Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954)

6.6Approved100 minDirector: Delmer Daves

1954 film by Delmer Daves

Demetrius and the Gladiators is a 1954 American Technicolor/CinemaScope epic biblical drama film directed by Delmer Daves and produced by Frank Ross for 20th Century Fox. A sequel to The Robe (1953), the screenplay was written by Philip Dunne, based on characters created by Lloyd C. Douglas in The Robe.

Victor Mature stars as Demetrius, a Christian slave made to fight in the Roman arena as a gladiator, and Susan Hayward as Messalina, a reprobate who is married to Claudius, the uncle of the depraved emperor Caligula. The cast also features Ernest Borgnine, William Marshall, Michael Rennie, Jay Robinson as Caligula, Debra Paget, Anne Bancroft in one of her earlier roles, and Julie Newmar as a briefly seen dancing entertainer.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is Demetrius and the Gladiators about?
Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954) — The story picks up at the point where "The Robe (1953)" ends, following the martyrdom of Diana and Marcellus. Christ's robe is conveyed to Peter for safe-keeping, but the emperor Caligula wants it back to benefit from its powers. Marcellus' former slave Demetrius seeks to prevent
Is Demetrius and the Gladiators based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is Demetrius and the Gladiators scary?
Content rating: Approved. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.