This article is about the film. For the novel, see
The Robe.
A cinema presenting "The Robe"
The Robe is a 1953 Biblical epic film that tells the story of a Roman military 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. Although it was the first film with the CinemaScope logo, it did not use the famous Alfred Newman opening fanfare heard on all 20th Century-Fox films, but rather a mixed choir chanting a religious theme over the logo. The now famous fanfare and its musical extension, which was added by Alfred Newman (Fox's music director from 1940 to 1960) especially for CinemaScope, was introduced in the next Fox CinemaScope release, How To Marry A Millionaire and is used on all 20th Century Fox films today, including Fox Searchlight Pictures, despite the fact that CinemaScope technology itself has not been used since 1967.
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 and Michael Rennie, with Dean Jagger, Jay Robinson, Richard Boone, and Jeff Morrow.
Background and production
The Robe was originally announced for filming by RKO in the 1940s, and was set to be directed by Mervyn LeRoy,[1] but the rights were eventually sold to Twentieth Century Fox.
The film was advertised as "the modern miracle you see without 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 1.33:1 aspect ratio version that fills a standard television screen rather than the CinemaScope version. American Movie Classics may have been the first to offer telecasts of the widescreen version. Recent DVDs and Blu-Ray discs of the film, however, present the film in the original widescreen format, as well as the multitrack stereophonic soundtrack. The 2009 DVD and Blu-Ray releases contain a special feature that compares selected scenes between the Cinemascope version and the standard version.
When the original soundtrack album was issued on LP by Decca Records, it used a remix for only monaural sound rather than the stereo sound that was originally recorded. MCA, which acquired the rights to the American Decca recordings, issued an electronic stereo version of the mono tape. RCA Victor included a suite from the film, recorded in Dolby surround sound, in its album Captain from Castille, which honored longtime Fox musical director Alfred Newman (composer of the The Robe's musical score); Charles Gerhardt conducted London's National Philharmonic Chorus. In 2003, Varese Sarabande released a two-CD set of the original stereophonic recording on their club label. The 2009 DVD and Blu-Ray releases contain isolated stereophonic score tracks.
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 antagonizes Caligula (Jay Robinson), nephew and heir 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 arranges the transfer of Marcellus to the garrison of Jerusalem. Before Marcellus’ ship sails, Diana comes to pledge her love and states 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 Jerusalem, and Demetrius notices Jesus entering the city and feels an urge to follow him. Marcellus serves under the governor Pontius Pilate (Richard Boone), who is troubled and haunted by a recent legal case. Marcellus' is informed by Pilate that he will return to Italy-to Capri. Before he leaves however Marcellus will command the crucifixion of Jesus. 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 haunted by nightmares and mental instability that arise from that event. He returns to Italy and visits the aging Emperor Tiberius in Capri and tells him of his ordeal. Tiberius concludes that the teachings of this mysterious Jesus pose a threat to Roman supremacy, and his 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 and destroy the robe and to discover everyone who became followers of Jesus.
Marcellus returns to Galilee disguised as a merchant and searches for Demetrius and the robe. In the village of Cana, he finds followers of Jesus and meets Justus, a local leader. Trying to gain Justus' trust Marcellus gives a donkey to his grandson. Invited by Justus for dinner he learns more of the surprising ways of the followers of Jesus. On the next day Marcellus is stunned as the little boy gave the donkey to a crippled friend. Eventually he finds out that a certain Simon is bound to arrive. This Simon was re-named Peter aka "the Big Fisherman" by Jesus and now travels in the company of a Greek. Guessing that this Greek is none other than Demetrius, Marcellus finds him and the robe but is unable to destroy it.
At a later gathering of the villagers Justus proclaims that while all other had renounced Jesus Peter was with him till the end. Suddenly Justus is killed by a Roman archer as a detachment of Roman soldiers enters the village and begins to slaughter the villagers.
Marcellus orders them to stand down, but the commanding centurion Paulus (Jeff Morrow), a former acquaintance, refuses. Tiberius has died and Caligula is the new emperor. Marcellus argues that his imperial commission has to be obeyed until personally revoked, and challenges the centurion to single combat. He wins and spares the centurions life, and with grudging respect Paulus removes his troops from the village.
Later Peter speaks with Marcellus and invites him to join their cause. Marcellus refuses at first. Peter asks Marcellus if there is anything he wants to tell him. Peter even reveals his three-time denial of Christ. Marcellus tells Peter of his role in the crucifixion. Peter tells Marcellus that he already knows. Demetrius had told him. Furthermore, Peter tells Marcellus that Jesus forgave him from the cross and he can do no less. Marcellus becomes a Christian himself, subsequently travelling throughout the Mediterranean provinces with Peter and Demetrius, and eventually to Rome itself.
Some time later Caligula informs Diana that Marcellus is a traitor - a Christian ringleader and hidden in Rome. She 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 convinces him to take her to Marcellus' hideout.
Marcellus tries to explain his new religion and his reasons to join it but Diana doesn't understand him. Marcellus organizes a group of Christians and they enter the palace by stealth. Demetrius is freed and a furious Caligula orders the officers of the Pretorian Guard to capture Marcellus at any cost threatening them with punishment. The group manages to hide itself in the house of Senator Gallio, Marcellus' father and a widely respected opponent of the emperor. However, Senator Gallio also considers the Christians enemies of Rome, so he renounces his son. They leave the Senator's residence and are pursued by a Roman cavalry detachment. To allow the others can escape Marcellus stays behind and is subsequently captured.
In jail, Diana visits Marcellus and tells him that he will be tried for treason before the whole imperial court and advises him to not defy Caligula and to publicly renounce his religion. Marcellus replies that he simply can't.
The public trial is held before the whole imperial court, among them Marcellus' father. Marcellus, holding the robe, is questioned by Caligula. However he defends himself well, and even gains several "points" with his arguments, winning the respect of his repentant father. However in the end Marcellus proclaims that if the Roman Empire isn't reformed, his "king"-Jesus will wipe the empire away of its tyranny. Proclaiming that this is clear evidence of high treason Caligula demands the judgement of the imperial court.
The courtiers loudly shout the sentence that Caligula obviously wants: "Death". As the sentence is challenged by a defiant Diana, a furious Caligula makes the following proposal: he will spare Marcellus' live if Marcellus swears his loyalty to the emperor and publicly renounces Jesus.
Kneeling before the emperor Marcellus re-affirms his loyalty to Rome and to the emperor but adamantly refuses to renounce his "king". Faced by this defiance Caligula sentences him to death. Diana, not wishing to live without him, publicly criticises Caligula's tyranny so that she too will be condemned. At the film's close, Marcellus and Diana walk together and give the robe to Marcipor. (The film, however, fades out before their execution, showing the couple figuratively walking on clouds.)
Cast
- Dan Ferniel
- Van Des Autels
- George E. Stone - Gracchus
- Betta St. John - Miriam
- George Robotham
- Leo Curley - Shalum
- George Melford
- Ed Mundy
- Sam Gilman - Ship's Captain
- Virginia Lee - Specialty Dancer
- Percy Helton - Caleb
- Roy Gordon - Chamberlain
- Anthony Jochim
- George Keymas - Slave
- Ben A. Astar - Cleander
- John Doucette - Ship's Mate
- Jean Corbett
- Marc Snow - Auctioneer
- Hayden Rorke
- Ford Rainey
- Gloria Saunders - Slave Girl
- Emmett Lynn - Nathan
- Mae Marsh - Woman
- Alex Pope
- Cameron Mitchell - Christ [Voice]
Awards and nominations
First telecast
The film was first telecast by ABC-TV on Easter weekend in 1967, at the relatively early hour of 7:00 P.M., E.S.T, to allow for family viewing. In a highly unusual move, the film was shown with only one commercial break – a luxury not even granted to the then-annual telecasts of The Wizard of Oz.[3]
See also
References
External links
