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The Robe

Poster from TMDB

EntityQ1139023· pop 31· linked from 342 articles

Also known as Robe

1953 film by Henry Koster

Film · TMDB

6.9

Drunk and disillusioned Roman, Marcellus Gallio, wins Jesus' robe in a dice game after the crucifixion. Marcellus has never been a man of faith like his slave, Demetrius, but when Demetrius escapes with the robe, Marcellus experiences disturbing visions and feels guilty for his actions. Convinced that destroying the robe will cure him, Marcellus sets out to find Demetrius — and discovers his Christian faith along the way.

Released: 1953-09-16135 minDir: Henry KosterDrama, HistoryBudget: $4.3MBox office: $36.0MPart of: Demetrius Collection

Cast

  • Richard Burton as Marcellus Gallio
  • Jean Simmons as Diana
  • Victor Mature as Demetrius
  • Richard Boone as Pontius Pilate
  • Leon Askin as Abidor
  • Michael Rennie as Peter

Themes

  • palestine
  • roman empire
  • christianity
  • crucifixion
  • bible
  • ancient rome
  • slave auction
  • robe
  • slave
  • guilt

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Ratings

IMDb

6.7/10

11,992 votes

Rotten Tomatoes

38%

Year
1953
Runtime
135 min
Genres
Drama, History, Romance
Rated
Approved
Awards
Won 2 Oscars. 6 wins & 5 nominations total

via OMDb · IMDb

Key facts

Directed by
Henry Koster
Screenplay by
Gina Kaus (adaptation) Albert Maltz Philip Dunne
Based on
The Robe , by Lloyd C. Douglas
Produced by
Frank Ross
Starring
Richard Burton Jean Simmons Victor Mature Michael Rennie Jay Robinson Dean Jagger Torin Thatcher Richard Boone Betta St. John Jeff Morrow Ernest Thesiger Dawn Addams Leon Askin
Cinematography
Leon Shamroy
Edited by
Barbara McLean
Music by
Alfred Newman
Color process
Technicolor
Distributed by
20th Century Fox
Release dates
September 16, 1953 ( 1953-09-16 ) (Premiere) September 17, 1953 ( 1953-09-17 ) (New York City opening)
Running time
135 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$4.1 million – $4.6 million
Box office
$36 million (United States)

via Wikipedia infobox

~15 min read

Encyclopedic overview

The Robe is a 1953 American Biblical epic film that tells the story of a Roman military tribune who commands the unit that is responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus. The film was released by 20th Century Fox and was the first film released in the widescreen process CinemaScope. Like other early CinemaScope films, The Robe was shot with Henri Chrétien's original Hypergonar anamorphic lenses.

The film was directed by Henry Koster and produced by Frank Ross. The screenplay was adapted from Lloyd C. Douglas's 1942 novel by Gina Kaus, Albert Maltz, and Philip Dunne—although Maltz's place among the blacklisted Hollywood 10 led to his being denied his writing credit for many years. The score was composed by Alfred Newman, and the cinematography was by Leon Shamroy. The film stars Richard Burton, Jean Simmons, Victor Mature and Michael Rennie, and co-stars Jay Robinson, Dean Jagger, Torin Thatcher, Richard Boone, Betta St. John, Jeff Morrow, Ernest Thesiger, and others.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “The Robe” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

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