Robe (Blu-ray) (1953)

"...the first released film in CinemaScope and the one to bring Richard Burton his first lead Oscar nomination.  Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.com
"One magnificent scene after another!  Variety

Editor's Note Based on a best-selling novel by Lloyd C. Douglas, THE ROBE is one of the best Biblical epics of all time. Richard Burton stars as Marcellus Gallio, a Roman who, after leading the crucifixion of Christ, takes home Jesus? robe and is subsequently torn by nightmares and guilt. A distraught Marcellus makes his way back to Palestine, where a humble attempt to discover more about the man who died by his hand puts him on a miraculous path toward redemption. Originally released in 1953, this crisp and vibrant film was one of the first to be filmed in beautiful, expansive CinemaScope. It was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best (Color) Cinematography, Best (Color) Costume Design, and Best (Color) Set Direction-Art Direction. Jean Simmons, Victor Mature, and Jay Robinson offer stellar supporting roles.

	Jean Simmons
	Richard Burton
	Dean Jagger
	Michael Rennie
	Victor Mature
	Richard Boone
	Torin Thatcher
	Jeff Morrow
	Jay Robinson
	Ernest Thesiger
	Leon Shamroy - Cinematographer
	Charles LeMaire - Costume Designer
	Barbara McLean - Editor
	George Davis - Art Director
	Philip Dunne - Writer
	Lyle Wheeler - Production Designer
	Edward B. Powell - Music Director
	Frank Ross - Producer
	Alfred Newman - Composer
	Lloyd C. Douglas - Story
	Henry Koster - Director

Fictional story of a Roman senator whose life is changed when he comes into contact with the robe that Christ wore when he was crucified. Apollo Movie Guide 8 of 10
Henry Koster's The Robe, released in 1953 is an interesting film that offers comment on America's socio-political climate a half-century after its release...Among the interesting qualities The Robe has to offer, its sense of social transcendence ranks among the worthiest, alongside the film's demystification of religion, and decentralization of its protagonists...By demystification, I mean to highlight the film's understated quality when dealing with the crucifixion of Christ, and all Christian matters leading up to that moment...The Robe decentralizes its protagonists by avoiding manipulative shot choice and composition; the star isn't the centrepiece of each frame. Here, we see Marcellus, played by the top-billed star, Richard Burton, situated in a negligible position amongst a pack of disciples -- mixed in, with no special treatment for being the standout celebrity...The Robe is an infectious tale that follows the lives of Marcellus, Demetrius, Diana, Caligula, and surrounding Romans and Jews as they come to terms with what it means to live a spiritually bankrupt life, based on the tenets that power and respect are gained through force, oppression, and mercilessness -- and the weight such practices bear on the souls involved...The film falters when it hits its dramatic points, which aren't set up effectively. The stakes of many scenes need to be raised in an effort to heighten the level of intrigue, wonder, suspense... and ultimately, entertainment value. Heightening this weakness is the uneven reality of the set designs (many are great achievements, while others stand out as inferior), and characters that are not fully explored...Still, The Robe is an important piece of American cinema in deconstructing the religious influence that developed the cultural make-up of 1950s American society, by illustrating the arbitrariness of Christianity's social reign. - Jon Lap