Remember that iconic scene of Maximus Decimus Meridius walking through a field of wheat at the beginning of Gladiator? Given it's one of the best 2000s movies , I'm guessing we're all familiar with the shot, and probably even recreated it at least once or twice while ambling around. But did you know that this legendary opening scene from the Best Picture winner wasn’t even planned and didn’t actually even feature Russell Crowe?
Gladiator is seen as one of Ridley Scott’s best movies, and the shot of Maximus grazing his hand over the top of the wheat has become a signature moment, and perfectly sets the tone for the dramatic story that unfolds. However, it was actually a happy accident that occurred after the director got onto Crowe’s body-double on the final day of shooting, as Scott told Deadline:
I shot that hand; it was the last shot of principal photography. Russell [Crowe] didn’t come to Italy, it was his double. The guy was standing there in this field, smoking. I go, get out of the field, are you joking? It was mid-summer, dry. He says, ‘Oh, sorry man.’ He walked out [off the field], and did that thing with the hand. I said, ‘Stop right there. Get the Steadicam.’
Wait, so Ridley Scott is telling us that the shot, seemingly of Crowe, and one that’s become instantly recognizable over the years, didn’t even involve the actor? Well, huh. Instead of an actor who was on the way to becoming one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, it was his double taking a break to have a smoke near a wheatfield when a director suddenly got a great idea.
When Scott was pressed about this revelation, the legendary filmmaker, who somehow has never won an Oscar, added some additional details to this incredible behind-the-scenes Gladiator story. This includes a tidbit about the importance of being spontaneous while on set.
It was discovered on the last day, spontaneously. I consider spontaneity to be essential to what I do; you’ve always got to be watching. That’s not on paper. And so suddenly that becomes the editing room, and then the theme happens. [Hans Zimmer’s] theme is magic, and the hand is magic.
The combination of the visuals and Hans Zimmer’s remarkable score not only created an unforgettable movie moment we’re still going crazy for 25 years after the movie was first released, but also set the tone for Maximus’ story of redemption that played out in the Coliseum. It’s well known that the Gladiator script went through several changes as the movie was coming together, and this small-yet-crucial alteration paid off handsomely.
Now you know the story behind how Ridley Scott (not to mention a body-double deciding to take a smoke break at possibly the best time in the history of Hollywood) led to one of the greatest opening shots of all time. You can revisit the scene and the rest of the movie now, as Gladiator is one of the best free movies streaming.
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