The Robe (1953)

Director:

Henry Koster

Writers (WGA):

Philip Dunne (screenplay) and
Gina Kaus (adaptation)
(more)

Release Date:

4 December 1953 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The First Picture on the New Miracle Curved Screen !

Plot:

Marcellus is a tribune in the time of Christ. He is in charge of the group that is assigned to crucify Jesus...

Plot Keywords:

Palestine | Robe | Crucifixion | Nightmare | Donkey

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Richard Burton	...	Marcellus Gallio
Jean Simmons	...	Diana
Victor Mature	...	Demetrius
Michael Rennie	...	Peter
Jay Robinson	...	Caligula
Dean Jagger	...	Justus
Torin Thatcher	...	Sen. Gallio
Richard Boone	...	Pontius Pilate
Betta St. John	...	Miriam
Jeff Morrow	...	Paulus
Ernest Thesiger	...	Emperor Tiberius
Dawn Addams	...	Junia
Leon Askin	...	Abidor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Ansara	...	Judas (uncredited)
Jan Arvan	...	Slave Dealer (uncredited)
Ben Astar	...	Cleander (uncredited)
Helen Beverly	...	Rebecca (uncredited)
Kit Carson	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Albert Cavens	...	Sword-Fighting Soldier (uncredited)
Fred Cavens	...	Sword-Fighting Soldier (uncredited)
Jean Corbett	...	Slave Girl (uncredited)
Joan Corbett	...	Slave Girl (uncredited)
Noreen Corcoran	...	Girl (uncredited)
Sally Corner	...	Cornelia (uncredited)
Leo Curley	...	Shalum (uncredited)
Frank DeKova	...	Slave Dealer (uncredited)
Irene Demetrion	...	(uncredited)
Van Des Autels	...	Chamberlain (uncredited)
John Doucette	...	Ship's Mate (uncredited)
Anthony Eustrel	...	Sarpedo (uncredited)
Dan Ferniel	...	Black Man (uncredited)
Sam Gilman	...	Ship's Captain (uncredited)
Roy Gordon	...	Chamberlain (uncredited)
Michael Granger	...	Slave Dealer (uncredited)
Percy Helton	...	Caleb - Wine Merchant (uncredited)
Thomas Browne Henry	...	Marius - Physician (uncredited)
Rosalind Ivan	...	Julia (uncredited)
Richard Kean	...	Slave Dealer (uncredited)
George Keymas	...	Slave (uncredited)
Donald C. Klune	...	Jesus (uncredited)
Nicolas Koster	...	Jonathan (uncredited)
Virginia Lee	...	(uncredited)
Virginia Ann Lee	...	Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
David Leonard	...	Marcipor (uncredited)
Alfred Linder	...	Slave Dealer (uncredited)
Emmett Lynn	...	Nathan (uncredited)
Christey Marlo	...	Slave Girl (uncredited)
Mae Marsh	...	Jerusalem Woman Aiding Demetrius (uncredited)
George Melford	...	(uncredited)
Cameron Mitchell	...	Jesus Christ (voice) (uncredited)
Eleanor Moore	...	(uncredited)
Edward Mundy	...	Peddler (uncredited)
Jay Novello	...	Tiro (uncredited)
Arthur Page	...	Reuben (uncredited)
Francis Pierlot	...	Dodinius (uncredited)
Alex Pope	...	Roman Officer (uncredited)
Guy Prescott	...	Quintus - Tribune (uncredited)
Ford Rainey	...	Ship's Captain (uncredited)
Peter Reynolds	...	Lucius (uncredited)
Pamela Robinson	...	Lucia (uncredited)
George Robotham	...	Slave with Demetrius at Palm Procession (uncredited)
Hayden Rorke	...	Caluus - Slave Auction Bidder (uncredited)
Gloria Saunders	...	Slave Girl (uncredited)
Norbert Schiller	...	Slave Dealer (uncredited)
Harry Shearer	...	David (uncredited)
Marc Snegoff	...	(uncredited)
Marc Snow	...	Auctioneer (uncredited)
Murray Steckler	...	Melas (uncredited)
George E. Stone	...	Gracchus (uncredited)
Arthur Tovey	...	Gladiator (uncredited)
Otto Waldis	...	Slave Dealer (uncredited)
Gene Wesson	...	Soldier (uncredited)

Directed by
Henry Koster

Writing credits (WGA)
Albert Maltz		(screenplay) originally uncredited and
Philip Dunne		(screenplay)
Gina Kaus		(adaptation)
Lloyd C. Douglas		(novel)

Produced by
Frank Ross	....	producer

Original Music by
Alfred Newman

Cinematography by
Leon Shamroy		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Barbara McLean

Art Direction by
George W. Davis
Lyle R. Wheeler		(as Lyle Wheeler)

Set Decoration by
Paul S. Fox
Walter M. Scott

Costume Design by
Emile Santiago		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Ben Nye	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Joseph C. Behm	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tom Connors Jr.	....	assistant director
Donald C. Klune	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Gordon Butcher	....	painter (uncredited)
Bill Harris	....	painter (uncredited)
Bill Jekel	....	painter (uncredited)
Eugene Kornman	....	portrait photographer (uncredited)
Ken McClelland	....	painter (uncredited)
Tony Reveles	....	painter (uncredited)
Duncan Spencer	....	painter (uncredited)
Clayton Thomason	....	painter (uncredited)
Fred Tuch	....	painter (uncredited)
William Tury	....	painter (uncredited)
Delmer Yoakum	....	painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bernard Freericks	....	sound
Roger Heman Sr.	....	sound (as Roger Heman)
Ellis Burman	....	sound restoration engineer (restored version) (uncredited)
Clyde Carruth	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Walter Rossi	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
James B. Gordon	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Ray Kellogg	....	special photographic effects
Matthew Yuricich	....	matte painter (uncredited)

Stunts
Fred Carson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Albert Cavens	....	stunts (uncredited)
Fred Cavens	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tom Hennesy	....	stunts (uncredited)
Nosher Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Robotham	....	stunts (uncredited)
Danny Sands	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill White Jr.	....	stunt double (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Lee Crawford	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
John Florea	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Sol Halperin	....	camera department head (uncredited)
James Mitchell	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Irving Rosenberg	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Harvey L. Slocomb	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Clyde Taylor	....	gaffer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Charles Le Maire	....	wardrobe director (as Charles LeMaire)
Adele Balkan	....	set wardrobe supervisor (uncredited)
Sam Benson	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Dorothea Hulse	....	weaver (uncredited)
Dorothy Lou Macready	....	assistant weaver (uncredited)
Clinton Sandeen	....	wardrobe manager: men (uncredited)
Jimmy Spies	....	armor (uncredited)
Ed Wynigear	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Lyman Hallowell	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Edward B. Powell	....	orchestration
Ken Darby	....	choral director (uncredited)
Carol Richards	....	singing voice: Betta St.John (uncredited)

Transportation Department
James E. Ruman	....	transportation chief (uncredited)

Other crew
Leonard Doss	....	Technicolor color consultant
Albert Cavens	....	fencing instructor (uncredited)
Fred Cavens	....	fencing instructor (uncredited)
James Denton	....	unit publicity manager (uncredited)
Stan Margulies	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Jack Muth	....	research assistant: CinemaScope (uncredited)
Stephen Papich	....	dance director (uncredited)
Jack Pennick	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Earl I. Sponable	....	research director: CinemaScope (uncredited)
Allen Wise	....	titles (uncredited)
Sonia Wolfson	....	unit publicist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (presents) (as Twentieth Century-Fox)

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1953) (USA) (theatrical) (released by) (as Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation)
• 20th Century Fox (1953) (France) (theatrical)
• Centfox (1953) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (1954) (Austria) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1968) (USA) (TV)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (1999) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-Ray) (special edition)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2010) (Canada) (DVD) (4-film collection)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (4-film collection)
• Fox Video (????) (West Germany) (VHS)
• Fox Video (????) (USA) (VHS) (standard version)
• Tocantins (????) (Brazil) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

135 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Western Electric Recording) (CinemaScope version) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) (re-release) | Mono (Academy ratio version)

Certification:

Iceland:L | West Germany:12 (f) | South Korea:All | Portugal:M/12 | UK:U (video rating) (1988) (1991) | USA:Unrated | Finland:S | Sweden:15 | UK:U (passed with cuts) | USA:Approved (PCA #16441) | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Corriganville, Ray Corrigan Ranch, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Richard Burton had a ferocious argument with 20th Century-Fox studio chief Darryl F. Zanuck before the film's release. This was another reason why he decided to return to London's West End theater district rather than remain in Hollywood.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Justus tells Marcellus that his grandson, who was born crippled and whom Jesus healed, was named for "Jonathan of old", who (Justus claims) was also born crippled. In the Jewish community, "Jonathan of old" would be the son of Saul, first king of Israel, and the best friend of David, Saul's successor. Jonathan was not born crippled; he had a son, Mephibosheth, who "was lame in both feet", but that was the result of an accident when he was 5 years old (2 Samuel 4:4).

Quotes:

Emperor Tiberius:Tribune Gallio, you are a Roman officer. I command you to gain control over yourself.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Rapture (1980)

Slow and ponderous epic, but the acting is decent enough and the CinemaScope is effective

I had mixed feelings watching the Robe. By all means it isn't a bad film, but it isn't great either. While there are some good things, there is a lot wrong with it as well.

PROS: The plot about a Roman officer winning Christ's robe in a game of dice during the Crucifixion is a nice idea to work with and comes off decently on screen. The film for its time has nice production values, with lovely costumes and sets. The Robe is best known for the first film to be shot in CinemaScope, which was put to effective use here. The music is very good, and the acting is decent. There have been times when I have found Richard Burton wooden, but there have also been films like Nineteen Eighty Four where he has been remarkably good. Here, he does look handsome in Roman garb. Jean Simmons, rest in peace, has been better, but she looks lovely as Diana and does a decent job acting. Torin Thatcher is a marvellous Senator Gallio, while Jay Robinson is unforgettably melodramatic as Caligula.

CONS: There are things wrong with this film, and unfortunately pacing comes at the top of this list. This is not the first film to suffer from this problem, but The Robe seems to move at only one speed which is slow and ponderous. The film is also very awkwardly directed by Henry Koster, and the dialogue ranges from adequate to laughable, as if the writer was being very careful in order not to offend. Victor Mature has a tendency to take it TOO seriously as Demetrius, and in a rather uneven performance it shows. There are also parts where the action and romantic subplot are a little unconvincing and where some scenes are overlong.

Overall, worth watching in general but I don't necessarily recommend it. 5/10 Bethany Cox