The 300 Spartans (1962)

Released just a few years before a similar British film, ZULU, this 1962 ladiator film depicts a tiny army of Spartan forces and their efforts to stave off an attack by Persian forces which greatly outnumbered the Spartans. Led by King Leonidis (Richard Egan), the Spartan army consisted primarily of a security force who guarded the palace. This rousing gladiator epic boasts an incredible cast including Diane Baker, Ralph Richardson, and Kieron Moore.