The Robe
Original CinemaScope poster
Directed by	Henry Koster
Produced by	Frank Ross
Written by	Lloyd C. Douglas Gina Kaus Albert Maltz Philip Dunne
Starring	Richard Burton Jean Simmons Victor Mature Michael Rennie
Music by	Alfred Newman
Cinematography	Leon Shamroy
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release date(s)	1953
Running time	135 min.
Language	English
IMDb profile

The Robe is a 1953 Biblical epic film that tells the story of a Roman tribune who commands the unit that crucifies Jesus. The film was made by 20th Century Fox and is notable for being the first film released in Cinemascope. It is also the first film to open with the famous 20th Century Fox logo and fanfare.

It was directed by Henry Koster and produced by Frank Ross. The screenplay was adapted by Gina Kaus, Albert Maltz, and Philip Dunne from the Lloyd C. Douglas novel. The music score was composed by Alfred Newman and the cinematography was by Leon Shamroy.

It stars Richard Burton, Jean Simmons, Victor Mature, Michael Rennie, Dean Jagger, Jay Robinson, Richard Boone, and Jeff Morrow.

Background and production

The Robe was originally announced for filming by RKO in the 1940's, and was set to be directed by Mervyn LeRoyhttp://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,778109,00.html?promoid=googlep, but the rights were eventually sold to Twentieth Century Fox.

The film was advertised as "the modern entertainment miracle you can see without the use of glasses", a dig at the 3D movies of the day. Since many theaters of the day were not equipped to show a CinemaScope film, two versions of The Robe were made: one in the standard screen ratio of the day, the other in the widescreen process. Setups and some dialogue differ between the versions.

The film was usually shown on television using the standard version, common for the televising of widescreen films, that filled the television screen rather than show the proper dimensions of the CinemaScope projection. American Movie Classics may have been the first to offer telecasts of the widescreen version. Recent DVDs of the film, however, present the film in the original widescreen format, as well as the multitrack stereophonic soundtrack. When the original soundtrack album was issued on LP it used a remix for only monaural sound rather than the stereo sound that was originally recorded.

The film had one sequel, Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954), which featured Victor Mature in the title-role, making The Robe the only Biblical epic with a sequel.

Plot

The action takes place in Ancient Rome, Capri and Judaea in 32 AD.

Marcellus Gallio (Richard Burton) is a Roman military tribune who antagonises Caligula (Jay Robinson), nephew to the emperor Tiberius (Ernest Thesiger), and his rival for the love of Diana (Jean Simmons) by buying the defiant Greek slave Demetrius (Victor Mature) on whom Caligula had set his sights. To punish him, Caligula sends him to Jerusalem. Before Marcellus’ ship sails, Diana comes to pledge her love and state that she will intercede on his behalf with Tiberius. Much to his surprise, Marcellus returns her feelings and asks her to wait for him.

Marcellus arrives in Judaea where he serves under Pontius Pilate (Richard Boone). He is assigned to lead the soldiers responsible for the crucifixion of Christ. He wins Christ's robe at dice and takes it with him. A rainstorm begins and Marcellus orders Demetrius to cover him with the robe but, as soon as the cloth touches him, Marcellus cries in agony that it is burning him. Taking back the robe, Demetrius calls Marcellus a murderer and curses him, then runs away.

Marcellus is consumed with guilt and is haunted by the dreams and mental instability that come from that event. He returns to Italy and visits the old Emperor Tiberius in Capri and tells him of his ordeal. The soothsayer Dodinius (Francis Pierlot) theorizes that Marcellus has been bewitched by the robe, and that only by destroying it will he be freed. Moved by his affection for Diana, Tiberius gives Marcellus an imperial commission to find the robe and destroy it. Marcellus returns to Galilee as a merchant and searches in vain for Demetrius, who has become a Christian, and the robe. In the village of Cana, he begins to see the gentle ways that Christ's followers have adopted and learns about the miracles that Christ performed. While staying at the house of Justus, who knew Christ, he is introduced to the disciple Peter (Michael Rennie)AKA the fisherman and becomes himself a Christian, a follower of Christ.

Meanwhile, Tiberius dies and Caligula is the new emperor. Diana, who has loved Marcellus since childhood, is taken by the emperor to see Demetrius being tortured in the palace. She learns from her servant Marcipor (David Leonard) that Marcellus is back in Rome and goes to warn him of this. Marcellus gets a group of his followers together to enter the palace by stealth to free Demetrius. They are caught and an angry Caligula gives Marcellus and Diana the choice to renounce their God or to die. They choose death rather than deny Christ and live under the rule of Caligula and at the film's close, they walk together in a state of bliss to their death.

Cast

Awards and nominations

• The film won Academy Awards for Best Art Direction–Set Decoration, Color (Lyle R. Wheeler), and the Best Costume Design, Color. It was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Richard Burton), Best Cinematography, Color, and Best Picture.
• The film also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Picture

External links

See also

• Seamless robe of Jesus
• Sword and sandal
• Demetrius and the Gladiators