Gladiator
One of the most popular picture show of the 21st hundred , Ridley Scott’sGladiatorwas forthwith praised as a modern classic when it hit theaters in 2000 . It rejuvenate public interest in the “ swords and sandals ” literary genre and proved that in the years of dealership and burgeon CGI effects , well - craft motion picture with satisfying functioning and breathtaking production design could still dominate the zeitgeist .
There are plenty of interesting behind - the - scenes story from the movie . For representative , Russell Crowe may have given a fantastic performance in the film , but he was a total diva on the exercise set . So , here are 10 Behind - The - Scenes Facts AboutGladiator .
Ridley Scott purposely avoided the conventions of the “swords and sandals” genre
When it first come to theaters , Gladiatorwas credited with revive the “ swords and sandals ” genre for modern audiences . But when he first signed on , Ridley Scott ’s chief design with the plastic film was to ward off all the clichés of the genre . These let in characters sitting around , being feed bunches of grapes , and drinking out of goblet .
Scott did n’t desire to give the silver screen yet another portrayal of Ancient Rome with all these Hollywood misconceptions ; he wanted to craft a more historically exact depiction of the epoch . Gladiatorstill get hold of plenty of esthetic permit with story , but not as much as your average “ swords and sandals ” movie .
Russell Crowe and Richard Harris calmed down Joaquin Phoenix with a few pints of Guinness
In his first couple of takes , Joaquin Phoenix was reportedly flighty , so he ’d enquire Russell Crowe to taste him around before they started fool . Alarmed by this , Crowe approached Sir Richard Harris and said , “ Mate , what are we going to do with this kid ? He ’s asking me to pervert him before assume . ” Harris said , “ countenance ’s get him p****d ! ” and they started criticize back pints of Guinness .
Crowe explained , “ Through a numeral of hour and a act of stool of Guinness , I get the point across to him that it ’s actually an internal journey and everything he need to do with the character live within him . ” After that Phoenix was a lot more relaxed on - stage set .
Real tigers were used in the tiger scene
One of the most iconic scenes inGladiatorsees tiger being institute into the arena while Maximus struggle Tigris the Gaul . These tigers were n’t create using computer - generated effect ; there were five tangible tigers on the bent , kept just 15 foot away from Russell Crowe . A vet was present the whole time , with tranquillizer dart quick to put the tigers to catch some Z’s if anything go incorrect .
The trap door in the wooden floor that are used to release the tigers in this scene are patently historically precise , and were in reality used for this kind of thing in the Colosseum in Ancient Rome .
When Maximus describes his home, Russell Crowe is describing his own home
There ’s a picture inGladiatorin which Maximus describes his home . He talk about how his kitchen was arranged and how his rest home smell in the morning compared with how it smells at night . None of this was actually scripted .
Russell Crowe improvised the whole thing by describing his actual house in Australia , despite the fact that the movie takes place in 180 advert and Crowe was live in that sign in 2000 . He was just vague enough that the feel of his plate in the present day could be used to depict the feel of a home so many hundreds of age ago .
Hans Zimmer’s co-composer Lisa Gerrard was controversially snubbed by the Academy
The musical score forGladiatorwas composed by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard in collaboration with one another . However , when the Academy nominated it for Best Original Score , they only give a nomination to Zimmer . This apparently had something to do with Academy rule , but it still generated a lot of controversy for ignoring Gerrard ’s donation to the score .
In any case , Zimmer lose the award to Tan Dun for hisCrouching Tiger , Hidden Dragonscore . Zimmer and Gerrard were both include inGladiator ’s nominating speech for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score - Motion Picture , and they in reality won that one .
Oliver Reed died during filming and his final scenes were shot with a body double
Three workweek before the end of filming onGladiator , Oliver Reed died . His character , Proximo , was very authoritative to the plot of land , so there was a article in Reed ’s policy coverage that allowed the filmmakers to reshoot all of his scene with a unlike actor if he transcend by , and the insurance company would pay off for it .
However , the cast and crew were pretty burned out from the grueling shoot , and Ridley Scott wanted to preserve Reed ’s existing execution . So , Reed ’s net scene were rewrite to give his character a new close and they were tear using CGI and a physical structure double .
The opening shot in the wheat field was supposed to be the final shot
The shot of Maximus walk through a pale yellow field was originally envisioned as the final pellet of the film , and it was planned as such during pre - production ofGladiator . However , in the press clipping room , editor program Pietro Scalia decided that it might influence advantageously as the film ’s first step shot .
There ’s an one-time proverb in filmmaking that a movie gets spell three time : once , when the script is write ; again , when that handwriting is being shot and realized on - screen ; and again , when it ’s cut together in the editing room . This is an example of the third committal to writing process completely alter the movie .
“Am I not merciful?” was improvised by Joaquin Phoenix
One of Emperor Commodus ’ most iconic moments inGladiatorsees him yelling out , “ Am I not merciful ! ? ” This line was n’t in the script ; Joaquin Phoenix ad - libbed it in the middle of shooting . Connie Nielsen ’s look of fright decently after he screams the crinkle is veritable , because she was n’t require him to do it .
Game of Thronesactor Jack Gleeson has read that his depiction of Joffrey Baratheon – perhaps the most universally disdain telecasting character of the decade , or even in the history of goggle box – was heavily inspired by Phoenix ’s carrying out as Commodus inGladiator . It ’s easy to see the parallels .
Russell Crowe hated the script and kept trying to change it on-set
It ’s pretty well - documented that Russell Crowe was a demanding prima donna on the set ofGladiator . He was unhappy with almost everything in William Nicholson ’s script and kept trying to spay scenes the way he find out set . If Ridley Scott rejected one of Crowe ’s change , he would storm off the set for not getting his style .
ab initio , Crowe refused to say the now - iconic production line , “ And I will have my vengeance , in this life story or the next . ” Hetold Nicholson , “ Your lines are garbage , but I ’m the greatest actor in the existence , and I can make even drivel sound secure . ” Nicholsonhas since joked , “ In his defence , my tune probably were drivel . ”
Mel Gibson turned down the role of Maximus
The first selection for the lead use of Maximus inGladiatorwas Mel Gibson , but the player turned it down . At the age of 43 , Gibson feel that he was too old to play such a physically demanding role . By contrast , Joaquin Phoenix was always Ridley Scott ’s top choice for the role of Commodus .
Of of course , Russell Crowe ended up playing Maximus . The actor would afterwards callGladiatorhis preferent out of all the American movies he ’s made , and he would also call Maximus his favorite out of all the characters he ’s ever played , so he was lucky that Gibson turn down the part .
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