Movie Review: The Robe

The Robe

Starring: Richard Burton, Jean Simmons, Victor Mature, Michael Rennie, Jay Robinson, Dean Jagger, Torin Thatcher, Richard Boone, Betta St. John, Jeff Morrow, Ernest Thesiger, Dawn Addams, Leon Askin 

Director: Henry Koster 

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, USA, 1953. 

Based on the novel by Lloyd C. Douglas. 

During Tiberius' (Ernest Thesiger) reign (just before Caligula) Rome is rich with treasures and slaves. Caligula (Jay Robinson) comes to buy gladiators. Playboyish Tribune Marcellus Gallio (Richard Burton) meets his childhood love Diana (Jean Simmons) who has been sent to marry Caligula (yikes). At slave auction Marcellus competes against Caligula and buys a seemingly worthless slave Demetrius (Victor Mature). Demetrius goes to work in Senator Gallio's (Torin Thatcher) house. Diana asks Tiberius that she does not have to marry Caligula. The Gallio family are opponents of Caligula. Angry Caligula sends Marcellus to Jerusalem. Jerusalem is a dangerous place with rioting citizens and corrupt soldiers. 

Marcellus Gallio

Diana

Slave market

Marcellus and Demetrius arrive to Jerusalem during before Easter. Messiah arrives and Demetrius would like to follow him. Marcellus has nothing much to do in Jerusalem except drinking lousy wine. Marcellus gets orders to arrest Messiah. Demetrius tries to warn Jesus but he has already been betrayed. Demetrius meets repenting Judas. Demetrius tries tries to get help from Marcellus but as Jesus is already condemned there is nothing he can do. Meanwhile Diana has talked to Tiberius, and the emperor calls Marcellus back to Rome. Before he may go he must supervise crucifixion. The soldiers gamble for the items of the crucified. Marcellus wins the robe of Jesus. Demetrius takes the robe, and curses Marcellus and the Roman Empire. 

Palm Sunday

Via Crusis

Marcellus has nightmares

Marcellus begins to go crazy. Physicians of Tiberius suggest that the robe must be found and destroyed. Marcellus must also get the names of the Christians to suppress the new religion. Marcellus disguises himself as merchant. He is conflicted because Christians seem honest and decent folk. Justus (Dean Jagger) tells Marcellus about the resurrection of Jesus. Also crippled singer girl Miriam (Betta St. John) tells him that they already know that Marcellus is a spy but that they want to help him find his goodness. Demetrius explains that it is not he robe that is making Marcellus mad, but his guilty conscience. After meeting Apostle Peter Marcellus converts to Christianity. 

Miriam

Demetrius and the Robe

Marcelus fights Paulus (Jeff Morrow)

In Rome Caligula labels Marcellus as traitor and begins to persecute Christians. Diana sees Demetrius arrested and finds Marcellus, The Christians try to save Demetrius. But crazy Emperor Caligula is not afraid to create martyrs. 

Diana and Caligula

The Robe was the first film filmed in Cinemascope format. The viewpoints of Roman soldier and a slave make this Biblical themed movie a bit different than the usual movies based on the life of Jesus. The sets and crowd scenes look nice. Because the main character is a soldier there are some sword fights also. Richard Burton is convincing as guilt-ridden soldier. Jay Robinson's sneering and impish emperor seems to be the prototype for the representation of Caligula in later movies. Although the movie has religious theme, the story is a classic "hero is sent to eradicate rebels but is then converted as he notices that his own empire is evil" -story. See also the review for the sequel "Demetrius and the Gladiators."

Rome

Rating: Good