contributions of other greeks to the conflict and also conveniently ignores the failure of the spartans to participate in the battle.
The 300 spartans the hopeless but ultimately inspiring defense of their country by a band of 300 spartan soldiers against an immense army of persian invaders in 480 b. Another wrong in 300 is that that the spartans did not own any slaves while in real sparta they did. Presented by dr michael scott of cambridge university, with contributions from nine other experts and four researchers and using the latest research, satellite positioning, and imagery, the. It is almost impossible to understand how 300 spartans managed to hold off the millionman persian army for.
The best part of spartans is its historical action that really inspires us. Putting aside the myths and legends, this documentary takes a detailed look at the battle of thermopylae in 480 bc greece leading to the last stand of the 300 spartans and spartan king leonidas. This and the appalling 300 film are both wasted opportunities to tell the story properly. The storys the same but for those of you just joining us.