A lewd and indifferent Roman Tribune gets on Emperor
Caligula's bad side and finds himself reprimanded to the undesirable locale of Jerusalem where, under
the command of Pontius Pilate, he assists in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Casting lots for the garments of the Savior while He still hangs on the cross, the
centurion finds himself immediately
compelled to the cause, and seeks to spread the word of God despite the perils
it may cause his own life. "The Robe" is a Technicolor religious
epic, the first film to be made in the CinemaScope format, and one that is
more notable for its acting than anything else. A young Richard Burton, in a
career defining role containing many of his recognizable characteristics, is
stellar. Jean Simmons is particularly appealing playing Burton 's childhood sweetheart and Victor
Mature is rousing as his rebellious slave. Jay Robinson has a scene stealing
part as the snarling, malevolent Caligula. "The Robe" can be seen as
overly pious or banal, but its story is compelling and is given weight by the
strength of its indelible cast.
