Academy to screen The Robe

Nov 07, 2003 by Ian Evans

The 1953 Academy Award®-winning film The Robe, the first film to be released in CinemaScope format, will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a screening at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Wednesday, November 19, at 8 p.m. Presented as part of the “Academy Standards” screening series, a new Cinemascope print of The Robe from 20th Century Fox will be shown in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

The Robe starred Richard Burton as Marcellus Gallio, the leader of a group of Roman legionaries assigned to crucify Jesus. The performance earned Burton his second Academy Award nomination but his first in the Best Actor category. The epic biblical tale, which also starred Jean Simmons, Victor Mature and Jay Robinson, played an important role in Hollywood history, introducing the widescreen format to the film industry as it struggled with new ways to entice audiences into theaters during the early television era. The film won Academy Awards for Art Direction (Color) and Costume Design (Color). Additional nominations included Cinematography (Color), and Best Picture. An Honorary Academy Award was presented to 20th Century Fox Film Corporation “in recognition of their imagination, showmanship and foresight in introducing the revolutionary process known as Cinemascope.”

Tickets for the screening are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members. They may be purchased by mail, in person at the Academy during regular business hours or, pending availability, the night of the screening when the doors open at 7 p.m. The Academy is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills.