The Robe

Released Sep 16, 1953

2h 15m

History

Drama

List

38%

21 Reviews

Tomatometer

69%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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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

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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

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Henry Koster

Director

Richard Burton

Marcellus Gallio

Jean Simmons

Diana

Victor Mature

Demetrius

Michael Rennie

Peter

Jay Robinson

Caligula

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60%

33%

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96%

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84%

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89%

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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
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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