● Oliver Reed died during the filming of Gladiador in Malta.
● The cause was a sudden heart attack after heavy drinking.
● His death occurred on May 2, 1999 in La Valeta. 🍺
● The event took place inside The Pub.
● The Pub was frequented by mariners from the Royal Navy.
● Reed had consumed large amounts of alcohol and arm wrestled with sailors. ⚓
● The presence of the Marina Real británica created a festive atmosphere.
● The bill surpassed five hundred pounds sterling.
● Reed collapsed and was unable to recover. 💔
CHARACTER OF PROXIMO
● Oliver Reed played Proximo in Gladiador.
● Proximo was conceived as a gladiator trainer and merchant.
● His original arc included a visible heroic death. 🗡️
● The original script allowed Proximo to fight guards.
● He would buy time for Máximo and others to escape.
● He had a final speech about freedom and honor. 📜
● In the final cut, Proximo died off-screen.
● His lines were reused from earlier takes.
● The dedication closed with “A nuestro amigo Oliver Reed”. 🌹
RIDLEY SCOTT AND RUSSELL CROWE
● Ridley Scott directed Gladiador.
● He was shocked by the sudden loss of Oliver Reed.
● He chose to keep the filmed material intact. 🎬
● Russell Crowe played Máximo.
● Crowe respected Reed deeply despite early tension.
● He described Reed as strong and fearless. 🦁
CHARACTER OF CÓMODO
● Cómodo represented imperial power in Gladiador.
● The confrontation between Máximo and Cómodo structured the climax.
● The absence of Proximo shifted narrative focus. 🏛️
SHADOWS AND DUST
● Reed’s character often repeated “shadows and dust”.
● The phrase summarized the mortality of gladiators.
● It became symbolic after his real death. ⏳
FILMING LOCATIONS
● Part of the filming took place at Fuerte Ricasoli.
● Fuerte Ricasoli is located in Malta.
● The environment gave authenticity to gladiatorial settings. 🏰
BURIAL
● Oliver Reed was buried in Buttevant.
● Buttevant is located in Irlanda.
● He was sixty-one years old at the time of death. ⚰️
COST AND TECHNOLOGY
● Scenes were finished with digital effects.
● The technology placed Reed’s face onto doubles.
● This required significant additional budget. 💻
ONLINE SOURCES
● Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?pp=0gcJCfwAo7VqN5tD&v=KXeDY29FPpw&utm_source=chatgpt.com
● Reference: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3164534807204454/posts/3972133863111207/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
● Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJuAnQ1FDwI&utm_source=chatgpt.com
● Reference: https://www.reddit.com/r/MovieDetails/comments/6rb5b2/gladiator_2000_oliver_reed_died_half_way_through/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
● Reference: https://www.looper.com/250470/heres-how-they-finished-gladiator-after-oliver-reed-died/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
● Reference: https://nypost.com/2024/11/22/entertainment/gladiator-was-a-disaster-became-hollywood-classic-anyway/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
● Reference: https://as.com/meristation/cine/el-celebre-actor-de-gladiator-que-murio-en-pleno-rodaje-por-una-absurda-apuesta-en-un-bar-de-malta-n/?utm_source=chatgpt.com 🔗
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVE
● The central learning is the understanding of how Oliver Reed’s death influenced Gladiador.
● The objective is to recognize the impact on Proximo’s role.
● The outcome demonstrates the use of editing, doubles, and digital technology in cinema. 🎥
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 