One of the fascinating pieces of trivia below is true*, the other is false. Do YOU know which is which?
Gladiator (2000)
1) The real-life Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) was in fact the only Roman Emperor in history to fight as a gladiator in the arena. However, he did it several times, not just once. Also, he was not killed in the arena but was strangled in his dressing room by an athlete named Narcissus.
2) It was well known that famed actor Oliver Reed died mid-way through filming Gladiator but this is not true. In fact, Reed died in 1995 in a drunken bar brawl which was started over a heated argument over which British Prime Minister was the best between Reed and some Welsh farmer. His family successfully kept his work and legacy afloat for a few more years by an elaborate scheme much like Weekend at Bernie’s with tricks and mechanics to give the impression he was still animated. Wires and pulleys were used to move his various body parts and facial expressions. The ruse was realized by an Italian intern during filming of Gladiator who attempted to steal Reed’s wallet but found a tape recorder of previous movie lines used for Reed’s speech and a torso full of sawdust. To save Reed and his family as well as the cast and crew of Gladiator the risk of embarrassment they simply said he died from a heart attack during the filming process in 1999.
Hard Ticket to Home Video 