It begins where "The Robe" left off!
The story picks up at the point where "The Robe" ends, following the martyrdom of Diana and Marcellus. Christ's robe is conveyed to Peter for safe-keeping, but the emperor Caligula wants it back to benefit from its powers. Marcellus' former slave Demetrius seeks to prevent this, and catches the eye of Messalina, wife to Caligula's uncle Claudius. Messalina tempts Demetrius, he winds up fighting in the arena, and wavers in his faith.
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Classical in form, earnest, effortless and resolved.
- classical in formformally daring
- earnestironic
- effortlessdemanding
- resolvedopen-ended
- gravecomic
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“Is Victor Mature the best thing in Demetrius and the Gladiators?”
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Reviews on TMDB
Written by TMDB members; each links to the original. Not part of Curator Co.'s numbers.
- talisencrwon TMDB · Jul 20168/10
This was a solid and very satisfying sequel to 'The Robe' for me. I have both a soft spot for swords-and-sandals epics of days gone by, and a preferential fondness for films from cinema's studio glory days of the 20's to 60's--not to mention my enjoyment of earlier Daves' classics such as 'The Petrified Forest', 'Dark Passage' and 'Destination Tokyo'--so this was like a fine red wine for me.
Read the whole review on TMDB - John Chardon TMDB · Jun 20197/10
This is a place where men are trained to kill each other like animals! Demetrius and the Gladiators is a sequel to The Robe. It's directed by Delmer Daves and stars Victor Mature as Demetrius, a Christian slave made to fight in the Roman arena as a gladiator (and ultimately entering into a bigger fight, that of faith), and Susan Hayward as Messalina. Filling out the support cast are Ernest Borgnine, William Marshall, Michael Rennie, and Jay Robinson as the maniacal emperor Caligula. The screenplay is from Philip Dunne (How Green Was My Valley/The Agony and the Ecstasy) and cinematography comes courtesy of Milton R. Krasner (Academy Award winner Best Color Cinematography for Three Coins in the Fountain 1955). Following straight on from The Robe, Demetrius and the Gladiators is a safe and enjoyable Biblical picture that doesn't outstay its welcome. Running at just over 100 minutes, the film is far from being epic in its telling. However, and without cramming in, it does contain all the necessary ingredients to make up a sweaty sword and sandals pie. Filmed in CinemaScope it has a persecuted hero, a bonkers villain, a sexy babe, huge sets, colourful costumes and fights, lots of fights
Read the whole review on TMDB - ARGMANon TMDB · Feb 20242/10
was about to rate it 3 for the tiger fight, but the end was too corny to handle
Read the whole review on TMDB - CinemaSerfon TMDB · Aug 20246/10
Richard Burton and Jean Simmons made sure they couldn't be involved in this sequel to "The Robe" (1953) but director Delmer Dawes did manage to bring in Susan Hayward and retain the maniacal services of arch-ham Jay Robinson to keep this sword and sandals story watchable. If you recall, "Demetrius" (Victor Mature) was the servant present at the crucifixion and who now holds the red robe used on the day. It's a prized possession amongst the Christians but when Caligula (Robinson) hears of its supposed recuperative powers he demands it be found. The ensuing searching ends up with "Demetrius" back in slavery, only this time working for the famed Messalina (Hayward) who is married to the emperor's uncle Claudius (Barry Jones). She takes a shine to this handsome hunk but his faith renders him impermeable to her charms. She's clever, though, and orchestrates a tragedy that will drive the furious champion into her arms. Can she keep him? With the increasingly irascible emperor managing to fall out with just about everyone, too - including his feared Praetorian Guards - will anyone manage to keep their heads? There's a hint of something biblically inspired to the plot, but essentially this
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Cast
- Victor MatureDemetrius
- Susan HaywardMessalina
- Michael RenniePeter
- Debra PagetLucia
- Anne BancroftPaula
- Jay RobinsonCaligula
- Ernest BorgnineStrabo
- Richard EganDardenius
- Barry JonesClaudius
- Charles EvansCassius Chaerea
Crew
- Delmer DavesDirector
- Philip DunneScreenplay
- Milton KrasnerDirector of Photography
- Franz WaxmanOriginal Music Composer
- Robert FritchEditor
- Dorothy SpencerEditor
- Frank RossProducer
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