The Robe

This is one of the top 2 or 3 movies you can watch for Easter. Excellent - Excellent - Excellent!

Quality product, arrived promptly in perfect condition.

Yes I am very pleased with this

Virtually all of Fox's DVD releases are both eargerly awaited and very professionally produced. Seriously.However, after producing several separate less-than-pristine quality releases on DVD over recent years both here as well as overseas Countries (also the earlier US Laserdisk that was not full width anyway - i.e. 2.55:1 when it was less than 2.35:1 on the disk) and none with any extras except re-release trailers, one would expect or at least pray, that Twentieth Century Fox would now, wery belatedly, pull out all of its guns for a major long-awaited restored version of its initial timeless CINEMASCOPE production.Very bad news indeed for Worldwide fans of this major film from the beginnig of the "Modern" Widescreen age!And why, please, are all the extras not on both the normal as well as the BluRay versions.Do we have to purchase a new machine just to access everything being released on the BluRay disc???I GUESS WE DO!!!The restored version of THE ROBE deserved a Two Disc release including both Wide and Flat versions of the film, as well as repros on the disc of Lobby Cards, Photos, Posters, Campaign Book as well as the mooted Extras.A Commentary or some involvement by the wonderful Jean Simmons would be priceless too.THE ROBE was a Landmark film in 1953. And FOX's biggest earner ever at that time.I for one would be more than happy to pay an inflated price for a relevant release.Eric GLASBY Australia26th MARCH, 2009 - UPDATE TO ORIGINAL COMMENTS PRE-RELEASE OF THE ROBE.THE ROBE (Standard DVD Special Edition) arrived from the US yesterday and the BIG event was last evening! It certainly blew the cobwebs off any possible forboding for the actual film. (Apart from the lack of availabilty of the full FLAT version as a very desirable extra).I had recently read this month's US Forum where the people from Twentieth Century Fox provided a fascinating insight into the background of work which resulted in such a pristine copy being available at long last. They should be VERY proud of what they have achieved and given us.It may be arguable that THE ROBE never looked or sounded this good, even on original release.The incredible amount of work that was necessary to "restore" and replace parts of the original negative will be much appreciated by many people around the World.An essay, or even a book like the invaluable one that Ronald Haver wrote on his restoration of A STAR IS BORN would be much sought after if such could be produced.You cannot underestimate the entertainment value and longivity of the films of that era, also the fascination they hold for several generations of fans.My viewing last night on a big screen, certainly was, as another reviewer stated: "an exhilerating experience".Regarding the DVD Extras, sadly, the original Lobby Cards do seem to have been "lost" as well as the original Campaign Book (as another person noted) and I cannot locate "THE CINEMASCOPE STORY" Featurette on the Disc, although the back of the packet insert says it is included.The incredible amount of "extras" noted for the BluRay Disc by another Reviewer dictates that THE ROBE will become, eventually, my initial BluRay purchase!How could one resist the thought.Apart from the absence of the FLAT version of THE ROBE, perhaps at least, an Insert could have been placed within the packaging of the Special Edition noting the Chapters and other background information like previous Fox releases boasted in some of the releases of 2007 and 2008. In those, a cardboard slipcase was also available with original Poster Art - these editions would now be true Collector's items.A SPECIAL NOTE must be made of the singular but important live appearance of one of the surviving cast, Jay Robinson, in the excellent "Making Of" Featurette. Why this Actor was not nominated for Best Supporting Actor is a mystery - he provided much of the film's "power" in a briiliant portrayal. Great to see him recall the filming.Eric GLASBY AUSTRALIA

Remembered this film from my childhood. Great cast-- Jay Robinson as the sneering Caligula was a wonderful villain.

I've enjoyed viewing The Robe on TV since my 1960s childhood. Recently I ordered this "Special Edition" DVD, and I viewed the movie and some of the extras late last night. And I started thinking about the characters, and this movie's possible impact on my faith.In this film, based upon Lloyd C. Douglas' novel set in the time of Jesus Christ, a young wastrel of a Roman tribune, Marcellus Gallio (Richard Burton) offends Emperor-to-be Caligula (Jay Robinson) when Marcellus purchases a skilled, defiant Greek slave named Demetrius (Victor Mature), saving him from the gladiator's arena. Caligula arranges for Marcellus to be sent to Jerusalem, Judea--the "pesthole" of the Roman Empire--as punishment, separating him from his girlfriend Diana (Jean Simmons), whom Caligula wants for himself. Diana successfully pleads for Marcellus' safe return, but the young tribune has one duty to complete before he returns home: oversee the execution of three criminals, including a "fanatic" whom many Jews hope is their Messiah. At the foot of the cross, Marcellus gambles and wins the "fanatic's" robe. But the Robe, and the One who wore it, have a traumatic affect upon Marcellus, forever changing the course of his life, finally giving him a purpose, something to live and die for.I've always loved this story. The visuals--the sets, the costumes, the action--are stunning. The acting is good all around: Marcellus' conversion, and the deepening of his character, are handled well, as are Diana's struggle to understand this new faith, and Caligula's mad desire to make everyone bend to his will. Ruminating on this film, I realized how self-possessed the characters Marcellus, Diana, and Demetrius are. Although Marcellus at the start is somewhat of a playboy, he is not afraid to stand up to Caligula or even to his own father. Diana is loyal, spirited, intelligent, and wise. Demetrius has a good balance of pride and humility, and has a strong sense of justice. Although loyal to their respective lands, each has a desire for self-determination, to be free--a desire that may speak to the "hidden agenda" behind this film, made during the McCarthy era.The extras in this Special Edition DVD include a documentary, "The Making of the Robe", publicity stills, and magazine articles, including one by Lloyd C. Douglas called "Why I Wrote This Book". The documentary reveals the struggles of the blacklisted, heretofore uncredited first screenwriter on this project, Albert Maltz, one of the "Hollywood Ten" persecuted during Senator Joseph McCarthy's HUAC trials. Screenwriters during the 1950s resorted to Biblical epics as a safe topic in these artistically repressive times, but wrote themes into their screenplays such as the desire for freedom and "speaking truth to power" to oppressive governments. For example, the documentary says that the trial before Caligula, in which the new Emperor demands a loyalty oath and renunciation of "this dead Jew", was meant to echo the McCarthy hearings.Possibly The Robe influenced the faith of this child of the 1960s by, as the documentary pointed out, having the characters speak in plain familiar language rather than in "thees" and "thous", and by linking Christianity to love, inclusion, generosity, freedom, and standing up for the powerless. I highly recommend this DVD, and I'm very grateful for this film.Addendum: I forgot to mention the sumptuous music by Alfred Newman (uncle of Randy Newman). The stirring marches, the sweet, pensive love theme, the rousing Alleluia finale, all add to the emotional experience of this film.

Recommend!

Plays well and same as the original