The Robe

Great DVD

My wife and I saw this movie when we were just children and we wanted our kids to see it as well, with their kids so they could be able to answer any questions about things once the movie had concluded.

I've enjoyed viewing The Robe on TV since my 1960s childhood. Recently I ordered this "Special Edition" DVD, and I viewed the movie and some of the extras late last night. And I started thinking about the characters, and this movie's possible impact on my faith.In this film, based upon Lloyd C. Douglas' novel set in the time of Jesus Christ, a young wastrel of a Roman tribune, Marcellus Gallio (Richard Burton) offends Emperor-to-be Caligula (Jay Robinson) when Marcellus purchases a skilled, defiant Greek slave named Demetrius (Victor Mature), saving him from the gladiator's arena. Caligula arranges for Marcellus to be sent to Jerusalem, Judea--the "pesthole" of the Roman Empire--as punishment, separating him from his girlfriend Diana (Jean Simmons), whom Caligula wants for himself. Diana successfully pleads for Marcellus' safe return, but the young tribune has one duty to complete before he returns home: oversee the execution of three criminals, including a "fanatic" whom many Jews hope is their Messiah. At the foot of the cross, Marcellus gambles and wins the "fanatic's" robe. But the Robe, and the One who wore it, have a traumatic affect upon Marcellus, forever changing the course of his life, finally giving him a purpose, something to live and die for.I've always loved this story. The visuals--the sets, the costumes, the action--are stunning. The acting is good all around: Marcellus' conversion, and the deepening of his character, are handled well, as are Diana's struggle to understand this new faith, and Caligula's mad desire to make everyone bend to his will. Ruminating on this film, I realized how self-possessed the characters Marcellus, Diana, and Demetrius are. Although Marcellus at the start is somewhat of a playboy, he is not afraid to stand up to Caligula or even to his own father. Diana is loyal, spirited, intelligent, and wise. Demetrius has a good balance of pride and humility, and has a strong sense of justice. Although loyal to their respective lands, each has a desire for self-determination, to be free--a desire that may speak to the "hidden agenda" behind this film, made during the McCarthy era.The extras in this Special Edition DVD include a documentary, "The Making of the Robe", publicity stills, and magazine articles, including one by Lloyd C. Douglas called "Why I Wrote This Book". The documentary reveals the struggles of the blacklisted, heretofore uncredited first screenwriter on this project, Albert Maltz, one of the "Hollywood Ten" persecuted during Senator Joseph McCarthy's HUAC trials. Screenwriters during the 1950s resorted to Biblical epics as a safe topic in these artistically repressive times, but wrote themes into their screenplays such as the desire for freedom and "speaking truth to power" to oppressive governments. For example, the documentary says that the trial before Caligula, in which the new Emperor demands a loyalty oath and renunciation of "this dead Jew", was meant to echo the McCarthy hearings.Possibly The Robe influenced the faith of this child of the 1960s by, as the documentary pointed out, having the characters speak in plain familiar language rather than in "thees" and "thous", and by linking Christianity to love, inclusion, generosity, freedom, and standing up for the powerless. I highly recommend this DVD, and I'm very grateful for this film.Addendum: I forgot to mention the sumptuous music by Alfred Newman (uncle of Randy Newman). The stirring marches, the sweet, pensive love theme, the rousing Alleluia finale, all add to the emotional experience of this film.

The Robe is one of the Greatest epic movies that were produced in Hollywood in the 50's. It is also one of tge Greatest Historical movies about the early influence of the Truth of the Christian Faith on the Roman empire. It clearly depicts the powerful influence of Our Lord and God Jesus Christ on the early Christians and how they were stalwart in their Faith in the One True God Jesus Christ who came down to be crucified to take away the sins of the world, and how His Glorious Historical Bodily Resurrection was a Tremendous powerful force that changed the Whole world and continues to change it. Richard Burton has been brilliant in acting as a roman centurion who came to Faith in Christ through the Robe of the Risen Robe. The news of this robe reached to the roman emperor who in his craziness and perversity thought that the Robe of Christ will give him immortality, littele did he know that Our Lord and God Jesus Christ came to give whoever belies in him the eternal life not an earthly, sinful one. When that emperor discovered that the Power of Christ was in granting him the knowledge of Truth and not in granting him more earthly power he rejected the robe, and when the Roman centurion (Richard Burton) confronted him with the truth that as an emperor , he was nothing compared to the Power of Christ, he condemned him to death only to have the wife of that Roman turned Christian ( played here by Jean Simmons) decide to die with him as A Christian to have tge Eternal Life together. The Last scene when both Richard Burton and Jean Simmons are going up to Heaven as they are now Great Martyrs of Christ is a Great Masterpiece of cinematography as it captures in moving images a Great Christian profound Reality of going to heaven after death to meet their Risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The depth of the historical depth of how Life was in the Roman empire and how the Eternal Truth of Christianity took the Roman empire by the storm , is overwhelming and one the things that gave the art of cinematography the prestige that it enjoyed during the Golden era of Hollywood from the 30's to the mid 60's.