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.
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)
Director
Henry Koster
Adaptation
Gina Kaus
Novel
Lloyd C. Douglas
Screenplay
Albert Maltz
Screenplay
Philip Dunne
March 30, 2024
6
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 backwater 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...
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$4,100,000.00
Revenue:
$36,000,000.00