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.
"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.
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.
