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The Robe

Play trailer Poster for The Robe Released Sep 16, 1953 2h 15m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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38% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
In this biblical epic, a drunk and disillusioned Roman, Marcellus Gallio (Richard Burton), wins Jesus' robe in a dice game after the crucifixion. Marcellus has never been a man of faith like his slave, Demetrius (Victor Mature), 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.
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The Robe

Critics Reviews

View All (21) Critics Reviews
Kim Newman Empire Magazine Overblown melodramatic biblical nonsense. Rated: 2/5 Jan 30, 2012 Full Review Variety Staff Variety The performances are consistently good. Jan 11, 2008 Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Pious claptrap. Jan 11, 2008 Full Review Nell Dodson Russell Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder It is a beautiful picture, a story of faith and Christianity triumphing over tyranny. Cinemascope and magnificent technicolor plus the performance of Richard Burton, Jean Simmons and Victor Mature make a picture that will live long in the memory. Jan 14, 2022 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins The final acts of defiance are superbly monumental; the finale more than makes up for a shaky start. Rated: 9/10 Jan 2, 2022 Full Review Manny Farber The Nation This is the age of elephantine, humorless films that show little if any artistic endeavor. Nov 24, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stevie D A good story, good acting, loved it as a kid and continues to be an Easter favourite. An entertaining film snd will worth a watch. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/29/24 Full Review Jeff S This movie helps illustrate how Jesus Christ established a global kingdom not on military superiority but on love, sacrifice, mercy, forgiveness, Grace... but most of all on love. Christ's divine reach is demonstrated expertly in the final scene by Richard Burton, who is stellar throughout the film. "Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do." - Luke 23:34 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/13/24 Full Review Isabel P I love this movie and the memories it brings with it ! A classic my family would watch during Easter! True old school Cinema that looks like and sounds spiritually inspired! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/22/23 Full Review A Z I like The Robe. From the start, where the crucifixion of Christ is an event only witnessed to the extent that the characters are there for it and not center of focus. To the ending, in which, unlike Quo Vadis and other films, the Christians do not battle their way out to victory but end up, more realistically and truer to history, being executed. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/04/23 Full Review Robert S This film made a huge impact on me when I first saw it as a boy around 1960. It instilled in me an admiration for those who have the courage of their convictions, even to the death. It also sparked a lifelong interest in the history of the Roman Empire (which I have pursued academically). The common thread I find in many of the negative reviews is an anti-faith bias. I understand this; no human being is completely unprejudiced. I admit my personal faith inclines me to esteem that aspect of the film, yet when I first watched this as a preteen, I was hardly a religious fanatic. I probably should also admit that I developed a pretty intense crush on Jean Simmons... which may have also played a role in my fascination with the 1960 production of Spartacus. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/01/23 Full Review Steve M While not directly about Jesus, story was about people's lives affected by his crucifixion. The acting was a little overboard on the Roman's parts. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/11/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Robe

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The Robe

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Movie Info

Synopsis In this biblical epic, a drunk and disillusioned Roman, Marcellus Gallio (Richard Burton), wins Jesus' robe in a dice game after the crucifixion. Marcellus has never been a man of faith like his slave, Demetrius (Victor Mature), 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.
Director
Henry Koster
Producer
Frank Ross
Screenwriter
Lloyd C. Douglas, Gina Kaus, Albert Maltz, Philip Dunne
Distributor
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Fox
Production Co
20th Century Fox
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 16, 1953, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2013
Runtime
2h 15m
Sound Mix
Mono
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