The Robe

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Summary: The Robe
Review: The Robe is part one of Demetrius and the Gladiators. It is excellet in screenplay, costumes and lenght

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Summary: A Christian Classic / DVD Image Quality thumbs down
Review: The only reason I'd give it 4 stars over 5 is the image quality. The anamrophic widescreen ratio of 1:2.5, combined with a relatively low image quality make a full-screen zoomed image look terrible - like that of a $3 DVD. If you go for the widescreen aspect ratio, it's hard to stare at the characters unless you have a big screen TV.

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Summary: Put On The Robe
Review: The Robe holds the distinction as the first film ever to be released in the Cinemascope format. Even after forty-eight years, the film still is visually stunning with grandiose sets and authentic looking clothing. It was also the one of the first films that brought a young British actor named Richard Burton to the attention of American audiences. The film is in the biblical epic genre that was very popular in the 1950's and it is a middling effort. The plot revolves around Mr. Burton's character who is a hardened Roman tribune. He is banished to Jerusalem where as his final act in the country is to oversee the crucifixion of Jesus. In a dice game, he wins Jesus' robe. He is suddenly stricken with sickness and he thinks the robe is possessed. His former servant has the robe and he searches for him in attempt to destroy the robe and be freed from his curse. Instead he finds Christianity and eventually becomes a martyr. Mr. Burton is earnestness in his role, but he can't overcome a hokey and predictable script. The film is worth viewing though to see some great cinematography.

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Summary: Earnest Christian propaganda
Review: "The Robe" is the first movie I ever saw, and the first Cinemascope movie anyone ever saw. It is not as bad as it might be, not as bad as "Ben Hur" is. Richard Burton is unbelievable when he is tormented by guilt, but as a stolid Roman tribune Marcellus he is convincing. (That his performance was Oscar nominated is surprising: the second of his seven nominations.) Victor Mature is terrible, though some of the blame lies in the script. Jean Simmons is beautiful and stout-hearted. She and Burton go directly to heaven with their martyrdom offscreen. I can accept Dean Jagger as the wise and gentle weaver in Cana, but cannot accept that Tiberius on Capri ever heard of the crucified Jew. Jay Robinson would be considered way over the top if he were playing a role other than Caligula. The action scenes are OK. Besides being too long,the movie is cursed with an overinsistent soundtrack that is hard to take. Like "Ben Hur," it gets particularly treacley in the scenes with Jesus.

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Summary: good biblical film
Review: I thought the acting, directing,script and sets were all very well done. Richard Burton,Jean Simmons and Victor Mature were very good in their roles.Movie moved well and did not stray from the basic story and there was not so much going on as to confuse an audiance. The title concerns the robe Christ wore when he was crucified and the story is centered around this robe and what all happens to it. Mature is a slave,Burton is a Roman that turns christian and Simmons is Burtons love interest.

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Summary: Great movie, inspiring
Review: Inspiring story of a man who had no faith. He gained faith through a series of events beyond his control. His conscience led him to Jesus Christ.

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Summary: Ancient Rome, new ratio
Review: By the year 1953 that pagan deity Tee Vee had put the fear of God into Hollywood, and all the studios were leading crusades against the infidel. 3-D, with its cumbersome Polaroid glasses, had been a flash in the pan; but then an old wide screen process was re-introduced as CinemaScope ("You see it without glasses!" the ads trumpeted), and a lavish costume picture was planned to present the innovation. The choice was Lloyd C Douglas's 1943 novel "The Robe", the story of a young centurion who wins Christ's garment by gambling at the foot of the Cross. By today's standards, the movie seems like hokum, filled with sermonizing and "historical" acting. Hollywood found the Welsh actor Richard Burton, with his rugged good looks and beautiful speaking voice, irresistible; but unfortunately his performance in this, his third American film, was justifiably panned as hammy and superficial. His co-star Jean Simmons had a dignified presence and she could be quite effective, as when she denounces the Emperor in the final scene. But her performances tended to be homogeneous: the Roman patrician here, the 18th Dynasty drudge in "The Egyption", and the Marseilles bourgeoise in "Desiree" are all the same. Many of the supporting roles in "The Robe" are either mis-cast (an ascetic Michael Rennie as Peter) or badly acted (over-the-top ranting and smirking by Jay Robinson as Caligula). Oddly enough, the critics' favorite whipping boy Victor Mature received the best reviews for his restrained portrayal of the Greek slave Demetrius. The picture's highlight is Alfred Newman's musical themes. From the portentous overture, through Miriam's lovely Elegy, to the closing Halleluiah Chorus (adapted from the composer's own "The Song of Bernadette"), this is one of Hollywood's finest musical scores.Addendum: I'm always amazed at the customers in Amazon.com who complain that a cassette or a DVD they have bought is not in wide screen format. They're talking about a movie made in 1940! With sporadic exceptions, wide screen pictures were not produced until 1952. I mention this because I think it's strange, considering the unique position of "The Robe" in cinema history,that there is no letter-box version available

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Summary: Burton is Heston like in his performance!
Review: Richard Burton does an excellent job as Marcellus Gallio in this particular movie, i.e., Robe VHS ~ Richard Burton. In fact, I can without a doubt or with any sense of hesitation or apprehension state, say and write that he, i.e., Mr. Burton comes up to the high standard of acting that Charlton Heston is able to portrayal in similar movies, e.g., Ben Hur, The Ten Commandments et al. The costumes are finely, delicately and meticusly made and they all have a real, genuine and authentic fell to them. The actress whom plays the love interest (whose name for some reason or other, that I cannot put my finger on, has unfortunately slipped my mind) does an alright job; however, if one compares her performance to that of Richard Burton then one will see that she does not exemplify her role with the same determination, fortitude or resolve (which is a pity and a shame since she does in fact play an important and vital role in the movie). Overall, I would have state, write and say that I was very pleased with this movie in question, i.e., Robe VHS ~ Richard Burton and I would definitely recommend it as being one of the better religious movies (bible) that have been made.

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Summary: Stands out among the plethora of biblical movies
Review: This is the film that has the distinction of being the very first to be presented in Cinemascope. There were a plethora of biblical films made during the fifties and sixties; this one turned out to be one of the better ones. Just like the others, this film is chock-full of corny overacting by its top stars, but most of the time, you can get away with it in a biblical film. Victor Mature, fresh from his lead in Cecile B. DeMille's "Samson and Delilah", is presented in a supporting role as Demetrius the Greek Slave. A sequel to "The Robe", titled "Demetrius and the Gladiators", came along a few years later and started just where "The Robe" ended. Mature participates in that film in a much more prominent role.

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Summary: Inspiring
Review: It's a good movie and inspiring in its message, because the message of the cross is true. Seeing the way the Christians stood up for their faith is certainly thought-provoking. There is a little romance in the story, which is nice. There was one thing in the beginning that wasn't good (women skantily clothed), but most of it was very good. We have watched it a lot of times; once with a Bible study group, which enjoyed it. Even if you aren't a Christian, the story is interesting and will probably keep your attention. ...I would like to read the book, since I've heard (and read here) that it's better than the movie.