Demetrius and the Gladiators

Demetrius and the Gladiators is 20th-Fox's answer and followup to its tremendously successful The Robe. While Lloyd C. Douglas's fine novel from which 20th-Fox and Frank Ross filmed The Robe springboards this followup, it is a completely new story.

Demetrius and the Gladiators is 20th-Fox’s answer and followup to its tremendously successful The Robe. While Lloyd C. Douglas’s fine novel from which 20th-Fox and Frank Ross filmed The Robe springboards this followup, it is a completely new story.

In the compelling screen story, and under the equally compelling direction by Delmer Daves, Demetrius swings from The Robe’s mysterious, religious miracle theme of the crucifixion, to a story of the trial of a man’s faith by the temptations of an attractive, amoral woman and a pagan Rome.

Victor Mature again scores with the character of the slave. A mighty man is he battling three huge tigers in the Roman arena to satisfy the mad urges of the crazy Emperor Caligula and the wicked Messalina, dueling to the death with five of Rome’s best gladiators, or making love to the same wicked temptress who has temporarily caused him to forget his God.

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With Mature easily winning top acting honors for his splendidly projected Demetrius, he is pressed by Susan Hayward as the evil Messalina, and Jay Robinson, repeating his mad, effeminate Caligula.

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