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:

Crucifixion | Ancient Rome | Beautiful Woman | Blockbuster | Religion

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 2 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 (non-speaking) (uncredited)
Nicolas Koster	...	Jonathan (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)
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

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

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

Sound Department
Bernard Freericks	....	sound
Roger Heman Sr.	....	sound (as Roger Heman)
Ellis Burman	....	sound restoration engineer (restored version) (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
James Mitchell	....	still photographer (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)

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

Other crew
Leonard Doss	....	technicolor color consultant
Albert Cavens	....	fencing instructor (uncredited)
Fred Cavens	....	fencing instructor (uncredited)
Jack Pennick	....	technical advisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

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

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1953) (USA) (theatrical) (released by)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1968) (USA) (TV)
• 20th Century Fox (1953) (France) (theatrical)
• Centfox (1953) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (special edition)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• Fox Video (19??) (West Germany) (VHS)
• Fox Video (199?) (USA) (VHS) (standard version)
• Tocantins (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) (2005) (USA) (TV)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (1999) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Runtime:

135 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (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 | Finland:S | Sweden:15 | UK:U | 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 hated making the film so much that he turned down a studio contract from 20th Century Fox. He was amazed to receive an Oscar nomination after critics had almost universally described his performance as "wooden".

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the sword fight between Marcellus Gallio and the Roman commander, there is a shot of Gallio holding his sword to the commander's throat, while the commander is on the ground. The sword is an obvious prop that is rounded on the end like a spatula.

Quotes:

Peter: Let me tell you of the burden I bear. Justus told the others I was steadfast. He didn't know. The night Jesus needed me most, I denied him... not once... but 3 times. I swore I never knew him. Now...
Marcellus Gallio: [stammering, pointing to himself] I... crucified him.
Peter: I know. Demetrius told me.
Marcellus Gallio: [shocked] And you can forgive me?
Peter: He forgave you from the cross. Can I do less? Now, is there anything stopping you? Can you become one of us?
Marcellus Gallio: [new strength in his voice] From this day forward, I am enlisted in His service. I offer Him my fortune, my sword, and my life. And this I pledge to you on my honor as a Roman.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Arrebato (1980)

Wow! What a powerful story!

Few movies today carry the wallop that Henry Coster packed into this one. The Lloyd Douglas masterpiece has been well adapted to film... and it is refreshing to see a film on a biblical theme that Hollywood hasn't screwed up and made Christianity look bad. Noah's Ark (1999 TV) is a Bible story to avoid. The Robe, on the other hand, is a great story, with a sincere effort to communicate a commitment to integrity, whatever the cost. I would watch this one again and recommend it highly as a true classic... I give it 9 out of 10.