The Robe (1953)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Henry Koster

Writers (WGA):

Philip Dunne (screenplay) and
Gina Kaus (adaptation)

Release Date:

4 December 1953 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The First Picture on the New Miracle Curved Screen !

Plot:

Marcellus is a tribune in the time of Christ. He is in charge of the group that is assigned to crucify Jesus...

Plot Keywords:

Crucifixion | Ancient Rome | Beautiful Woman | Blockbuster | Religion

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Richard Burton	...	Marcellus Gallio
Jean Simmons	...	Diana
Victor Mature	...	Demetrius
Michael Rennie	...	Peter
Jay Robinson	...	Caligula
Dean Jagger	...	Justus
Torin Thatcher	...	Sen. Gallio
Richard Boone	...	Pontius Pilate
Betta St. John	...	Miriam
Jeff Morrow	...	Paulus
Ernest Thesiger	...	Emperor Tiberius
Dawn Addams	...	Junia
Leon Askin	...	Abidor

Runtime:

135 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Western Electric Recording) (CinemaScope version) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) (re-release) | Mono (Academy ratio version)

Certification:

Iceland:L | West Germany:12 (f) | South Korea:All | Portugal:M/12 | Finland:S | Sweden:15 | UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #16441) | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Corriganville, Ray Corrigan Ranch, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Acclaimed by many film historians as a triumph in the art of motion-picture music, Alfred Newman's reverent, intense, prodigious background music failed to garner an Academy Award nomination for Dramatic Score. Nonetheless, Mr. Newman did take home an Oscar statuette that awards night - for his role as musical director of the Irving Berlin-Ethel Merman frolic, Call Me Madam (1953). To register his unhappiness with the snub, the distinguished film composer Franz Waxman, an Oscar winner for Sunset Blvd. (1950) and A Place in the Sun (1951), resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Compounding his appreciation for the Newman opus, Mr. Waxman required that his screen credit for Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954), a "Robe" sequel, note that the Waxman score was based on the Newman score. Ironically, that year's winning Dramatic Score perhaps had been placed in the wrong category. Bronislau Kaper's charming score for Lili (1953), really a semi-musical starring Leslie Caron and Mel Ferrer, spotlighted Mr. Kaper's melodies for two dream-dance sequences (choreographed by Charles Walters), and the wistful hit waltz, "Li-Lili, Hi-Lo" (lyrics by Helen Deutsch). This now-standard, alas, did not pick up an Oscar nomination.

Goofs:

Factual errors: There are repeated references to galleys leaving Rome for Palestine (and vise versa) "on the next tide". The tides in the Mediterranean Sea are too slight to be of concern to sailors.

Quotes:

Caligula: They're going into a better kingdom! They're going into a better kingdom! They're going to meet their king! They're going to meet their king!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "American Masters: None Without Sin" (2003)

Inspiring film

I have probably seen this film over 100 times, and I never tire of it nor does it fail to inspire my love of faith even more. Although the focus is not on Jesus directly, it is through the great talents of the actors, writers and director that the focus IS placed back on Jesus' effect on the lives of the movie characters.

There is not a single performer in this film who is not brilliant. Richard Burton turns in a superb & convincing performance as Marcellus, the Roman tribune whose life is a meaningless series of women and wine until fate gives him faith. And there is no more beautiful actress ever than Jean Simmons as Diana. (I even named my only daughter Diana because of the effect that this character had on me as a child; Diana defined beauty to me.) But my favorite by far was Victor Mature's Demetrius, a role which was so beloved at the time, that the sequel of Demetrius and the Gladiators began filming soon after The Robe was released to critical and popular acclaim. Mr. Mature's portrayal of Demetrius, a Greek slave who would only see Jesus, yet be changed permanently by His glance, helped develop my faith in me as a child.

All of the other performances are excellent and uplifting. It is a great movie to watch with the family and explain all the different ways faith was given to each of the characters. It is a visually stunning film, with beautiful and haunting music (score by Hollywood musical genius Alfred Newman), and one that stands the test of time (I've been watching it for over 40 years.)