The Robe
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Movie Reviews of The Robe
Movie Review: Lloyd C. Douglas Novel becomes Pious Spectacular Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie, based on the bestseller "The Robe" by Lloyd C. Douglas is a colorful and pious picture that reflects the respect that 1953 America had for Christian themed movies of the era. In this epic, the Messiah is always at at distance, yet his activity in Jerusalem changes the lives of a Tribune who crucified him, a slave who saw him pass on his entry into the city, and has indirect influences back in Rome with the Tribune's family and the woman he loves. By far the best performance is by Jay Robinson as Caligula. His manic portrayal is perhaps the most memorable aspect of the picture. Victor Mature is also excellent as the slave of Tribune Gallio, who accompanies him through his travels through the empire. Beginning as enemies, where even "a friend cannot be bought sir, even for 3,000 pieces of gold" as Demetrius so aptly puts it. The Tribune and the Slave are eventually united by their Christian beliefs. The color of this film is excellent. Costumes and sets are fascinating. The film score, by Henry Neuman is haunting and memorable and was good enough in the old days to have been issued into a fairly decent selling LP. In some parts it is somewhat campy but at least it is honest. The slave market in the beginning is almost comical. Richard Burton is somewhat out of it as a crazed lunatic when he believes he was bewitched by the Robe of Christ. His attempt to destroy it over a fire leads him to eventual redemption, released of guilt at having crucified him by confession to Peter the Apostle (well played by Michael Rennie). There is also a good vision scene of Christ being nailed to the cross in a dream sequence while Burton is haunted in his sleep. "Were you out there?" becomes a memorable quote. All in all, it was an impressive picture that sold a lot of tickets. It did so well that a rare sequel was made back in the days when Hollywood frowned on sequels. Demetrius and the Gladiators is a decent continuation of some of the characters and should be seen along with this epic. Based on "The Big Fisherman" by Lloyd C. Douglas once again, the film tells us what becomes of Demetrius after Tribune Gallio sacrifices himself to allow him to escape, who, as the Tribune says "I owe more than my life". A good and safe picture, the DVD transfer is nicely cleaned up and sharpened. Well recommended, especially at Easter time in the Church calendar.Movie Review: Wonderful nostalgia piece
Summary: 5 Stars
The Robe was the first Fox Widescreen film with many good things to look out for. As a whole it has too much of Victor Mature to make it totally likeable, but then it has Jean Simmons, one of the truly great actresses of that period or this. (She was and still is considered the greatest Ophelia on film and on the stage.)See her in Spartacus with Olivier, and compare thsoe scenes with the Kirk Douglas ones..how she raises the standard so that Douglas does not look good at all.Anyway, she makes the lines she must say in The Robe sound like Shakespeare, and her final words to Caligula with Richard Burton at her side are memorable. The scenes before this are quite nice; Simmons and Burton have wonderful chemistry, and their love making is romantic and rich, unlike today, where everything is TV inspired, TV acted, everyhting with a view to DVD..minimaland not believable. (Nicole Kidman is great and she owes much to Jean Simmons and Bette Davis so she states.)
Richard Burton does good things with his role as Marcellus, from madness to conversion he draws the viewer into the non-complexity, as if it were complex.
Jay Robinson as Claigula is sui generis..not to be missed,. and Mature's scenes of anguish are so over the top one forgets everything he's saying or doing and just laughs.
You wish the whole cast were up to Simmons and Burton"s standard..there were many who could have played Demetrius, but Mature was so popular, and he did go on to do the sequel, Demetrius and the Gladiators with Susan Hayward..a must!! and, The Egyptian, a must as well.
The soundtrack to The Robe is very lush and beautiful, expertly used, but on the DVD it is out of synch, not very clear. Hang on to that Widescreen clamshell- boxed set if you have it..the film is like new, with beautiful sound and crisp clarity.
Buy this in any case, and find out what great sceen acting is all about from Jean Simmons and Richard Burton. She absolutely shines.
Movie Review: Enjoyable 1950's Style Roman Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
I will leave the pomposity of the movie critics where it belongs. This review is that of an ordinary person who has seen the movie many times. Long before the days of cable TV, this was traditionally shown around Easter on network television. It is a story of a Roman Tribune who officiates at the crucifixion of Christ, and is transformed by the physical touch of the robe He wore. Filmed in 1953, it would be done differently today (the same can be said of almost all movies from the 1950's.) Today's teens will be bored within 5 minutes--given their attention span and need for constant stimulation. However, if you enjoy historical pieces, in this case Roman civilization in the first century A.D., you will enjoy this movie. Richard Burton plays the main character, Victor Mature plays Demetrius, his Greek slave. The story involves Burton's personal inner transformation after overseeing Christ's crucifixion. Jean Simmons plays his love interest. Jay Robinson does a great job as the mad Caligula (try to recognize him in a 1992 movie--"Bram Stoker's Dracula"). I found the costumes and sets delightful. The transfer to DVD is of reasonably good quality and is in widescreen, which I prefer. The transformation undergone by Burton's character is of course directly related to the Christ and much of the movie relates to the early christians of that time. Those who are not religious will still find the movie entertaining. It is not the best acting I've seen Burton do but is acceptable. Overall, this is a production which can appeal to a wide range of viewers, but those looking for an "American Pie", Teen-Slasher, or "Gladiator" type of movie will be disappointed. You may also be interested in a movie released a year or two later, "Demetrius and the Gladiators" which is a sequel starring Victor Mature.Movie Review: "The Great Stone Was Rolled Away"
Summary: 5 Stars
Before movie blockbusters like Ben-Hur awed the film going audience with amazing chariot races in '59, or 'The Ten Commandments' miraculously parted the Red Sea in '56, the 'The Robe' won over the Christian audience in '53 with a poignant though fictitious appendium to the story of Jesus of Nazareth. It may not have been quite as grand in scale as the two epics to follow, but it was every bit as attractive and compelling.
Plot: Marcellus Gallio (Richard Burton), a Roman tribune from a weathy and prominent Roman family is sent to serve in far away Jerusalem after an altercation with Caligula (Jay Robinson), the future emperor. While in the Holy Land Marcellus' last official act before returning home is to oversea the crucifixion of Jesus. While Jesus slowly dies on the cross Marcellus plays a game of dice with the soldiers, wining the robe of the would be Messiah in the process. Moments later Jesus dies, the sky darkens, thunder strikes and a downpour begins.
Marcellus' slave Demetrius (Victor Mature) leaves the tribune, taking the robe with him to return to the Christian community and Marcellus returns to Rome a vastly different man. Emotional disturbed by the experience of Jesus' crucifixion he is on the verge of a complete mental breakdown. Is there power in the robe, maybe a curse placed on it by this man who called himself Messiah? For the sake of his sanity Marcellus returns to the site of his obsession to recover the robe and discern the source of its hold on him.
Comments: I love everything about this film. Burton and Mature are at their best, Burton's love interest Jean Simmons (Diana) has never looked lovelier and Jay Robinson in the role of Emperor Caligula gives one of the greatest supporting performances that has ever graced the movie screen.
Movie Review: THE ROBE, MOVIE VS BOOK
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a review of The Robe, the movie.
It has been almost 50 years since I last saw this movie. I did not remember that it was the first Cinemascope picture from way back in the 50's, 1953 actually.
I have recently read the book. The screenplay is reasonably faithful to the spirit of the story; some of the scenes, events, take place in a different context from those in the novel, but do not detract from the story.
Burton and Simmons are delightful to watch as they do their 'work.' Jay Robinson who plays Caligula does a very good job; his performance is almost in the nature of an upstage to the rest of the cast. The decadence of his rule as Roman Emperor is alluded to by casting him in, what were at the time (the 1950s), certain gay stereotypes.
Also, the character of Tiberius Caesar is well developed. His forecast of the development of Christianity is in keeping with the novel, but in more ambiguous terms than the author's. All the same, very effective.
To explain this last comment: Tiberius' commentary avoids the author's allusion to the later development of Christianity after it became the dominant religion of the Roman Empire when it would be in, to quote Douglas, 'a position to dictate terms.' In this way, the author shows us Christianity in its infancy with a warning of what happens when power, even religious faith, is misused.
All in all, I think all those who profess to be Christians would benefit from both seeing the movie and reading the novel. I could not help, myself, but be moved by both.