Photo Credit: chago / Dreamworks Pictures / MovieStillsDB
Gladiator (2000) is an acclaimed ancient Roman historical epic, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe. Set during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the film masterfully blends action, drama and spectacle to create a captivating cinematic experience. The following are eight behind-the-scenes facts about Gladiator that you might not have known.
A 19th-century painting inspired Ridley Scott to direct Gladiator
In an effort to convince Ridley Scott to direct Gladiator, the producers showed him a copy of Jean-Léon Gérôme’s Pollice Verso. The painting depicts a gladiator standing upon the neck of another, looking up toward the Vestal virgins who signal death for the defeated man with a thumbs-down gesture. Its title is Latin for “With a Turned Thumb.”
Scott was captivated by the scene, saying, “That image spoke to me of the Roman Empire in all its glory and wickedness. I knew right then and there I was hooked.”
Burning down a real-life forest
Gladiator, 2000. (Photo Credit: Jaukalau / Dreamworks Pictures / MovieStillsDB)
Our second Gladiator fact centers around the opening scene of the film. It shows the Roman Army, commanded by Maximus Meridius, facing off against a large group of German tribes. The latter prepare to fight, standing at the edge of a large forest, which they set ablaze as the Romans launch
