Principal Cast: Victor Mature; Susan Hayward; Debra Paget; Michael Rennie; Ann Bancroft; Richard Egan; Ernest Borgnine; Jay Robinson and many others;

Director: Delmer Daves

SYNOPSIS

Billed as a follow-up to “The Robe”, an epic biblical tale released in 1953, and featuring many of the original cast members; this tale focuses on a more immoral aspect of the religious fable - the wronged Christian who through mistreatment reverts to the `law of the jungle’, only to realise the error of his ways and rediscover his faith after considerable tribulation and (dare I say it?) enjoyment.

The story revolves around Demetrius (Victor Mature), the inheritor of the robe of Jesus Christ, who falls foul of the Roman authorities when protecting it from confiscation and is banished to gladiator school. Here his newfound Christian beliefs are put sorely to the test as he is faced with the `kill or be killed’ mentality of his environment, but eventually gains freedom due to his `noble’ exploits in the arena. His faith is further undermined through his seduction by Messalina (Susan Hayward) the wife of Claudius, Emperor Caligula’s closest advisor; with the final straw being the apparent death of his Christian sweetheart Lucia (Debra Paget) at which point he renounces his faith entirely. Just when all seems lost for our hero, his faith is restored following a `miracle’; with the final `showdown’ involving the death of Caligula and fairness and decency for the Christians promised by the new Emperor, Claudius (now reunited with his prodigal wife). We do not see a happy ending per se, but we can imagine that all will turn out well.

Throughout all the turmoil in the immediate storyline there is a strong undercurrent of oppression and cruelty by the Roman administration - particularly the rule of the psychotic Caligula.

It is a minor `epic’ with all the ingredients - love, lust, greed, violence, revenge etc., and a cast of hundreds (rather than thousands). The climax is possibly a little too quick and easy for my complete satisfaction, but there is plenty of activity to keep the viewer occupied throughout.

There are standout performances aplenty, especially from Victor Mature, Susan Hayward and Jay Robinson who portrays a wonderfully loopy Caligula. As befitting a film of this nature, the musical score is excellent (with some of the score `borrowed’ from “The Robe”).

It is amazing that this is a movie I looked forward to every year and watched many times in my childhood and teens, but never knew that it was filmed in colour!

EXTRAS

It strikes me the number of times I would like some special features for `special’ movies and don’t get any!

? Scene and language menus

? Theatrical trailer - this is interesting if only for the fact that I don’t remember some of the dialogue for the trailer appearing in the finished film!

OVERALL

I was affected by this movie a long time ago, and while the years have altered my appreciation of film, I was glad to find myself still enjoying it. Plot-wise it has credibility (though scholars may query its historical authenticity) and plenty of interest throughout - and it’s an added bonus it’s in colour! It is a morality tale with lots of action, rather than purely a `costume drama’.

Maybe I’m swayed by sentiment, but over 45 years on from its release, I can’t see how those who enjoyed “Gladiator” would not be impressed by this effort. And for those who didn’t enjoy “Gladiator”? - there’s more storyline in this and less gratuitous violence.

Running time: 101 minutes;