Truly Dreadful Film

Sadly Over-hyped

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

This film was a sequel to "The Robe" and was immediately shot after the end of this film, retaining the cast, crew and sets. However, they present us a better script: it's still necessary to make an effort to believe in all the story, but it's credibility has generally improved. One of the most unbelievable moments its when Caligula orders to confiscate Jesus tunic believing that it could confer some power to him, when he saw himself as a god. But these far-fetched moments are punctual. The absence of Richard Burton, which I didn't like to see in the first film due to his bad acting, was another improvement, allowing Demetrius to come out and be the center of our attention. His course throughout the film will be an efficient and effective test of faith. These character was played by Victor Mature, who gives us a very good work. Michael Rennie had little time to show his talent but never seemed quite alright in the role of St. Peter while, on the other hand, Susan Hayward was perfect in the role of the Machiavellian and treacherous Messalina. Jay Robinson retained the role of Caligula, who performed with quality and panache but no big surprises. Debra Paget played a minor role, as a love interest for Demetrius, but what she did was well done. Much more interesting was William Marshall, who gave life to an African gladiator who is converted to Christianity by the example of his companion in the arena. Sets and costumes result from the recycling of material used in "The Robe", so there are no surprises or improvements. These material, however, is considerably better, more convincing and historically accurate than what we can see in some much more famous and successful biblical films of this period.So, far from being a rehab for "The Robe", this movie seems to have learned from the mistakes of that film, being better and more enjoyable in almost every aspect. However, perfection or artistry is still far from being achieved.

The ending of "The Robe" shows the triumphant deaths of two proud Romans choosing Christianity over the insane rantings of Jay Robinson's Emperor Caligula. On the run, Demetrius (Victor Mature) is captured, sentenced to die in the gladiator ring, and ends up becoming a hero but gives up his Christianity. Ending up in the compound of the seductive future empress Messalina (Susan Hayward), he rejects the doctrines of Jesus and becomes a pagan once again. How will he regain his faith? How will Messalina explain the fact that she's a 20 something in a 30 something year old body? How will notorious stammerer Claudius explain his lack of a stutter? And will somebody tell me how Jay Robinson got into the sequel to "The Robe" and overact three times as much? I half expected his face to melt a la "Indiana Jones" when he got his hands on Jesus's robe.Not just for people who like movies about gladiators, this is for those who like their moving filled with camp. It is just as lavish as the original, but something has happened and it's transfer from script to screen and the results are laughable. Not only has history been altered to satisfy Hollywood's whim, but the spirituality that made the first film so special is absent as well. This was rushed together too fast and ends up seeming like a spoof, closer to Monty Python than "The Robe's" author Lloyd Douglas.A campy dance sequence features Julie Newmar. The supporting cast includes Ernest Borgnine as Messalina's guard, Richard Egan as a brutal gladiator, and Anne Bancroft and Debra Paget as two of the decent women in Mature's life. At least this wasn't called "The Robe II", because it really seems as pointless and messy as many of the sequels made today. For real Roman history, stick with history books and the BBC mini-series, "I Claudius".

The TV station that screened this recently billed Richard Burton as the lead. In the sense that Demetrius begins with the final sequence of The Robe in which Burton and Jean Simmons are condemned to death by Caligula, this is merely misleading, in the sense that this blatant cashing in on the success of The Robe is farcical it is best described as misguided. Risible more or less from start to finish it squanders the talents of people like Susan Hayward, Barry Jones and Michael Rennie and whilst Victor Mature had little or no talent to squander he may still have done better sticking to decent efforts like Kiss Of Death and Easy Living (the 2nd version with a screenplay by Irwin Shaw rather than the screwball comedy written by Preston Sturges). There's nothing much to say about this other than YAWN.

A sequel to 1953's "The Robe" starring Richard Burton, Jean Simmons and Victor Mature, this film picks up following the martyrdom of Marcellus Gallio -- Burton -- and Diana -- Simmons -- due to their unwavering faith in Jesus Christ.In this movie, Victor Mature reprises his role as Demetrius, as does Jay Robinson as Emperor Caligula, and Michael Rennie as the Apostle Peter. There are a number of other well-known actors as well. Please refer to the cast listing.While this movie has some Biblical themes and deals with faith, it is not strictly a Bible-based movie per se. In other words, it does not follow the lives of Jesus Christ, the Apostles or any of the Old Testament prophets or patriarchs. Rather, it concerns what happens to the former slave Demetrius after the events which are portrayed in "The Robe". It has more gladiator scenes than religious scenes.Briefly, due to an altercation with Roman soldiers while trying to protect the Robe, Demetrius is taken prisoner, and is then forced to enter a Roman gladiator school. Initially, Demetrius refuses to fight, or to kill another man because of his Christian convictions. However, following a series of events in which it appears that his love interest Lucia -- played by Debra Paget who was also Joshua's love interest Lilia in "The Ten Commandments" -- has died, Demetrius does an about face, turns against God and his faith, because very worldly, and begins to kill his opponents. Furthermore, Demetrius gets a taste of power and popularity when Caligula makes him a tribune following his victory over multiple opponents in the arena.The storyline includes a variety of plots and subplots, including Emperor Caligula's endeavors to acquire the Robe, Claudius' wife Messalina's romantic escapades with the backslidden Demetrius, and Claudius' patience in waiting to become the next emperor.Ultimately, Demetrius repents of his backslidden state and returns to the Christian fold when it is revealed that Lucia is not really dead, and her health is restored. Caligula is assassinated by members of the Praetorian Guard while sitting in the arena; and Claudius is proclaimed the new emperor, with his wife Messalina by his side. Claudius promises to not bother the Christians, just as long as they obey Roman laws.Overall, the acting is good, although I personally didn't really become attached to any of the characters.If you are willing to overlook the Biblical inaccuracies, as well as the errors concerning actual Roman history, and just accept this as a fictional work regarding early First Century Rome and gladiatorial fights, you may enjoy this film.