Rating: 
Summary: "Demetrius" revisited -- favorably, too
Review: I love this corny old movie(and it rates 4 stars). I love it for being a sequel to "The Robe", I love it for Victor Mature's hammy Demetrius (and he was so restrained in the same role in "The Robe"), I love it for Susan Hayward's traditional portrayal of an amoral temptress (something she did wonderfully well), I love it for Jay Robinson's way over-the-top(-and-over-the-rainbow) Caligula, I love it for its use of CinemaScope and I love it for Franz Waxman's music score.This DVD looks great, but the first time I viewed it, years ago, I couldn't watch it all the way through because I wanted to HEAR it. I wrote on these pages that to hear this film presentation I had to crank the volume way, way up....to the point where I had to endure hiss along with dialogue and special effects. The fact of the matter is, I was taking the word of the folks who sold me my receiver, DVD player and surround speakers that the optical hookups converted audio signals for both DTS and 5.1CH. And the 5.1, for years, was a very undesirable sound for me -- and I couldn't understand why folks liked it. Now I know why. My receiver does not convert to 5.1 via the optical cables. (And that's why both the receiver and DVD have separate input panels for 5.1CH hookups). Now that the hookups are completed, I have to say the sound on this DVD is A-W-E-S-O-M-E for a 1954 6-channel stereo film. I apologize to Fox Video for criticizing the sound quality. I'd have loved for there to have been more bonus features on this, but the film is splendid on its own. The packaging remains lacking, IMO. The film is vivid and colorful and the DVD cover is drab.
Rating: 
Summary: Good as Sequels go-
Review: I own this film on vhs, and although it`s not one of my favorites, it`s definately worth viewing.Actually one of the few sequels that`s better than the origional story, with a lot more action than The Robe. Demetrius and the Gladiators follows up on what happened to Demetrius, the slave of Marcellus (Richard Burton) in The Robe. Portayed by Victore Mature with gusto and zest.With another hammy performance by Michael Rennie as Caligula. Look for the scene towards the end, where Mature fights off three or four gladiators single handed.Reminicent of the more recent blockbuster, "Gladiator." Watch and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Caligula-Jay Robinson and much more.
Review: I've come to love this movie. "Camp" or not "camp", it doesn't matter. I find it clearly superior to "The Robe", for which this one was intended as a sequel, in view or the former's success and the appreciation that Victor Mature got as Demetrius. What I like about this movie is: -The intelligent subtext. With all the fights and -admittedly cheesy- effects and spectacle, it is about a man's fundamental doubts. Demetrius's faith is shaken because he can't cope with the fact that an evil world, in which harm is done to the innocent, is the creation of an all-loving God that fails to show Himself when most needed. -Extraordinary supporting cast. Jay Robinson is wonderful "over the top", as they say. Absolutely and unashamedly flamboyant. I imagine that he liked the part very much and had fun with it. It is unfortunately that his career wasn't successful enough afterwards. He is Caligula! Or rather, I wish Caligula were this way: at least he would have been funny, cunning and extravaganly alluring! Susan Hayward is not wrong as Mesalina. See the final farewell to Demetrius,in which see seems experiencing an imagined or remembered orgasm. Michael Rennie is an over-dignified "Peter", but the most noble character, as another reviewer has suggested is Glycon. Clearly a superior to all the others, particularly to Demetrius himself. At the end he is put on the same level as the Apostle himself. The fact that he was a black actor is very positive (the film was realeased in 1954). -Great score: Franz Waxman at his most heroic and religious. Or sometime, ominous, as the sinister fanfare that accompanies the gladiators to the arena, in order to perform "the marriage of life and dead", is. -The film has given me food for thought. About slavery, about the plight of men forced to fight or die, about faith and religion, about men as warriors... "Demetrius and the gladiators" can be read as mere entertaiment, but if you habor some thought about those bygone ages and how human fate was tackled in the Classical world, it gives you material -forceful images and plot- to do that. Don't expect, of course, historic accuracy. This is not necessary at all and it is not the fuction of cinema. Well, I have here "Demetrius and the Gladiators", I've watched it a couple of times, and I know that I can watch in many more. Then, worth the purchase. By the way, "Spartacus" depends on this one in many places.
Rating: 
Summary: Very good sequell indeed!
Review: One of the main reviewers of this movie in question, i.e., Demetrius and the Gladiators VHS ~ Victor Mature, claims that it is a "Hokey sequel to THE ROBE has Emperor Caligula (Jay Robinson) searching for magic robe of Christ; Mature dallies with royal Hayward. Cinemascope." However, I could not disagree more and I do in fact consider it to be just as good as the first movie, i.e., the Robe. The role of Demetrius is played with vigor, fortitude and resilience that one expects from truly great actors. The role of Caligula (which is played by Jay Robinson) is awe-inspiring and his over the top interpretation is more then fitting (for a man whom thought, believed and lived as if he were a god himself). The costumes, setting and music complement the movie well and they never become a nuisance or take away from the real story. I will absolutely recommend watching this movie, i.e., Demetrius and the Gladiators VHS ~ Victor Mature as I see it as entertaining, amusing; and a movie brimming with action and suspense.
Rating:
Summary: Very good sequell indeed!
Review: One of the main reviewers of this movie in question, i.e., Demetrius and the Gladiators VHS ~ Victor Mature, claims that it is a "Hokey sequel to THE ROBE has Emperor Caligula (Jay Robinson) searching for magic robe of Christ; Mature dallies with royal Hayward. Cinemascope." However, I could not disagree more and I do in fact consider it to be just as good as the first movie, i.e., the Robe. The role of Demetrius is played with vigor, fortitude and resilience that one expects from truly great actors. The role of Caligula (which is played by Jay Robinson) is awe-inspiring and his over the top interpretation is more then fitting (for a man whom thought, believed and lived as if he were a god himself). The costumes, setting and music complement the movie well and they never become a nuisance or take away from the real story. I will absolutely recommend watching this movie, i.e., Demetrius and the Gladiators VHS ~ Victor Mature as I see it as entertaining, amusing; and a movie brimming with action and suspense.
Rating:
Summary: It is Hard to beat the first Movie
Review: The Robe was a masterpiece, but this movie came very close. The the Robe and this movie is a Must.
Rating:
Summary: A pivotal role for an African-American actor
Review: The sequel to 1953's "The Robe" sports the same quality production values, three of the principal actors, a wonderful score, and the same reverence for the Scriptures. One of the bonuses in this film is the addition of the supporting character, Glydon, portrayed by stage actor William Marshall. Although he is Demetrius's servant, "Glydon" is in no way subservient to the gladiator. In fact, in some scenes, the actor, with his commanding speech and stature, comes across as an intellectual and spiritual superior. This role is somewhat a trend setting one for a film from the mid-50's. Even at the film's end, Marshall is seen walking as an "equal" with stars Victor Mature and Susan Hayward. Film buffs may not list this film as a benchmark in cinematic, history but African-Americans can count Marshall's performance as much a breakthrough as anything by his more established contemporaries Sidney Poiter or Harry Belafonte.
Rating: 
Summary: A Bad Bad Bad DVD produced by Fox!!!
Review: This DVD is not worth one cent. It's such a bad reproduction of a extremely bad video tape, that I can put only a shame on Fox Video. They should give the money back, at least.
Rating:
Summary: Moving story of a Greek slave's intense relation with God
Review: This is a moving spectacular movie about a man (Victor Mature) who, because he thinks his lovely, innocent girlfriend (Debra Paget) has been killed by gladiators, turns his back on the teachings of Christ, who he loved, for vengeance. He struggles through this and redeems himself and finds that Jesus does indeed live within him. The performance of Jay Robinson as Caligula is unprecedented in its impact, and Victure mature is superb. And Debra Paget is absolutely beautiful, perfectly cast for her role. A truly wonderful movie for believers and those who wish they could believe in the promise of the Savoir in spite of a world of misery and evil. The story is timeless.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Biblical sequel!
Review: This movie begins with a clip from it's successful prequel, "The Robe", creating a feeling of nostalgia. The story here is marvellous, if not as good as it's prequel's. This time the attention is on Demetrius, the Greek slave freed by the Roman centurion Marcellus. Condemned to fight as a gladiator when he dares to attack a Roman soldier, Demetrius learns that the Christian path is a difficult one. When his lover is assaulted by other gladiators, he renounces his faith and lives the life of a Roman pagan. Later on, he realizes his mistake and leaves Rome and its riches to be with his people. There's lots of action and interesting characters in this movie. Jay Robinson as the eccentric Caligula and Susan Hayward as a high-class Roman femme fatale are fabulous. Thankfully,Christian values are not compromised. The story may appear slow-moving for a while, but it certainly gets better. You'll definitely feel good at the end of this movie.
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