IMDb > The Robe (1953)
The Robe
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The Robe (1953) -- US Home Video Trailer from 20th Century Fox

IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   2,655 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Philip Dunne (screenplay) and
Gina Kaus (adaptation)
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Robe on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
4 December 1953 (France) more
Genre:
Tagline:
The First Picture on the New Miracle Curved Screen ! more
Plot:
Marcellus is a tribune in the time of Christ. He is in charge of the group that is assigned to crucify Jesus... more | add synopsis
Awards:
Won 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations more
User Comments:
Another Biblical Tale Around a Peripheral Character more (49 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
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Additional Details

Runtime:
135 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
4-Track Stereo (Western Electric Recording) (CinemaScope version) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) (re-release) | Mono (Academy ratio version)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The second movie made in CinemaScope, but the first to be released (Sept. 16, 1953). The first film to be made in CinemaScope was How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) and was released Nov. 4, 1953. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: There are repeated references to galleys leaving Rome for Palestine (and vise versa) "on the next tide". The tides in the Mediterranean Sea are too slight to be of concern to sailors. more
Quotes:
Marcellus Gallio: [waking up from a nightmare of Jesus being nailed to the cross] No! No! Stop it! Stop it!
Marcellus Gallio: [runs out on deck] Stop it! Why don't you stop it!
Ship's captain: Stop what, sir?
Marcellus Gallio: Were you out there?
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Movie Connections:

FAQ

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23 out of 36 people found the following comment useful.
Another Biblical Tale Around a Peripheral Character, 17 May 2006
8/10
Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York

The Robe comes from a tradition of historical biblical fiction about a peripheral incident and/or character. It is in the same vein as Ben-Hur and Barabbas, films adapted from a similar source.

In this case it is Jesus's robe that he wore to the crucifixion. It is recorded that while He was on the cross waiting to die, Roman soldiers idled their time away by casting dice for the only possession He took to his death, his robe. The lucky winner turned out to be Richard Burton, a tribune recently sent on assignment because of a running feud with the Emperor to be.

The run in with Caligula was over a slave purchased by Burton, a Greek named Demetrius played by Victor Mature. Both Burton and Mature are exiled to Judea and they arrive just in time to see Jesus enter Jerusalem. Mature becomes converted to Jesus's teachings and Burton is driven mad by the enormity of what he has participated in.

The Robe was written by Lloyd C. Douglas who was an ordained Lutheran minister and who turned to writing at the age of 50 with his first best seller Magnificent Obsession. His writings were of the Christian inspirational variety and he was a very popular American writer right up to his death in 1951.

Richard Burton got one of his Academy Award nominations for his role. Jean Simmons as Diana who was the main source of his rivalry with Caligula gives a good understated performance of the woman who stood by the man she loved and his fate and passed up a chance to be an Empress.

Jay Robinson as Caligula got most of the notice. Although John Hurt in the I Claudius series is probably now the definitive Caligula, Robinson's performance holds up very well indeed. A substance abuse problem curtailed a promising career and though he did come back it was not the same.

The Robe was 20th Century Fox's first film in its new wide screen process of Cinemascope and really should be seen in a letter box version at home. Richard Burton is always good and elevates whatever film he's in.

Though in this case the subject matter is elevated just about as high as it can get.

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Two versions of The Robe donationz
comparison between novel and film PheebsBueller
impact of cinemascope on this film stacy_peeps
favorite scenes homesick251960
Flogging scene Shazbut
What a gloriously stupid movie (And I mean that as a compliment!) rpniew
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