Rating: 
Summary: Elaborate, moving Biblical epic
Review: Based on the best-selling novel by Lloyd C. Douglas, 20th Century Fox's production of "The Robe" has achieved immortality as the first film shot in Cinemascope, the now defunct wide-screen process designed to lure TV viewers out of their living rooms and back into theaters. The elaborate drama, directed by Henry Koster, stars Richard Burton as a Roman tribune in charge of the crucifixion of Jesus (voiced by Cameron Mitchell but never fully visible). Burton is later haunted by nightmares of the horrifying scene, and through the efforts of a slave named Demetrius (Victor Mature), who has claimed possession of the Messiah's garment, comes to embrace Christianity, much to the distress of the Roman authorities. Burton earned his second Oscar nomination for his role here, but his overblown theatrics, though effective, are overshadowed by the subtler performance of the non-nominated but highly praised Mature who was generally dismissed in those days as more beefcake than thespian. The rest of the cast is memorable with Jean Simmons luminous as always, Michael Rennie as a saintly Peter, Richard Boone as a commanding Pontius Pilate, and Jay Robinson particularly good as an hysterical Caligula who sends Burton to the gallows when the soldier's belief in Christ conflicts with his commitment to Rome. And, yes, fellow film fans, that's the great Ernest Thesiger, Dr. Pretorious of "Bride of Frankenstein," as Tiberius. The production is first rate and, for the faithful, the story and its conclusion is very moving. This is the kind of epic Hollywood would never consider making in these more secular times.
Rating:
Summary: The 1st ever Cinemascope Movie now on WideScreen DVD
Review: In 1953 Hollywood answered the threat of television by announcing a new WideScreen format called Cinemascope. Up until now all movies were Standard 4:3 ratio format. Now, with 20th Century Fox's Cinemascope a 255:1 ratio (this is really spectacular to see on your WideScreen Home Theatre)and the "THE ROBE" people would marvel over this larger than life Technicolor film experience. With this 20th Century Fox DVD release we have GOOD news & BAD news; The GOOD news is this package provides an ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN presentation (this movie will adjust to any tv size uncluding HDTV 16:9). We also get 4.0 Surround Sound (great quality). The BAD news, the picture is NOT ENHANCED for WIDESCREEN TVs. (this makes for a grainy and dark presentation. The vibrant Technicolor is some what lost too.) The movie "THE ROBE" itself remains one of the screens greatest biblical epics. Nominated for 5 Academy Awards including "BEST PICTURE & BEST ACTOR (Richard Burton)". SUMMARY; A Roman Centurian (Burton) is charged with overseeing the crucifixion. He wins Christ's Robe in a gambling game at the foot of the cross & his life is changed forever. A grand supporting cast to include; Jean Simmons, Victor Mature & Michael Rennie. The movie is 135 minutes in length. Extra Feature: Trailer Only This is the movie which introduced us to Cinemascope and Hollywood would never be the same. "The Robe" is a great Hollywood movie epic that should be experienced by everyone at least once. Again my only reason for a 4 star rating is because of the graininess of the Home Theatre Wide Screen presentation. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Wide Screen Classic
Review: The first film to be released in the CinemaScope process, The Robe is a fairly interesting fictionalization of Roman life after the death of Christ. Richard Burton stars as Marcellus, the centurion in charge of the crucifixion. Marcellus's life is never the same after he wins Christ's robe in a gambling game. Consumed with guilt and the haunting belief that Jesus was perhaps the Son of God, Marcellus almost goes mad. With the help of some Palestinian Christians, he gets his sanity back and charts a new and dangerous course that puts him at odds with the Roman emperor. A beautiful production featuring an all-star cast including the beautiful Jean Simmons, Victor Mature, and Michael Rennie, The Robe is still enjoyable entertainment some 50 years later. The DVD quality is good and if you have a home theater, the surround sound is quite impressive. Too bad they didn't add any extras, like a commentary by Jean Simmons (the only major star still living). You would think a documentary on the development of CinemaScope would have a least been in order. After CinemaScope, all major studio productions were produced for the wide screen, and The Robe's success helped pave the way for this new process.
Rating: 
Summary: I Strongly Disagree
Review: I strongly disagree with the editor's review that said the script and acting leave much to be desired. I think this is actually one of the better biblical movies (the best being Ben-Hur). And I don't see how anyone can accuse Richard Burton of being any less than an excellent actor. This is defininely worth seeing.
Rating:
Summary: The Story of God's Love
Review: The Robe An epic in its time due its being the first motion picture in Cinemascope, it remains a great testimony to the values and morals of its producers and director. I remember watching this movie as adolescent. Victor Mature, as Demetrius a Greek slave, stood out for me in this movie and in other movies (Demetrius and the Gladiators, Samson and Deliah) as the epitome of Christian virtue. Ironically, however the story plot was not about him, but he did play a very important supporting role, his story is in the sequel Demetrius and the Gladiators. Given that this film was an epic in its time 1953; it still has not lost the inspiration and awe of the strength of the test of faith, at least for me, that it inspired when I first saw it. This epic film was directed by Henry Koster, a German who also is known by the name Herman Kosterlitz. His works include A man called Peter (1955), Harvey (1950), and The bishop's Wife (1947). I believe that major premise that Koster was portraying to the public was that faith in Christ is worth both searching and dying for. No matter who you are there is hope for you in finding the Jesus of the Cross.
The Robe is based on a fiction novel by Lloyd C. Douglas. The story is full of life's major issues that most of us have to work through jealousy, anger, betrayal, forgiveness, reconciliation, and the progression of and test of personal faith. While titled the Robe, the story really evolves around Marcellus (Richard Burton) a tribune in the service of Rome. He was ordered to crucify Jesus. He wins the robe while gambling at the foot of the cross, but when he touches it he becomes tortured in his mind. When overcome, he cries out "Where you there.?" Ironically the best that anyone can do for him is to send him on a quest to find the robe and destroy it, thinking that will bring his mind to rights. When he finds the Robe he finds peace of mind, through reconciliation to God through belief in the Christ who wore the Robe. Instead of destroying the Robe he instead joins the Christians in declaring God's love for humankind. The ending of the movie is magnificent! When brought to trial by Caligula (Jay Robinson) Marcellus is ordered to pledge allegiance to Rome and renounce his faith in Christ on the penalty of death. He does renew his pledge to Rome but refuses to renounce his faith in Christ. He is sentenced to death for his faith. The beginning of this story starts before Marcellus has to crucify Jesus, yet the cross, signified by the Robe itself is central to the story. Without it there would be no new life and faith in Christ to die for. Some have called it another story of the Crucifixion, yet I would say no. It is the continuation of the reality of the meaning of the crucifixion... i.e. the Love of God for humankind.
Rating:
Summary: "as for me, I have found another king"
Review: A marvelous epic melodrama, with portions that are emotionally stirring, and with two exceedingly attractive stars, this film ranks high in the "sword and sandals" genre.
This is prime-time Richard Burton, at age 27, heavenly to look at and even better to listen to; his crisp enunciation makes the English language shine, and though some of his scenes are a little "over the top", he carries them off with charismatic presence. Jean Simmons is exquisite as Diana, the woman who has loved Marcellus (Burton) since childhood, and their screen romance has a rare depth and spark.
Other notable performances come from Victor Mature as Demetrius the slave, with a mute but moving scene at Christ's crucifixion, and Michael Rennie is grand as Peter. Jay Robinson is wonderfully rotten as the vicious Caligula. I always like a good fight sequence, and there is a brilliantly choreographed one between Marcellus and a centurion. It is the kind of swordplay great Shakespearean actors have perfected, and it is a delight to watch.
Directed by Henry Koster, it has an exceptional score by Alfred Newman, and vibrant Technicolor cinematography by Leon Shamroy. I like the way the night scenes have a deep blue glow to them, and the costumes are wonderful. Oscars went to Best Art Direction/Set Design (color) and Best Costume design (color). It was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Cinematography (color), and was the first film to be released in CinemaScope.
I saw this film many years ago, and had thought it a little silly, but we have both aged well; I can now watch it repeatedly, and appreciate the depictions of courage, and the beauty and humanity of it. Total running time is 2 hours and 13 minutes.
Rating: 
Summary: Jesus Christ Never Existed.
Review: 'The Robe' is a famous film that a number of people know about or have seen. Most people fail to realize all of that doesn't matter because Jesus Christ never existed!! Jesus Chirst is a mythological figure the chruch has exploited for hundreds of years and now the film industry has for almost a hundred years. There is absolutely no archeological or historical evidence that he existed. Even if he did exist, it would be highly unlikely he would have received that kind of punishment.
It is a shame that a con artists like these filmmakers are using this mythological figure to make millions of dollars. People have to start swaying away from the chruch and its manipulations and start looking at the hard facts. Jesus Christ and the crucifixion never happened.
Rating:
Summary: "as for me, I have found another king"
Review: A marvelous epic melodrama, with portions that are emotionally stirring, and with two exceedingly attractive stars, this film ranks high in the "sword and sandals" genre.
This is prime-time Richard Burton, at age 27, heavenly to look at and even better to listen to; his crisp enunciation makes the English language shine, and though some of his scenes are a little "over the top", he carries them off with charismatic presence. Jean Simmons is exquisite as Diana, the woman who has loved Marcellus (Burton) since childhood, and their screen romance has a rare depth and spark.
Other notable performances come from Victor Mature as Demetrius the slave, with a mute but moving scene at Christ's crucifixion, and Michael Rennie is grand as Peter. Jay Robinson is wonderfully rotten as the vicious Caligula. I always like a good fight sequence, and there is a brilliantly choreographed one between Marcellus and a centurion. It is the kind of swordplay great Shakespearean actors have perfected, and it is a delight to watch.
Directed by Henry Koster, it has an exceptional score by Alfred Newman, and vibrant Technicolor cinematography by Leon Shamroy. I like the way the night scenes have a deep blue glow to them, and the costumes are wonderful. Oscars went to Best Art Direction/Set Design (color) and Best Costume design (color). It was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Cinematography (color), and was the first film to be released in CinemaScope.
I saw this film many years ago, and had thought it a little silly, but we have both aged well; I can now watch it repeatedly, and appreciate the depictions of courage, and the beauty and humanity of it. Total running time is 2 hours and 13 minutes.
Rating:
Summary: Great Cinemascope Epic
Review: Richard Burton gives a good performance as his soul contorts his mind after being given divine inspiration. The story and photography are well done. The finale is very moving. Great score by Newman.
Rating:
Summary: possible one of the worst films ever made
Review: rent this! it has to be seen to be believed.
richard burton, a roman soldier, giving a hilariously god awful performance, is haunted by the supernatural blood of jesus. he looks straight at the camera, grits his teeth, adopts his
'crazy eye look, and says ' WERE YOU' (dramatic pause-tilts his head) OUT THERE?'.
the classic bad moment?
worh the price of a rental!
victor mature is looking for jesus. he runs into a haggard looking man(complete with scraggly beard and bad teeth). the fellow tells old vic that' jesus was betrayed by one he trusted'.
okay, says vic, i gotta go.
by the way, what's your name?
'MY NAME IS....' (Dramtic thunder and lightening here during judas' dramatic pause)
'.... JUDAS!'.
Thunders again and the lightenings frames the haggard Judas as he walks in the dark rain to go hang himself.
this classic moment actually surpasses the over acting of the caligula guy.
they just dont make them like this any more (thank God-PUN intended).
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