The Robe (1953)

Winner of the golden globe for the best dramatic film in 1953 and nominated for four Oscars and won two. Another cinemascope release, and one that I was able to find in high def, which made it look really nice.

Starring Richard Burton, who plays Marcellus a Roman tribune who is assigned the task of putting Jesus Christ to death. He then wins Jesus' robe in a game of dice after the crucifixion and becomes haunted by what he has done. He returns to Jesus' home town to learn more about the man he killed and becomes a Christian himself in the process.

I have to say that I was a little bored for the first 15-20 minutes, I wasn't sure how the film was going to develop and felt it was getting to the point in a roundabout way. After the film got going and the plot became clear it was a really moving film. It is the 1950's so in high def it doesn't do the sets favors at some times. It is clear the "night sky" is a backdrop in a studio, but when you look past some of this you really have an excellent film here.

Personally I would have given this my Oscar vote that year over From Here to Eternity.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046247/