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‘Gladiator’ stars reunite at End Polio Now event

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  1. Actor Russell Crowe and Italian soccer star Francesco Totti attend a special screening of the Oscar-winning movie "Gladiator" inside the Colosseum in Rome, Italy. Proceeds of the event went to End Polio Now. 

    Courtesy of CineConcerts/©Musacchio&Ianniello

  2. Co-stars of "Gladiator" Russell Crowe and Connie Nielsen walk the red carpet in Rome for a special End Polio Now fundraising event. 

    Courtesy of CineConcerts/©Musacchio&Ianniello

  3. A 65-foot HD screen was erected in the Colosseum to show "Gladiator" to more than 300 people. 

    Courtesy of CineConcerts/©Musacchio&Ianniello

  4. An End Polio Now blimp circles the Colosseum during a special screening of "Gladiator"

    Courtesy of CineConcerts/©Musacchio&Ianniello

  5. Italian actress and director Maria Grazia Cucinotta walks the red carpet at the End Polio Now fundraising event inside the Colosseum in Rome, Italy. She is also a Rotary polio ambassador. 

    Courtesy of CineConcerts/©Musacchio&Ianniello

  6. A "Gladiator" fan walks the red carpet for a special screening of the movie inside the Colosseum in Rome, Italy. Proceeds of the event went to End Polio Now. 

    Courtesy of CineConcerts/©Musacchio&Ianniello

  7. Cast and crew of "Gladiator" reunite on the red carpet at the Colosseum in Rome, Italy. 

    Courtesy of CineConcerts/©Musacchio&Ianniello

  8. Co-stars of "Gladiator" Russell Crowe, Connie Nielsen, and Tomas Arana reunite on the red carpet in Rome, Italy, during a special screening of their hit movie. 

    Courtesy of CineConcerts/©Musacchio&Ianniello

  9. Event organizers distributed End Polio Now seat cushions throughout the Colosseum. 

    Courtesy of CineConcerts/©Musacchio&Ianniello

  10. The Italian Cinema Orchestra performed the entire soundtrack live to picture with the images, dialogue, and special effects. 

    Courtesy of CineConcerts/©Musacchio&Ianniello

  11. Conductor Justin Freer led the Italian Cinema Orchestra during the special screening of "Gladiator" inside the Colosseum. 

    Courtesy of CineConcerts/©Musacchio&Ianniello

Actor Russell Crowe and co-stars of the Oscar-winning movie “Gladiator” gathered 6 June for a special End Polio Now fundraising event inside the Colosseum in Rome, Italy. 

Produced by CineConcerts and presented by Forum Music Village, Gladiator in Concert: Live at the Colosseum, showed the 2000 movie on a 65-foot HD screen to more than 300 people. 

During the screening, conductor Justin Freer led the Italian Cinema Orchestra with vocal soloist and co-composer Lisa Gerrard in performing the entire soundtrack live to picture with the images, dialogue, and special effects preserved. Guests included, Italian actress and Rotary polio ambassador Maria Grazia Cucinotta, celebrity chef Cristina Bowerman, local Rotary members, Italian dignitaries, and “Gladiator” fans who purchased tickets to support Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign. The event was spearheaded by Rotarian Alberto Cecchini, a member of the Rotary Club of Roma Nord-Est, Italy.

More than $500,000 was raised for polio eradication efforts.  

Crowe, who won an Academy Award for his performance, was joined by fellow castmates Connie Nielsen and Tomas Arana. Italian soccer star Francesco Totti and some of his AS Roma teammates attended the event and signed jerseys that were auctioned off. 

“The event is not just about reuniting with Russell and other cast members … but also to raise awareness about Rotary International’s work in ending polio forever,” Nielsen said during the event. “I believe we all have the collective power and responsibility to help empower those around the world, and promoting health care is essential.” 

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Actor Russell Crowe and co-stars of the Oscar-winning movie “Gladiator” gathered 6 June for a special End Polio Now fundraising event inside the Colosseum in Rome, Italy.