Top 5 - Sword and Sandals Epics

Speaking of Spartacus, it's time for another edition of "Top 5", this one centered on what I like to call "Sword and Sandals Epics".  You know what I mean - movies with men in shorts skirts and togas, women in flowing robes with their hair done up, plenty of sword fights, plenty of romance, and plenty of corny dialogue.

1. Spartacus (Kirk Douglas and Jean Simmons - 1960) - see review below...

2. Quo Vadis (Robert Taylor and Deborah Kerr - 1951) - Roman General Robert Taylor falls in love with Christian maiden Deborah Kerr, and Peter Ustinov (Emperor Nero) fiddles while Rome burns.  Gladiators, Christians and man-eating lions add life to the party.

3. Ben Hur (Charleton Heston, 1959) - Judean Prince Charleton Heston is betrayed by best friend Stephen Boyd, sold into slavery, and like Joseph of Egypt ends up being better off than when he left.  He returns to race chariots and reclaim his stolen birthright.

4. The Robe (Richard Burton and Jean Simmons - 1953) - Roman Centurion Richard Burton crucifies Christ, goes mad, and eventually finds the Christian faith.

5. Demetrius and the Gladiators (Victor Mature and Susan Hayward - 1954) - Sequel to "The Robe", where Richard Burton's former servant Victor Mature tries to save Christ's robe from Emperor Caligula, fights in the area, wavers and then finds his faith again.