Richard BurtonThe Robe

I watched this as a young girl and purchased this to watch with my family. The actors are very talented! The scenes were epic and plot was interesting. This is an alternate view of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ from a slaves/gentiles point of view and a Roman soldier. This is a timeless piece of cinematic art that the whole family can enjoy!

I found this movie to be very good. It is a religious movie. I watched this movie so many time's through the years especially during Lent and Easter is on its way.

Good show.

Remembered this as a young child and wanted to see it again.

Although Henry Koster's The Robe was almost universally panned by the critic page on the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes, it was not that bad. Richard Burton was not that bad either.I find the storyline of a Roman tribune who oversees the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and later on becomes a devout and courageous believer very profound and thought-provoking. Sure, it is a little predictable--at the beginning when Caligula sends Marcellus to a post in Israel you can tell right away where the plot is headed--but it's an absorbing film with great messages. Demetrius seeing Jesus only at a glimpse and then looking for him before Good Friday to warn him of his impending doom when he hasn't even gotten to know the man is bizzare but then again, there is the old saying "The Lord works in mysterious ways." I really liked the slow, gradual development of Marcellus' character. How he begins as an arrogant, hedonistic, drunken playboy and ends as a truly sold-out individual for God. Henry Koster treats the story carefully and sensitively and does an exceptional job fleshing out the motives of the characters unlike Cecil B. deMille who was more a director of pageants than films.The scene with the crippled woman Miriam (played by a radiant Betta St. John) always gets to me.Marcellus: You say he (Jesus) was a great religious leader and yet he left you as you are. Why?Miriam: I used to wonder at that until faith taught me the answer. He could have healed my body and then it would have been natural to laugh and sing. But then I realized he had done something even better for me. He had chosen me for his work. He left me as I am so that all others like me might know that their misfortunes needn't deprive them of happiness within his kingdom.Wonderful stuff.Many have critized Richard Burton's performance in the leading role as overacting. There are chops that call for melodrammatics like his descents into madness but there are also subtle shades peppered throughout like when he tells Diana before embarking on the voyage to Israel "Don't cry my love. Lucia said I was in love. I laughed at her but women are wise in these matters." and when he helps her understand in the prison towards the end how courageous and good-hearted the Christians are.Henry Koster wisely selects Britsh actors for the Romans and Americans for the Jews a pattern William Wyler would repeat in Ben-Hur. Jean Simmons gives a fully-nuscianed performance as Marcellus' love interest Diana. She plays the character with sweetness and sympathy but never makes her look weak or silly as seen in the final where she gives the emporer a verbal clobbering. Michael Rennie and Dean Jagger give nice, subtle performances as the Jewish leaders Peter and Justus and Jay Robinson is particulary good as the hysterical, eccentric emporer Caligula.Production values are first class. Beautiful matte paintings of Roman and Jewish cities and landscapes that put some of our present CGI to shame. Leon Shamroy's soft, pastel, rainbow-colored cienematography. The sumptuous costumes and sets. The rich and vibrant musical score by Alfred Newman.All in all, The Robe is a fine example of the Biblical epic made with care and good judgement.Four stars.

Enjoyed the movie

Great story, great writing, great acting, exciting, and very family friendly. 5 stars all day long!!!

Love old well made films with great actors and actresses.

je n arrive pas a lire le blue ray car il est bloque et je na arrive pas a le debloquer

This is the the other part of Demetrius's Story and goes with the second part "Demetrius and the Gladiators". Of course he is also played by the Oscar winning Victor Mature, so it is a good idea to get the other film as well. Richard Burton plays the Roman soldier, (the romantic lead), with Demetrius as his dedicated slave, courageous and morally strong, together with Jean Simmons as Burton's Roman counterpart. Burton and Simmons play their parts well, particularly the difficult anguished part by Burton. His character is thoroughly Roman and loyal, just as the part that Robert Taylor plays in another film "Quo Vadis"; - a hardened Roman officer who resists and indeed is revolted by Christianity which is seen as an irritatating and rebellious group. How he is won over, is what this film is about, just as it was in "Quo Vadis". This was the first time "Vista Vision" with a long screen was seen, so IT was an historically important, as well as as an enjoyable and interesting film to watch.

Great addition to my classic movie collection. Great story with great actors.

Dommage ce film est en anglais .....donc pas pu le regarder .......pour ceux qui parle pas ou comprenne l'anglais c'est la galère .....

Although I Am not religious in the orthodox sense, I caught a part of this film on tv and was very moved by the story so decided to buy it. The wonderful Richard Burton plays a Roman officer, Marcellus Gallio who is present at the crucifixion of Christ. Although he is a Roman officer, he doesn't take any joy or pride in watching the man Jesus suffering and dying. A group of Roman soldiers sit at Christ's feet playing a game of dice and use a red robe that Jesus had worn as a wager. The robe gets some of Christ's blood on it and at the end of the game, after Jesus has died, everyone leaves. Burton's character takes the Robe away from the soldiers out of sadness and disgust that they used it in this way and then the Robe has a profound affect on him, taking him into the realms of Christianity in it's underground and fledgling emergence. Thus begins his struggle between his love of Rome and the awakening of his own, inner spirituality.