At least once a year, we watch The Robe with Richard Burton. It's one of the movies that pops up about Easter time, though it is also one of the movies that gets shown repeatedly on oldies channels.
I've always enjoyed it.
I've had a copy of the novel, written by Lloyd C. Douglas, tucked on a bookshelf upstairs for a long time. I finally decided to read it.
First, many of the important elements of the novel are in the movie. The movie did, for cinematic reasons, change a few details, like when the fight with the centurion in the Holy Land takes place, or the growing conflict with Caligula, who, in the book doesn't really show up until the last chapters. The movie also leaves quite a bit out for reasons of length. It's all understandable given the different genres.
In the novel, you get a more complete picture of the relationship between Marcellus and Demetrius. We get to see the incidents in Athens, more of what happened in the Holy Land, the escape from Capri, and Marcellus's ministry in Arpino. Those really added depth. And I learned that Caligula is actually a nickname meaning "little boot," which apparently was a source of jokes!
A satisfying read.
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