Search - The Robe on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Suitable for Children Movie Release: 1953 DVD Release: 10/16/2001 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 15 mins Studio: 20th Century Fox Members Wishing: 19 Genres: Epic, Religious Epic See Also: The Robe [Blu-ray], The Robe [Special Edition]

Historically important as the first CinemaScope feature film, 20th Century-Fox's The Robe is fine dramatic entertainment in its own right. Based on the best-selling novel by Lloyd C. Douglas, the film stars Richard Burton as the wastrelly Roman tribune who is assigned by a weary Pontius Pilate (Richard Boone, who spends the whole of his single scene washing his hands) to supervise the crucifixion of Christ. After the Seven Last Words, the jaded Burton wins Christ's robe in a dice game. Gradually, the mystical influence of the holy garment transforms Burton from a roistering cynic into a True Believer--at the cost of his own life, which he willingly gives up in the service of his Lord. Also starring in The Robe are Jean Simmons as Burton's pious childhood sweetheart, Victor Mature as his Christian-convert slave Demetrius (an excellent performance--in fact, Mature is more believable than Burton!), Michael Rennie as the disciple Peter, and Jay Robinson as the raving Emperor Caligula. Mature, Rennie and Robinson would appear in the 1954 sequel to The Robe, the hurriedly assembled Demetrius and the Gladiators. Watch and listen for the unbilled contributions of Michael Ansara as Judas and Cameron Mitchell as the voice of Jesus. The film won three Academy Awards, and a special Oscar bestowed upon Fox for the development of CinemaScope. For many years, the TV prints of the Robe were struck from the "flat," standard-ratio version shot simultaneously with the widescreen version. Only recently has the CinemaScope The Robe been made available to cable TV (shown in "letterbox" format to allow home viewers the full picture). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Richard Burton - Marcellus Gallio
Jean Simmons - Diana
Victor Mature - Demetrius
Michael Rennie - Peter
Jay Robinson - Caligula

When released back in 1953, The Robe was the first movie to be filmed in the Cinemascope format, which was created to bring audiences back into the cinemas instead of staying at home and watching television. The ploy worked and this bible epic went on to garner five Academy Award nominations including best actor for star Richard Burton and a Best Picture nod. Although there is no way to re-create the larger-than-life magic of Cinemascope for the home environment, this DVD from 20th Century Fox Home Video looks and sounds fantastic nevertheless. The disc is available in an anamorphic widescreen presentation of 2.55:1 and has been given both an English language 4.0 surround sound option and a two-channel English stereo track. A French language mono track is supplied as well. The picture looks excellent throughout, especially the plentiful reds that have had a tendency to bleed on previous video releases of the film. The picture also looks sharper and cleaner than ever before, with little or no digital artifacts apparent. The disc also comes equipped with English and Spanish language subtitles, as well as containing the original theatrical trailer. Trailers for other Fox releases are also available. ~ Derek Hill, All Movie Guide