Demetrius and the Gladiators | Victor Mature, Susan Hayward

Demetrius and the Gladiators | Victor Mature, Susan Hayward | Demetrius and the Gladiators DVD

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Demetrius and the ...

	Demetrius and the Gladiators Victor Mature, Susan Hayward 20th Century Fox, 2001 average customer review:based on 43 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Demetrius and the Gladiators review

This film should be seen by all fans of Roman history despite a somewhat improbable story line. Following the Lloyd Douglas novel The Robe, the film places Christians in Rome under Caligula, the third Caesar (reigned AD 37-4l) although there is not the slightest evidence that there were any in Rome that early. The actors all give strong performances, but the real show-stealer is Jay Robinson as the egomaniacal and demented emperor.

Demetrius and the Gladiators DVD

Another "my" era actor. Very good movie and a classic.

Demetrius and the Gladiators

Well produced and well acted film. Jay Robinson makes a splendid Caligula.

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Lively efficient sequel to "The Robe"!

Demetrius (Victor Mature), a freed Greek slave and dedicated Christian, is apprehended by Roman soldiers while trying to hide Christ's robe. Condemned to train as a gladiator, Demetrius refuses to kill his adversaries when he defeats them so he is greatly admired by the other gladiators...

His magnificent physique and powerful strength attract the attention of Messalina (Susan Hayward), a beautiful Roman, married to Claudius (Barry Jones), the future Caesar. She is fascinated by him and wants to find out if he will kill his opponent when his only alternative is being killed himself...

Demetrius hears that Lucia (Debra Paget), a Christian girl whom he loves, is dead after having been attacked by Dardanius (Richard Egan) and other gladiators... His faith shaken, he makes a kill at the Roman arena and succumbs to Messalina's charms...

Favored by the sensuous Messalina, he is set free after swearing his allegiance to Emperor Caligula (Jay Robinson). But the latter, to prove Demetrius' loyalty, sends him to fetch the robe that Christ wore to his crucifixion...

Two clips from "The Robe" were used: the Cruxifixion and the last scene with Richard Burton and Jean Simmons, only, for Demetrius, Susan was seen watching them...

Hayward looked gorgeous as the wicked Messalina. The part, however, was not developed. It might have been an ideal role for Susan... Demetrius' Messalina repented at the end while the real Messalina went on to more promiscuity until she paid with her own life.

This was Susan's second movie with the radiant Debra Paget, who was still considered a promising starlet, but, again, they were never together in a scene.

Future Academy Award winners Ernest Borgnine and Anne Bancroft had small parts. Michael Rennie and Jay Robinson were excellent in their respective roles. Julie Newmeyer was one of the dancing girls, long before she became Julie Newmar and played Howard's rival in "The Marriage-Go-Round."

"Demetrius and the Gladiators" is a lively, efficient sequel to "The Robe," with emphasis less on religiosity than on the brutality of the arena and our hero's sexual temptations and near-escapes...

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