The Robe

views updated

The Robe ★★½ 1953

This moving, religious portrait follows the career and religious awakening of drunken and dissolute Roman tribune Marcellus (Burton), after he wins the robe of the just-crucified Christ in a dice game. Mature plays Burton's slave surprisingly well, and reprised the role in the sequel, “Demetrius and the Gladiators”; Burton is wooden. “The Robe” was the first movie to be filmed in CinemaScope. Based on the novel by Lloyd C. Douglas. 133m/C VHS, DVD . Richard Burton, Jean Simmons, Victor Mature, Michael Rennie, Richard Boone, Dean Jagger, Jeff Morrow, Jay Robinson, Dawn Addams, Ernest Thesiger, Torin Thatcher; D: Henry Koster; W: Albert (John B. Sherry) Maltz, Philip Dunne; C: Leon Shamroy. Oscars '53: Art Dir./Set Dec., Color, Costume Des. (C); Golden Globes '54: Film—Drama; Natl. Bd. of Review '53: Actress (Simmons).

More From encyclopedia.com