Ridley Scott: "Gladiator" Story Boards, Sketches and Inspirations

                             

         

Artists have long been influenced/inspired by the works of other artists (creative types) and their respective works. Composer/Arranger Isaac Hayes developed his popular version of the Bacharach/David song “Walk on by” while viewing Sergio Leone’s landmark film “Once Upon A Time in the West.”  His interpretation is in perfect coordination with the film’s prologue scenes imagery when paired with them. The Peace Movement’s anthem like; “Imagine,” was for many years credited to John Lennon alone. It was actually taken literally and tonally from the writings and thoughts of his wife, Yoko Ono. Van Gogh’s inspired copies of Millett, Delacroix and Doré became famous in their own rights. Picasso reproduced Velasquez and Delacroix to stunning and respected results in his time.  Director Ridley Scott is no exception to this artistic norm. His masterpiece of a film; the contemporary classic, “Gladiator” is directly inspired from his imaginings of the Orientalist masterpiece “Pollice Verso” (A Turned Thumb) by the great Jean-Léon Gérôme. The muses be damned.

“Pollice Verso” by Jean-Léon Gérôme

"That image spoke to me of the Roman Empire in all its glory and wickedness. I knew right then and there I was hooked."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Ridley Scott

Scott’s career in film originally saw him as art director on various projects. His ever present artistic eye has served him well on his own films as diverse in content and tone as Alien, Gladiator, Thelma & Louise and most recently Raised by Wolves.  His sets, camera compositions, lighting and angles, costumes and props have a realistic believability as well as an imaginative aesthetic. His films visions and narratives benefit and are enhanced by these efforts. He also often lends his own hand to his films concept art and story-boarding. Among his most interesting are those for “Gladiator.”  What follows is a portfolio of some of the intricate and precise drawings done for that triumphant film.

Another major aspect of “Gladiator” is the illustrious score by Hans Zimmer. I have enjoyed elements of it for many years. It remains one of Zimmer’s most memorable works. I have included portions below.

                                                           Music From the Film

“A good score should have a point of view all of its own. It should transcend all that has gone before, stand on its own two feet and still serve the movie. A great soundtrack is all about communicating with the audience, but we all try to bring something extra to the movie that is not entirely evident on screen.”

                                                                                                                Hans  Zimmer

“Gladiator” has stood the test of time up to and into this point after it’s theatrical release. I believe it to be among our collective contemporary classics. It is a true cultural landmark that works well on many levels (evidenced by eleven Oscars wins) in ways that few films do. It is of special note; particularly in this digital age where films and film makers seem to have lost their way and ironically creative originality.