Although anachronistic in costuming and accents and overly long (at 3 hours and 17 minutes) with some ""wooden"" acting,Spartacusremains one of the more beloved and intelligent gladiator films (and a model for Ridley Scott""sGladiator (2000)).He also welcomed the chance to lampoon his own acting reputation as "difficult." The slightly-controversial comedy was originally rated R, but director Pollack successfully appealed for a PG rating and won.Suddenly, the office building rises and straightens up outside one floor, and transports the viewer directly into one of its windows.] Captain Spaulding""s field secretary Horatio W.Jamison (Zeppo Marx), (the eternal harbinger of brother Groucho enters first before his boss"" imminent arrival)." As a clever survival tactic, the Tramp had rigged the gas meter device so that the Kid could trick the meter into lighting the stove, and hen retrieve their quarter from the coin box.