Product Description

Rome, soon after the death of Christ. The depraved and mad Caligula is on the throne, obsessed with two things: the Robe, the garment that fell from Jesus' shoulders on the cross, and brutal gladiatorial displays. Victor Mature is the devout Christian entrusted with the Robe by Peter (Michael Rennie). But he turns his back on God, enters the arena, and becomes the most famous gladiator in Rome. Sharing the bed of the powerful and diabolical Messalina (Susan Hayward), he may even betray the Robe - and any hope he has for redemption!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28290 in DVD
• Brand: TCFHE
• Released on: 2001-02-27
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English, French
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 102 minutes

Customer Reviews

"There Is No Other God But Caesar"
Mention the name Demetrius to any American male over the age of 45 and I guarentee his immediate response will be the fond recollection of one his favorite films from his youth, 'Demetrius and the Gladiators.' Released in '54, 'Demetrius and the Gladiators' is the sequel to the highly successful 'The Robe' released a year earlier and continues the storyline concerning Romes' attempt to stamp out the "Christian Rebellion" and obtain the elusive robe of Christ.

While the first installment of this story was more of a spiritual/psychological drama, the second took on a decidedly more action/adventure flavor. Demetrius (Victor Mature) is a Christian pacifist captured by the Romans and sentenced to die in the arena. However when his girlfriend Lucia (Debra Paget) apparently dies in an altercation with a group of gladiators he becomes enraged, denies his newfound faith, takes up a sword and stuns the Roman world by killing them all one-by-one in battle before Emperor Caligula.

Once jeered by the crowd Demetrius is now a "Hero of Rome" and becomes head of the elite Pretorian Guard. However his new life of power and excess eventually comes into question when he discovers that his beloved Lucia still lives and the Christian God is not dead.

'Demetrius and the Gladiators' is one of the greatest of all gladiator films and a rarity among the genre, a movie with a message. This is Victor Mature in his signature performance as Demetrius. However as good as Mature is, he is outshined by Jay Robinson who is also reprising his role as Caligula from 'The Robe.' Robinson's flamboyant mannerisms, drastic mood swings and disturbing, murderous glares are unmatched in cinematic history and has defined forever how to play the mad Emperor Caligula.

Forget History! THIS IS HOLLYWOOD!
For pure unadulterated Rome meets Hollywood hogwash you can't go wrong with "Demetrius And The Gladiators". I don't mean that in a bad way at all. Pure kitsch, and Hollywood high camp this sequel to 20th Century Fox's lavish and over the top "The Robe" is much more fun than the film that spawned it. The film is so much fun to watch because it is so serious and yet so loose with facts that would have made it much more fun if only the code would have allowed it.

Victor Mature here is well, Victor Mature as he is in all his epics from "Sampson and Delilah" to "The Egyptian". He is what passes for hunky beefcake in the 1950's. The Sylvester Stallone of his day. He gives his best and even if he is a bit soft physically he is certainly likeable and entertaining. The real hunk of man meat in the film comes in the form of Richard Egan in a small and deliciously malicious role as a rival gladiator to Demetrius. Now he would have been much more convincing as as the lead in a purely physical sense.

Another staple of the 50's less is less acting style is the lovely Deborah Paget who probably hit her high mark in "The Ten Commandments". Here as the true love of Demetrius she is perfect early Christian window dressing.

Now the real star and reason to see this film comes in the form of the lush, seethingly sensuous performance of Susan Hayward as the evil empress Messalina. When she is on screen she commands your eye and when she is gone she is missed. Susan Hayward brings her brand of bold brash bravado to the role and in essence blows everyone else and most of the magnificent sets away. She is a joy to watch as she seduces and then falls to Demetrius cause in a rather silly ending. She is a joy to watch and shows us just what a real Movie Star and one hell of an actress can do in a role that is less than her talents. And of course the real Messalina never repented and ended up in a rather bad way.

Hayward only faces one challenge in the acting department and that come from the little guy with the high shrill voice, Jay Robinson. He certainly gives Hayward a run for her money in a kind of who is the better scene chomper. Mr. Robinson who reprises his role as Caligula in what must be the most over the top, flamboyant portrait of Caligula as the "Queen" of Rome. He is squirmingly good and a delight to watch as he out chews the entire cast and a few lions to boot (Little boots!) in devouring the massive scenery.

Over all this is a Cinemascope Epic fun romp that is short on historical fact but long on high camp merry making that is endlessly entertaining.

Another great look at the Roman Empire and Christianity
This one is a sequel to the Robe and does it justice, taking up where the last film let off.

Victor Mature plays an ex-slave and Christian who has the Robe of Jesus, an item that the emperor Caligula believes has magical powers over life and death.

A wonderful movie about faith but I don't believe you have to be a particularly religious person to enjoy it.