The Robe (1953)
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35% of critics liked it
(17 reviews) -
69% of users liked it
(5,748 ratings)
Historically important as the first CinemaScope feature film, 20th Century-Fox's The Robe is fine dramatic entertainment in its own right. Based on the best-selling novel by Lloyd C. Douglas, the film stars Richard Burton as the wastrelly Roman tribune who is assigned by a weary Pontius Pilate… More Historically important as the first CinemaScope feature film, 20th Century-Fox's The Robe is fine dramatic entertainment in its own right. Based on the best-selling novel by Lloyd C. Douglas, the film stars Richard Burton as the wastrelly Roman tribune who is assigned by a weary Pontius Pilate (Richard Boone, who spends the whole of his single scene washing his hands) to supervise the crucifixion of Christ. After the Seven Last Words, the jaded Burton wins Christ's robe in a dice game. Gradually, the mystical influence of the holy garment transforms Burton from a roistering cynic into a True Believer--at the cost of his own life, which he willingly gives up in the service of his Lord. Also starring in The Robe are Jean Simmons as Burton's pious childhood sweetheart, Victor Mature as his Christian-convert slave Demetrius (an excellent performance--in fact, Mature is more believable than Burton!), Michael Rennie as the disciple Peter, and Jay Robinson as the raving Emperor Caligula. Mature, Rennie and Robinson would appear in the 1954 sequel to The Robe, the hurriedly assembled Demetrius and the Gladiators. Watch and listen for the unbilled contributions of Michael Ansara as Judas and Cameron Mitchell as the voice of Jesus. The film won three Academy Awards, and a special Oscar bestowed upon Fox for the development of CinemaScope. For many years, the TV prints of the Robe were struck from the "flat," standard-ratio version shot simultaneously with the widescreen version. Only recently has the CinemaScope The Robe been made available to cable TV (shown in "letterbox" format to allow home viewers the full picture). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Henry Koster
- Written By
- Lloyd C. Douglas, Gina Kaus, Albert Maltz, Philip Dunne
- Genres
- Drama, Faith & Spirituality, Classics
G,
- In Theaters
- Sep 16, 1953 Wide
- On DVD
- Oct 16, 2001
- Studio
- 20th Century Fox
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
The performances are consistently good.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Pious claptrap.
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Bosley Crowther, New York Times
Tthe mightiness of masses and the forms of heroes have never loomed so large as they do in this studied demonstration, projected by CinemaScope. But an unwavering force of personal drama is missed in the size and the length of the show.
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, Time Out
Turgid direction, probably not helped by a necessarily cautious approach to framing, is married to creaky dialogue and stiff performances to render this of purely historical interest.
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Kim Newman, Empire Magazine
Overblown melodramatic biblical nonsense.
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Cast
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Richard Burton
as Marcellus Gallio
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Jean Simmons
as Diana
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Victor Mature
as Demetrius
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Michael Rennie
as Peter
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Jay Robinson
as Caligula
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Dean Jagger
as Justus
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Torin Thatcher
as Sen. Gallio
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Richard Boone
as Pilate
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Jeff Morrow
as Paulus
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Ernst Thesiger
as Tiberius
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Dawn Addams
as Junia
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Leon Askin
as Abidor
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Helen Beverly
as Rebecca
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Frank Pulaski
as Quintus
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David Leonard
as Marcipor
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Michael Ansara
as Judas
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Jay Novello
as Tiro
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Nicholas Koster
as Jonathan
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Frank de Kova
as Slave Dealer
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Harry Shearer
as David
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Francis Pierlot
as Dodinius
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Thomas Brown Henry
as Marius
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Sally Corner
as Cornelia
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Rosalind Ivan
as Julia
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Anthony Eustrel
as Sarpedon
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A. Ben Astar
as Cleander
- Jean Corbett
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John Doucette
as Ship's Mate
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Roy Gordon
as Chamberlain
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Percy Helton
as Caleb
- Anthony Jochim
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George Keymas
as Slave
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Emmett Lynn
as Nathan
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Mae Marsh
as Woman
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Cameron Mitchell
as Christ
- Alex Pope
- Ford Rainey
- Hayden Rorke
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Gloria Saunders
as Slave Girl
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Marc Snow
as Auctioneer
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Betta St John
as Miriam
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George E. Stone
as Gracchus
- Anne Bancroft
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Sam Gilman
as Ship's Captain
- George Melford
- George Robotham
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Leo Curley
as Shalum
- Ed Mundy
- Van Des Autels
- Dan Ferniel
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Virginia Lee
as Specialty Dancer
- Bella St. John
- Ernest Thesiger
- Frank DeKova
- Peter Reynolds
- Thomas Browne Henry
