The Robe (1953)

Director:

Henry Koster

Writers (WGA):

Philip Dunne (screenplay) and
Gina Kaus (adaptation)
(more)

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:

Palestine | Robe | Crucifixion | Nightmare | Donkey

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 3 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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Ansara	...	Judas (uncredited)
Jan Arvan	...	Slave Dealer (uncredited)
Ben Astar	...	Cleander (uncredited)
Helen Beverly	...	Rebecca (uncredited)
Kit Carson	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Albert Cavens	...	Sword-Fighting Soldier (uncredited)
Fred Cavens	...	Sword-Fighting Soldier (uncredited)
Jean Corbett	...	Slave Girl (uncredited)
Joan Corbett	...	Slave Girl (uncredited)
Noreen Corcoran	...	Girl (uncredited)
Sally Corner	...	Cornelia (uncredited)
Leo Curley	...	Shalum (uncredited)
Frank DeKova	...	Slave Dealer (uncredited)
Irene Demetrion	...	(uncredited)
Van Des Autels	...	Chamberlain (uncredited)
John Doucette	...	Ship's Mate (uncredited)
Anthony Eustrel	...	Sarpedo (uncredited)
Dan Ferniel	...	Black Man (uncredited)
Sam Gilman	...	Ship's Captain (uncredited)
Roy Gordon	...	Chamberlain (uncredited)
Michael Granger	...	Slave Dealer (uncredited)
Percy Helton	...	Caleb - Wine Merchant (uncredited)
Thomas Browne Henry	...	Marius - Physician (uncredited)
Rosalind Ivan	...	Julia (uncredited)
Richard Kean	...	Slave Dealer (uncredited)
George Keymas	...	Slave (uncredited)
Donald C. Klune	...	Jesus (uncredited)
Nicolas Koster	...	Jonathan (uncredited)
Virginia Lee	...	(uncredited)
Virginia Ann Lee	...	Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
David Leonard	...	Marcipor (uncredited)
Alfred Linder	...	Slave Dealer (uncredited)
Emmett Lynn	...	Nathan (uncredited)
Christey Marlo	...	Slave Girl (uncredited)
Mae Marsh	...	Jerusalem Woman Aiding Demetrius (uncredited)
George Melford	...	(uncredited)
Cameron Mitchell	...	Jesus Christ (voice) (uncredited)
Eleanor Moore	...	(uncredited)
Edward Mundy	...	Peddler (uncredited)
Jay Novello	...	Tiro (uncredited)
Arthur Page	...	Reuben (uncredited)
Francis Pierlot	...	Dodinius (uncredited)
Alex Pope	...	Roman Officer (uncredited)
Guy Prescott	...	Quintus - Tribune (uncredited)
Ford Rainey	...	Ship's Captain (uncredited)
Peter Reynolds	...	Lucius (uncredited)
Pamela Robinson	...	Lucia (uncredited)
George Robotham	...	Slave with Demetrius at Palm Procession (uncredited)
Hayden Rorke	...	Caluus - Slave Auction Bidder (uncredited)
Gloria Saunders	...	Slave Girl (uncredited)
Norbert Schiller	...	Slave Dealer (uncredited)
Harry Shearer	...	David (uncredited)
Marc Snegoff	...	(uncredited)
Marc Snow	...	Auctioneer (uncredited)
Murray Steckler	...	Melas (uncredited)
George E. Stone	...	Gracchus (uncredited)
Arthur Tovey	...	Gladiator (uncredited)
Otto Waldis	...	Slave Dealer (uncredited)
Gene Wesson	...	Soldier (uncredited)

Directed by
Henry Koster

Writing credits (WGA)
Albert Maltz		(screenplay) originally uncredited and
Philip Dunne		(screenplay)
Gina Kaus		(adaptation)
Lloyd C. Douglas		(novel)

Produced by
Frank Ross	....	producer

Original Music by
Alfred Newman

Cinematography by
Leon Shamroy		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Barbara McLean

Art Direction by
George W. Davis
Lyle R. Wheeler		(as Lyle Wheeler)

Set Decoration by
Paul S. Fox
Walter M. Scott

Costume Design by
Emile Santiago		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Ben Nye	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Joseph C. Behm	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tom Connors Jr.	....	assistant director
Donald C. Klune	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Gordon Butcher	....	painter (uncredited)
Bill Harris	....	painter (uncredited)
Bill Jekel	....	painter (uncredited)
Eugene Kornman	....	portrait photographer (uncredited)
Ken McClelland	....	painter (uncredited)
Tony Reveles	....	painter (uncredited)
Duncan Spencer	....	painter (uncredited)
Clayton Thomason	....	painter (uncredited)
Fred Tuch	....	painter (uncredited)
William Tury	....	painter (uncredited)
Delmer Yoakum	....	painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bernard Freericks	....	sound
Roger Heman Sr.	....	sound (as Roger Heman)
Ellis Burman	....	sound restoration engineer (restored version) (uncredited)
Clyde Carruth	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Walter Rossi	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
James B. Gordon	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Ray Kellogg	....	special photographic effects
Matthew Yuricich	....	matte painter (uncredited)

Stunts
Fred Carson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Albert Cavens	....	stunts (uncredited)
Fred Cavens	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tom Hennesy	....	stunts (uncredited)
Nosher Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Robotham	....	stunts (uncredited)
Danny Sands	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill White Jr.	....	stunt double (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Lee Crawford	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
John Florea	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Sol Halperin	....	camera department head (uncredited)
James Mitchell	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Irving Rosenberg	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Harvey L. Slocomb	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Clyde Taylor	....	gaffer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Charles Le Maire	....	wardrobe director (as Charles LeMaire)
Adele Balkan	....	set wardrobe supervisor (uncredited)
Sam Benson	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Dorothea Hulse	....	weaver (uncredited)
Dorothy Lou Macready	....	assistant weaver (uncredited)
Clinton Sandeen	....	wardrobe manager: men (uncredited)
Jimmy Spies	....	armor (uncredited)
Ed Wynigear	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Lyman Hallowell	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Edward B. Powell	....	orchestration
Ken Darby	....	choral director (uncredited)
Carol Richards	....	singing voice: Betta St.John (uncredited)

Transportation Department
James E. Ruman	....	transportation chief (uncredited)

Other crew
Leonard Doss	....	Technicolor color consultant
Albert Cavens	....	fencing instructor (uncredited)
Fred Cavens	....	fencing instructor (uncredited)
James Denton	....	unit publicity manager (uncredited)
Stan Margulies	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Jack Muth	....	research assistant: CinemaScope (uncredited)
Stephen Papich	....	dance director (uncredited)
Jack Pennick	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Earl I. Sponable	....	research director: CinemaScope (uncredited)
Allen Wise	....	titles (uncredited)
Sonia Wolfson	....	unit publicist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (presents) (as Twentieth Century-Fox)

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1953) (USA) (theatrical) (released by) (as Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation)
• 20th Century Fox (1953) (France) (theatrical)
• Centfox (1953) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (1954) (Austria) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1968) (USA) (TV)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (1999) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-Ray) (special edition)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2010) (Canada) (DVD) (4-film collection)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (4-film collection)
• Fox Video (????) (West Germany) (VHS)
• Fox Video (????) (USA) (VHS) (standard version)
• Tocantins (????) (Brazil) (VHS)

Also Known As:

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 | UK:U (video rating) (1988) (1991) | USA:Unrated | Finland:S | Sweden:15 | UK:U (passed with cuts) | USA:Approved (PCA #16441) | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

The set of Cana, the village of Galilea where Marcellus Gallio meets Peter, was also used in Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954)--this film's sequel--as the Christian neighborhood in Rome where Demetrius lives in the beginning of the movie. The well with the old broken columns can be easily recognized.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Caligula is depicted in this movie and its sequel "Demetrius and the Gladiators" as persecuting Christians. However, he reigned from 37 to 41, while Christianity was still a nascent religion with most of its followers in the eastern Mediterranean. The first mention of Christians from the perspective of the Roman government, according to the Roman historian Suetonius, wasn't until the reign of his successor Claudius (reigned 41-54). The first major incidents of persecution of Christians did not occur until the reign of Nero (reigned 54-68).

Quotes:

Diana:Perhaps you don't believe that a girl of eleven could fall in love, and stay in love all these years...
Marcellus Gallio:Don't cry, my love. Lucia thought I was in love, and I laughed at her, but women are wise in these matters.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954)

One of the best sword and Sandals movies

I am a big fan of these types of movies. I love movies like Ben-Hur, The Greatest Story Ever Told, Samson and Delilah, and Spartacus. The movies that took place in ancient Rome had so much going for them. They had great actors, directors, cinematography, and music. They also never needed to use computer animation. I was always very pleased. Only I can't say I was pleased with the Romans wearing purple and black in Gladiator. But anyway, this movie has it all. There is nothing I can say that's bad about it. It has a great story that pulls you in. When you watch it you feel as if you are there. You feel everything that the actors are feeling and the music helps to set the mood.

Jay Robinson is pretty good as Caligula, but sometimes he is way too over the top. His performance as Caligula was better in Demetrius and the Gladiators. Jean Simmons is a very good actress. I like her a lot in this movie and in Spartacus. I think she deserved some type of recognition. Victor Mature was very good too. Michael Rennie was another good actor in this movie. He seemed so perfect as Peter. The one that stood out was Richard Burton. He did a great job. I could go on and on because the whole cast was great. I read that Tyrone Power was originally approached for the lead. I think he could've pulled it off. He was a very underrated actor.

I have many favorite parts. I love the scene when Victor Mature is trying to find Jesus so he can warn him and he runs into to someone. I won't say who. I like the crucifixion scene. It was very well done and Victor Mature shows his great acting in the scene. I love the scene when Richard Burton finds the robe. He was afraid of it, but when he holds it close it has an effect on him. The ending is outstanding. It is well acted and ends happily. Burton without a doubt deserved his Academy Award nomination. Sometimes he overacts in scenes when he is yelling, but other times he really looks like he belongs in the role. This movie probably didn't win much because there was so much competition. Many other great movies were there. From Here To Eternity, a big favorite of mine, and Shane, another big favorite of mine, were nominated. The actors that were up for it were all favorites of mine too. I can't really decide who deserved it. Burt Lancaster and Montgomery Clift were both great in From Here to Eternity. It's tough for me to choose between those two and Richard Burton.

Everything about this movie is great so be sure to check it out. I can watch it over and over and never get sick of it. Check out this classic, this epic. It has it all. The Robe is a timeless classic. You will not be disappointed.