Amid a cast of all-stars in 1953's The Robe, Victor Mature made the strongest impression as the Greek slave, Demetrius. It was only natural, then, that Mature should star in this 1954 sequel, in which the newly liberated Demetrius forges an alliance with his Christian brethren to hide the sacred robe of Christ, coveted for its "magic" by the vile emperor Caligula (Jay Robinson, also reprising his role in The Robe). Captured and manipulated into believing his beloved Lucia (Debra Paget) has been killed, Demetrius rejects his pacifist faith, plots vengeance while becoming a rising star in the bloody arena, and falls prey to the scheming senator's wife Messalina (Susan Hayward), who craves his... affection. It all leads to a crisis of faith that will determine Demetrius's fate as a noble Christian or downfallen hedonist.

not bad for its day

this movie was one of my favorites when growing up. 50 years later I watched it again and still think it is a worth while movie. I really liked the actor who played Caligula (Jay Robinson). I believed he died early on after this movie. Played the part to a "T". He was much better to watch then Victor Mature who was not right for the part. Hard to believe he would be a threat to anyone let alone a gladiator!!

The arena scenes are good with good action and fight sequences. Good movie for us old timers who enjoy 50's movies.

don't buy it

This is a terrible movie - it would be bad enough if we hadn't read the book, The Robe, but because we did, the book portrays Demetrius as a thoroughy moral, loyal and admirable person, and the movie shows him as a pleasure-loving, vacant-eyed, immoral fighting machine. Where the movie makers came up with this spin is beyand me, but someone should have stopped them. Actually, after reading the book and 'knowing' Demetrius in that manner, I found the movie nauseating - like a crude and mean characture of a good friend.
Don't buy it.

One of the Best Bibically-Based Films

This is one of the very best Bibically-based films ever, and it was also one of the best of the early "sequels." Taking up the story precisely where The Robe left off, it is an even more exciting continuing tale of the Greek slave, Demetrius, and his quest to protect the robe worn by Jesus at His crucifixion. The gladitorial combat scene, where Demetrius avenges the assumed death of his sweetheart, and subsequently renounces his faith, is one of the most memorable ever, and actually rivals that of Russell Crowe in "Gladiator." A must for the Easter season, or for any time one needs a reaffirmation of faith or inspiration.