Gladiator is one of the most epic action films of recent times, and you probably know lots of trivia surrounding the movie; things like: there were lots of arguments, walk-outs and actors “squaring-up” to each other during the shooting. You’re also probably aware that whereas Commodus and Lucilla are real characters from history, Maximus is totally fictional. But here are a few things you may not be aware of.

The inspiration for the film came from a work of art

When Ridley Scott was talking to the producers, prior to signing up to direct Gladiator, the producers showed him an 1872 painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme,’ called Pollice Verso. The painting was of a Gladiator standing in front of a crowd of spectators in the Coliseum, waiting for their thumbs-up or thumbs-down. Apparently, the name “Pollice Verso,” means “with a turned thumb,” in Latin. It sold the concept of the move to RS, and the rest is cinema history.

Law and Lopez originally auditioned for roles in Gladiator

Jude Law originally screen-tested for the role of Commodus, and Jennifer Lopez is rumoured to have tested for the role of Lucilla. They lost out of course to Joaquin Phoenix and Connie Nielson, and in retrospect, the casting of these two roles was perfect, as we’re sure you will agree.

“Let it burn,” said the Royal Forestry Commission

The opening scene of the attack in a forest in Germany, was actually filmed here in England. The forest in question was none other than Bourne Woods just outside Farnham. Scott got wind of word that the forest had been labelled for deforestation, so he offered to do the job for them and set about putting a torch to it for the gory spectacle.          

Some scenes including Oliver Reed had to be CGI generated

It is said that Oliver Reed agreed to take part in the film because it gave him the opportunity to travel to London for free, where he wanted to see a couple of stage shows. Tragically, he died from a heart attack at the age of 61 before the filming of Gladiator was completed.

Proximo (the character he portrayed) was always written to die. However, because he passed away prior to some of his major scenes being shot, they used computer generated imagery to digitally scan his face onto an extra, so that the scenes could be filmed.

He was posthumously nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. As a mark of respect, the film was dedicated to him. He also shared a nomination for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture along with the other principal actors.

The real Commodus never fought in the arena

According to history, the emperor Commodus never actually fought in the arena. When Commodus stabbed the chained Maximum in the film, just before their epic confrontation, the notion does actually come from historic fact.

Apparently, the real Roman soldiers, who prepared Gladiators for the arena, actually stabbed them in the back in order to weaken them before fighting.

Thumbs down for the thumbs-up

Strange though it may seem to us today, throughout history the thumbs-up sign, given by the emperor (and the spectators), actually meant death. The thumbs-down was the signal to show mercy and let the fallen one live.

Apparently the cast was not aware of this truth, but even if they had been, thumbs-down was used to indicate death because of the modern connotations.

One fortunate punter won £1.6 million on an online Gladiator slot game

Today, Gladiator-type conflict still stirs the imagination, the blood, and the excitement; so much so, that there is now an enormously popular slot game based on the Gladiator film. One very fortunate punter scooped a £1.6 million jackpot playing the game, which can be played at Mr Green Online Casino.

Maximus’ real life scar

In the first battle scene, Maximus is seen sporting a scar on his right cheek. The scar was in actual fact not make-up – it was real. He got it when his horse became startled and ran him into the hanging branches of a tree.

The Joaquin Phoenix adlib that got a true-life great reaction 

Like many actors in the course of making a movie, Joaquin Phoenix came up with an adlib. The adlib was, “Am I not merciful?” It took Lucilla (Connie Nielson) completely off-guard, so the fearful reaction she showed on screen was born from complete and real surprise.

Anything Joaquin could do, Russel could do too

In the movie, Maximus-Decimus-Meridius talks about his home in Trujillo, in what is today’s Province of Cáceres, in Spain – hence his nickname in the movie – “Spaniard.” When Crowe waxed lyrical about his home as Maximus, he was, in fact, adlibbing and describing his real home in Australia.

For other bits of interesting trivia regarding the making of Gladiator the movie, check out the tv-over-mind.com website and the mentalfloss.com website.

Have you seen it yet?

Ridley Scott’s Gladiator, the heroic, tragic, historical epic, won five prizes at the 73rd Annual Academy Awards in 2011, including the Oscar for Best Picture. If you haven’t seen it yet, you don’t know what you’re missing.