Source: Chris Matthew Sciabarra
by Chris Matthew Sciabarra
“The Robe was the first Biblical-themed film I’d ever seen. It transported me to a truly colorful world beyond my imagination. This 1953 adaptation of the Lloyd C. Douglas novel, directed by Henry Koster, starred Richard Burton as Tribune Marcellus Gallio; Jean Simmons as Marcellus’s childhood love, Diana; Victor Mature as the slave Demetrius; Michael Rennie as the disciple Peter; and Jay Robinson as the crazed Emperor Caligula. Aside from its spectacular sets and reverent storyline, the movie boasts a truly passionate and moving Alfred Newman score. Everything about this absorbing film enthralled me. … When it was finally released on DVD in October 2001, it was presented in its full widescreen CinemaScope aspect ratio. … Almost from the moment I hit ‘play’ on the DVD unit, I noticed differences. From the opening credits, something was very wrong.” (04/08/25)