The Tunic

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The Tunic (original title: The Robe ) is an American peplum directed by Henry Koster , and released in 1953 . He is best known for being the first film exploited in CinemaScopein the history of cinema .

Synopsis

For defying the Emperor Caligula at an auction, Marcellus, a young Roman tribune, is ostracized in Jerusalem. He directs, against his will, the execution of a fanatic of Galileo(the Crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth ) whose identity he does not know and retrieves in return-pawn the tunic of Christ. Now marked by this relic, he and his slave Demetrius, will convert to the Christian faith. At their own risk.

Technical sheet

  • Original title: The Robe
  • French title: La Tunique
  • Director: Henry Koster
  • Scenario: Philip Dunne , Gina Kaus adapted from the eponymous novel by Lloyd C. Douglas , published in 1942
  • Music: Alfred Newman
  • Editing: Barbara McLean
  • Costumes: Charles the Mayor , Emile Santiago
  • Production and Distribution Company: Twentieth Century Fox
  • Language: English
  • Format: Colors ( Technicolor )
  • Version 35 mm – 2.55: 1 ( Cinemascope ) – Sound 4 stereo magnetic tracks (Western Electric Recording) and mono copies sound 1 optical track
  • Inflated version at 70 mm – 2.20: 1 – 6-track stereo sound
  • Genre: peplum
  • Duration: 135 minutes
  • Release dates:
    •  United States :
    •  United Kingdom :
    •  France :

Distribution

  • Richard Burton (VF: André Falcon ) : The tribune Marcellus Gallio
  • Jean Simmons (VF: Rolande Forest ) : Diana
  • Victor Mature (VF: Jean Martinelli ) : Demetrius
  • Michael Rennie (VF: Marc Valbel ) : Pierre
  • Dean Jagger ( VF : Maurice Pierrat ) : Justus
  • Jay Robinson ( VF : René Bériard ) : The Roman Emperor Caligula
  • Richard Boone ( VF : Serge Nadaud ) : Pontius Pilate , Governor of Judea
  • Betta St. John : Miriam
  • Jeff Morrow ( VF : Marcel Raine ) : Paulus
  • Ernest Thesiger ( VF : John of Yd ) : The Roman Emperor Tiberius
  • Dawn Addams ( VF : Beatrice Brunel ) : Junia
  • Frank Pulaski ( VF : Claude Péran ) : Quintus
  • Francis Pierlot ( VF : Paul Ville ) : Dodinius, the astrologer
  • Sally Corner ( VF : Henriette Marion ) : Cornelia
  • Ford Rainey ( VF : Raymond Loyer ) : The commander of the galley
  • Ben Astar ( VF : Pierre Morin ) : Cleandre
  • Marc Snow ( VF : Roger Rudel ) : The slave seller
  • Torin Thatcher : Senator Gallio
  • Donald C. Klune 1 : Jesus of Nazareth (we do not see his face in the film)

And, among the uncredited actors:

  • Michael Ansara : Judas
  • Sam Gilman : a ship captain
  • Rosalind Ivan : Julia
  • Jay Novello : Tiro

Awards and Appointments

  • The film won 3 Oscars :
    • Artistic direction
    • Best decorations
    • Best costumes
  • Oscar nominated for:
    • Best Actor ( Richard Burton )
    • Best Photography ( Leon Shamroy )
    • Best movie ( Henry Koster )
  • Golden Globe of the best movie

Around the film

  • The film was a huge success at the box office of the United States with over 36 million USD .
  • A sequel was shot at the same time as The Tunic : The Gladiators ( Demetrius and the Gladiators ), a film directed by Delmer Daves with Victor Mature in the title role ( 1954 ).
  • The Tunic does not hesitate to take liberties with the historical truth: the first Christians did not settle so early in Rome and did not cause “troubles” before the reign of Claude .
  • In France, The Tunic came out accompanied in the first part of the short film by Marcel Ichac , New Horizons , technical demonstration of the anamorphic process CinemaScope .
  • The film is mentioned in the 224 th of 480 memories quoted by Georges Perec in I remember .

Notes and references

  1. ↑ Second assistant director.

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