No other classic Hollywood genre has aged as badly as the Biblical epic, and the Roman epic in general. Had their directors never heard the word "subtlety"? In The Robe, Demetrius (Victor Mature) is looking for Jesus to warn him that he is about to be arrested. He runs into a man who tells him that it is too late to save him. "Never doubt," the man tells Demetrius. "What is your name?" Demetrius asks. "Judas." BLAM! Lightning and thunder, and Judas walks to a tree visible in the background. I mean, is the lightning and thunder at all necessary? Wouldn't it be more powerful without the overkill? The film isn't generally as bad as that scene. There are several really powerful scenes, and there are a few surprisingly gripping action sequences. The whole film would be a lot better if the actors portrayed any emotion. Judging from this film, Richard Burton, Jean Simmons, and Victor Mature would be perfect for a Robert Bresson film. A couple of the actors try, most notably Jay Robinson as Caligula. I think there should have been more of this character, since the historical Caligula was so interesting. I'm not sure if I liked Robinson's performance, but I appreciated his attempt to put some life into his character. The Robe isn't exactly a bad film, but it's not a good one, either. 6/10.
