15 Movie Mistakes You Might Have Missed
2. Gladiator ‘s Crash
Sharp-eyed viewers can easily spot the gas canister attached to the base of the cart, designed to create the airborne flip.
Instead of flipping the chariot in a traditional manner, the production used the gas canister to create a more controlled environment that would therefore be safer for the actors.
Air rushes through the gas canister at such a high speed that it could flip something as heavy as the chariot in question. Normally these types of things are removed digitally, but it wasn’t the case in this situation.
Other modern items that managed to make their way into the film include a pair of sunglasses worn by a member of the crowd, contact lenses and the occasional appearance by a boom microphone. During the thrilling fight scene between Maximus and the tigers, actor Russell Crowe rolls on the ground and treats viewers to a glimpse of his lycra shorts.
Crowe did a large portion of his own stunt work and suffered a broken foot, hip and injured the tendons in both of his biceps. He was rewarded with an Oscar for Best Leading Actor for his critically acclaimed performance.
