The Robe
The Robe is a
1942 historical novel about the
Crucifixion written by
Lloyd C. Douglas. The book was one of the best-selling titles of the 1940s. It entered the
New York Times Best Seller list in October 1942, and four weeks later rose to No. 1. It held the position for nearly a year.
The Robe remained on the list for another two years, returning several other times over the next several years including when the movie version was released in 1953.
Despite its impressive run in publication,
The Robe is more familiar today as a
1953 Biblical epic film that tells the story of a
Roman tribune who commands the unit that crucifies
Jesus.
Haunted by the dreams and mental instability that come from that event, he returns to
Rome to try to cope with his nightmares. It stars
Richard Burton,
Jean Simmons,
Victor Mature,
Michael Rennie,
Dean Jagger,
Jay Robinson,
Richard Boone, and
Jeff Morrow.
The movie was adapted by
Gina Kaus,
Albert Maltz, and
Philip Dunne from the Douglas novel. It was directed by
Henry Koster.
It won
Academy Awards for
Best Art Direction–Set Decoration, Color (
Lyle R. Wheeler), and the
Best Costume Design, Color. It was nominated for
Best Actor in a Leading Role (Richard Burton),
Best Cinematography, Color, and
Best Picture.
It is notable for being the first film released in
Cinemascope and had one sequel,
Demetrius and the Gladiators (
1954), which featured
Victor Mature in the title-role, making The Robe the only Biblical epic with a sequel.
 |
A cinema presenting "The Robe" |
The movie was advertised as "the modern entertainment miracle you can see without the use of glasses", a dig at the
3D movies of the day. Since many theaters of the day were not equipped to show a Cinemascope film, two versions of
The Robe were made: one in the standard screen ratio of the day, the other in the widescreen process. Setups and some dialogue differ between the versions.
*
Seamless robe of Jesus*
Sword and sandal*John Bear,
The #1 New York Times Best Seller: Intriguing facts about the 484 books that have been #1 New York Times bestsellers since the first list, 50 years ago, Berkeley: Ten Speed Press, 1992
