Keeping the Faith: The 70th Anniversary of "The Robe"

 

by Michael Lyons

Many movies are considered "landmarks," but The Robe truly is.

Without it, big-screen movie spectacles may have never been.  Sure, biblical epics like this were a dime a dozen in the 50s (and all of them truly spectacular), but The Robe was the first film produced and released in Cinemascope.

This was the widescreen format from 20th Century Fox that was one of many used by studios in the 1950s as they attempted to battle the encroaching popularity of television and lure audiences back to movie theaters by creating spectacles.

Had it not been for Cinemascope and other widescreen presentations, audiences wouldn't have enjoyed everything from the 1970s disaster movies to 80s action movies like Die Hard and even last year's Avatar sequel. 

What's so unique about The Robe is how it paired its event-like status with such a powerful, emotional story, filled with faith and reverence from another area in filmmaking that's still impactful today.  Celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, The Robe fittingly finds itself in Easter season rotation, so it's the perfect time to look back and celebrate this special film.

Based on a novel by Lloyd C. Douglas, The Robe tells the story of Marcellus (played by Richard Burton), a Roman tribune charged with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  At the crucifixion, Marcellus wins Jesus' robe in a game of dice, and doing so, and being there at the moment Christ dies, changes Marcellus' life forever.  Emerging from his guilt, Marcellus embarks on a life of faith, becoming a follower of Jesus.

Also starring in The Robe: Victor Mature, as Demetrius, Marcellus' slave, who first opens his eyes to what he has done, Jean Simmons, as Marcellus' love, Diana, who stays by his side during his tumultuous journey; Jay Robinson, as the wicked emperor Caligula, and character actors Dean Jagger as Justus, Richard Boone as Pontius Pilate and Michael Ansara as Judas.

Director Henry Koster guides the cast of The Robe through some powerful performances (Burton received an Oscar nomination) and tactfully helms the more notable moments. The crucifixion scene is brutally impactful, especially considering that the sensitive nature of the film at the time required that most of it be implied or occur off-screen.

Koster remains an underrated director in Hollywood history.  In addition to The Robe, he directed classics such as The Bishop's Wife (1947) and Harvey (1950), consistently delivering a well-crafted story with cinematic flair.

As CinemaScope wasn't widely available in most theaters, The Robe was filmed using both the widescreen and the standard screen cameras to accommodate all theaters, which no doubt added to the film's production.

But the result is worth it. The Robe is a wonderful film.  Is it a tad melodramatic and "of another time?"  Sure, but in addition to its impactful story of faith, it also speaks to how, no matter where our life has taken us or how heavy a "weight" we may bear, we can always turn to a higher, greater power in our lives, and change our direction.

No wonder the film remains a staple for many at Easter time.  Released on September 16, 1953, The Robe remains a potent example of landmark Hollywood entertainment from another time that remains as entertaining as ever, seventy years later.

Happy Easter, everyone!

 

For more of my articles and podcasts and to order a signed and personalized copy of my book, Drawn to Greatness: Disney's Animation Renaissance, head over to my website, Words From Lyons !