20 Things You Somehow Missed In Gladiator
1. Maximus Was Made More Comfortable In Death
At the climax of the film, having killed the corrupt Commodus, released the gladiators, and reinstated Senator Gracchus to lead a new and free Rome, Maximus collapses from his wounds to the floor of the Colosseum.
When he falls, and Lucilla runs towards him, Crowe's head is clearly laying flat on the ground, as someone who just fell dead would be. A few takes later, as most of the supporting cast have joined Lucilla around Maximus' body, a very comfortable looking pile of sand has been neatly formed under Crowe's head.
When Maximus is picked up by the honour guard, no one is visibly supporting his head, which means it should have flopped backward over the edge of the 'stretcher'. Most likely there was a hidden support under Crowe's neck and head. Again, very thoughtful.
Although, after what he went through, a comfy death from a grateful Rome doesn't seem to be too much to ask for.