Set in 480 BC, the cruel and merciless King Xerxes (David Farrar), leads his two-hundred thousand strong Persian army towards Greece, with hopes of invading and conquering the nation in its entirety. The brave and determined Spartan army, led by King Leonidas (Richard Egan), battle against these forces at the narrow pass of Thermopylae, in an attempt to free the country of Greece. An importantly historic tale that is worth a watch, but somewhat underwhelming in stages.

Director: Rudolph Maté
Writers: George St. George, Ugo Liberatore, Remigio Del Grosso
Starring: Richard Egan, David Farrar, Ralph Richardson

Directed by Rudolph Maté and written by George St. George, based on original material by Ugo Liberatore and Remigio Del Grosso, The 300 Spartans is an epic historical drama depicting the Battle of Thermopylae. Fought in 480 BC, the battle saw an alliance of Greek states face the invading Achaemenid Persian Empire in a three-day battle at the narrow pass of Thermopylae. Decades after the film’s release, the same iconic battle inspired the 1998 graphic novel 300, which was later adapted into the hugely successful Hollywood blockbuster, 300 (2006).

The 300 Spartans manages to stand out for its authenticity throughout its near two-hour runtime. Both the costume and set design are extremely well done, helped greatly by the real filming locations utilised by the filmmakers. Locations across Athens, Perachora and Loutraki in Greece were all utilised, while the inclusion of over one-thousand extras also helped create an authentic feel.

With that being said, the film is largely a slow, heavy dialogue-driven flick, with action and suspense often feeling secondary in nature. As a result, the pacing can feel a little slow at times, particularly in the first two thirds of the film where not a great deal of impact actually occurs. When the action does occur, it also has to be said that these moments feel somewhat underwhelming in nature, even when factoring in the fact that the film is over sixty years old.

In terms of the cast, Richard Egan takes on the role of King Leonidas, commanding the majority of the screen time in the process, while David Farrar portrays King Xerxes, leader of the opposing army. Interestingly, this was David Farrar’s final feature film before his retirement, after which he moved to South Africa. Elsewhere, there are appearances from Ralph Richardson, Barry Coe and Donald Houston as Themistocles of Athens, Phylon and Hydarnes, respectively.

All in all, The 300 Spartans is certainly an impressively produced flick, especially when factoring in its 1962 release date, and it is supported by some nicely written and delivered dialogue. However, it does seem to lack a little action and intensity, which prevents the picture from being overly noteworthy. There is also an argument to be had that the film’s runtime could have been trimmed slightly to improve the pacing and overall delivery.

“Every day we stand is another day for Greece.”

King Leonidas – The 300 Spartans