Demetrius and the Gladiators (DVD, 2001)

This is the first release on DVD (a second with a new cover was recently issued). It takes off where the box office giant "The Robe" ended. "The Robe" was the first movie to to be shot in Cinemascope to attract the TV audiences back to the theaters. Many of the lavish sets and several of the original actors return for this sequel that is punctuated with many fight to the death battle scenes in the Roman arena. Victor Mature reprises his role as Demetrius, the Greek slave who converts to Christianity. His performance is as wooden in this vehicle as he performed it in "The Robe". Jay Robinson who earned a supporting Oscar nomination returns and chews the scenery to the point of laughability. Torin Thatcher, a veteran character actor, is distinguished and gives a fine performance as Claudius and the great Susan Hayward plays the evil Messalina who tries to lead Demetrius astray, to the hilt. She is not only visually stunning in color and widescreen but her acting despite the flaws in the script is quite remarkable, as she is able to overcome the cliches and give a very solid performance. Although historically inaccurate, the movie is a typical 50's Hollywood big budget spectacle that will ensure great family entertainment. Also watch for a brief scene with a young Anne Bancroft who plays a prostitute for the gladiator school. The supporting cast goes through the motions including the usually exceptional Michael Rennie who reprises his role as well as Peter. His performance is not up to his usual excellence. Hayward and Thatcher make this film interesting, along with the action sequences, while other cast members fall into Hollywood histrionics. This is still a must have DVD for collectors of classic film.

This enormously successful sequel to The Robe continues the story of Demetrius, the greek slave who, after the death of his master, is sentenced to train as a gladiator in the Roman arena. There, his new found Christian faith is put to the test when he has to contend with not only the swordsmen and the wild beasts of the arena, but also the evil and sensuous Messalina(Susan Hayward) and the mad emperor Caligula (Jay Robinson). Crammed with astonishing and fight sequences, this heroic epic is not to be missed.

"Demetrius and the Gladiators" is a powerful film of Christ's wisdom,redemptive power and love. It's about man's rebellion,humanness and short sightedness. The two polar opposites meet in a dynamic demonstration of the forgiveness and healing of God that surpasses human reasoning or understanding. One man turns his back on his God while another ridicules Him as he rules over the roman people with a foolish pride that would eventually see his fall. The clutches of a woman unfaithful to her husband awaits the christian turned gladiator on one side and the arms of a loving,forgiving God await to wrap around this prodigal son on the other. In the end, which side will this wayward son choose? Which is more powerful? Pride,hate and anger or a love so powerful that it held the Son of the Almighty God to a cross? You'll have to watch it and see!

If you have seen 'The Robe' starring Richard Burton, then 'Demetrius and the Gladiators' is a 'must see'. It is an excellant story and, while it doesn't rate up there with movies like 'The Ten Commandments' and other religious stories that were popular at that time, it is definately worth watching. It tries to create 'epic' proportions, but falls short in some of the scenes. However, the scene where Demetrius fights three tigers is really pretty good considering the times.

took some time and I got it. It was new and wrapped. can not say how glad
I am to find a copy new after all these years. will buy more things like this as time goes by.