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city of Rome. As he views the selection of slaves to be sold at auction, he
runs into a well-dressed, aristocratic Roman woman who reproaches him
for his loutish behavior the night before. Marcellus tries to apologize, but
is interrupted by the uproar as an escaped slave runs past him. Marcellus
knocks him down, and is thanked by the slave’s owners, who remand him
to be sold as lion bait. Then Marcellus catches a glimpse of a beautiful girl
beckoning him from the imperial pavilion: it is Diana, his childhood sweetheart,
who reminds him of his promise to marry her when they were
grown. Diana has just arrived from the emperor’s palace on the island of
Capri, and Marcellus discovers she is now an imperial ward and being
groomed as a possible bride for Caligula, the heir to the throne.
Caligula now arrives and orders the slave auction to begin. Marcellus
bids against Caligula for a pair of young females, but Caligula succeeds in
buying them for Diana. When the runaway slave is put up for sale as a
gladiator, Marcellus drives the price way up in a bidding war against the
tribune Quintus, Caligula’s front man. Caligula is incensed when Marcellus
buys the slave for three thousand gold pieces, and sweeps away in a rage,
taking Diana with him. Marcellus unchains the slave, Demetrius, and sends
him to his family villa to be his personal attendant. When Marcellus returns
home, his family is anxious over his public quarrel with Caligula.
His father, Senator Gallio, chastises Marcellus for his lack of discretion in
provoking the anger of the imperial heir. Senator Gallio reveals he is
working within the Senate to bring back Republican government to Rome.
Quintus barges in with a letter from Caligula, ordering Marcellus to report
to the Roman garrison in Jerusalem. Senator Gallio realizes the order is
motivated by revenge, explaining to his son that Caligula hopes he will not
return from “the worst pest-hole in the empire.” Marcellus receives some
paternal advice, and then sets off. At the dock, a glum Marcellus makes an
overture of friendship to Demetrius, but is rebuffed. When Diana arrives
to say goodbye, they pledge their love to each other, and she promises she
will intercede with the emperor to allow Marcellus to return to Rome.
In Jerusalem, Marcellus is accompanied to his new post by a crusty
centurion, Paulus, who reports that life in the province is chaotic and the
people are difficult to govern. It is especially so now during the Passover
holiday, when local Messiah-fever is running high. As Marcellus rides into
town, people run past him carrying palm fronds, and they gather around
a distant male figure on a white donkey. Demetrius gazes upon the man
on the donkey, and is filled with inspiration. At the garrison, Marcellus
relaxes and samples the unsatisfactory wine of the region. Paulus announces
they’ve been ordered by the provincial governor, Pontius Pilate, to arrest
THE ROBE (1953) 35