The Robe
The first motion picture in CinemaScope--the modern miracle you see without glasses!
1953 | 135m | English
Popularity: 1 (history)
| Director: | Henry Koster |
|---|---|
| Writer: | Philip Dunne, Gina Kaus, Lloyd C. Douglas, Albert Maltz |
| Staring: |
| Drunk and disillusioned Roman, Marcellus Gallio, wins Jesus' robe in a dice game after the crucifixion. Marcellus has never been a man of faith like his slave, Demetrius, 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. | |
| Release Date: | Sep 16, 1953 |
|---|---|
| Director: | Henry Koster |
| Writer: | Philip Dunne, Gina Kaus, Lloyd C. Douglas, Albert Maltz |
| Genres: | Drama, History |
| Keywords | christianity, palestine, roman empire, bible, crucifixion, ancient rome, epic, slave auction, robe, slave, guilt, 1st century, caligula, christian film |
| Production Companies | 20th Century Fox |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $36,000,000
Budget: $4,100,000 |
| Updates |
Updated: Feb 01, 2025 (Update) Entered: Apr 13, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Richard Burton | Marcellus Gallio |
| Jean Simmons | Diana |
| Victor Mature | Demetrius |
| Richard Boone | Pontius Pilate |
| Leon Askin | Abidor |
| Michael Rennie | Peter |
| Dean Jagger | Justus |
| Jay Robinson | Caligula |
| Torin Thatcher | Sen. Gallio |
| Betta St. John | Miriam |
| Jeff Morrow | Paulus |
| Ernest Thesiger | Emperor Tiberius |
| Dawn Addams | Junia |
| Bess Flowers | Spectator at Caligula's court (uncredited) |
| Pamela Robinson | Lucia (uncredited) |
| Michael Ansara | Judas (uncredited) |
| Percy Helton | Caleb, the wine merchant (uncredited) |
| Nicolas Koster | Jonathan (uncredited) |
| Thomas Browne Henry | Marius, the physician (uncredited) |
| Rosalind Ivan | Julia (uncredited) |
| George E. Stone | Gracchus (uncredited) |
| Jay Novello | Tiro (uncredited) |
| Hayden Rorke | Bidder at slave auction (uncredited) |
| David Leonard | Marcipor (uncredited) |
| Arthur Tovey | Roman Soldier (uncredited) |
| Harry Shearer | David (uncredited) |
| Mae Marsh | Jerusalem Woman Aiding Demetrius (uncredited) |
| Ben Astar | Cleander (uncredited) |
| Charles Fogel | Citizen (uncredited) |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Henry Koster | Director |
| Philip Dunne | Screenplay |
| Barbara McLean | Editor |
| Gina Kaus | Adaptation |
| Lloyd C. Douglas | Novel |
| Emile Santiago | Costume Design |
| Lyle R. Wheeler | Art Direction |
| Paul S. Fox | Set Decoration |
| George W. Davis | Art Direction |
| Leon Shamroy | Director of Photography |
| Walter M. Scott | Set Decoration |
| Albert Maltz | Screenplay |
| Alfred Newman | Original Music Composer |
| Ben Nye | Makeup Artist |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Frank Ross | Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Globes | Best Picture | N/A | Nominated |
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 30 | 46 | 21 |
| 2024 | 5 | 29 | 49 | 15 |
| 2024 | 6 | 24 | 36 | 11 |
| 2024 | 7 | 24 | 36 | 14 |
| 2024 | 8 | 20 | 31 | 14 |
| 2024 | 9 | 14 | 19 | 10 |
| 2024 | 10 | 18 | 33 | 13 |
| 2024 | 11 | 19 | 43 | 11 |
| 2024 | 12 | 20 | 39 | 12 |
| 2025 | 1 | 19 | 41 | 12 |
| 2025 | 2 | 12 | 16 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 12 | 28 | 2 |
| 2025 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Trending Position
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 244 | 472 |
Richard Burton ("Gallio") leads the cast in this lavishly colourful toga and sandals tale of a Roman Tribune who falls foul of a wonderfully over-the-top Jay Robinson as "Caligula" at a slave auction. As punishment, he and his newly bought slave "Demetrius" (Victor Mature) are despatched to the back ... water of Judea. Once there, he is assigned by Pontius Pilate to supervise the crucifixion of Christ whereupon he happens upon the legendary robe and his soul becomes a tortured wreck. Jean Simmons is the love interest trying desperately to keep him sane as he tries to retrieve the garment, but try as she might he is gradually subsumed. The whole thing is just too ponderous, lethargic and ultimately it all rather ends up on the rocks. Alfred Newman's score is overbearing and the script woefully stodgy too. Henry Koster could have taken 20 minutes from this and it might just have tightened it up enough to sustain my interest. He didn't and it didn't...