DEMETRIUS AND THE GLADIATORS
US, 1954, 100 minutes, Colour.
Victor Mature, Susan Hayward, Michael Rennie, Debra Paget, Jay Robinson, Anne Bancroft, Barry Jones.
Directed by Delmer Daves.
Demetrius and the Gladiators is a popular sequel to The Robe. The Robe was the first film made in Cinemascope and had quite an impact in its day. The character of Demetrius, played by Victor Mature, was strong in the original film and Hollywood thought it was a good idea to give him another film of his own. This film starts where The Robe literally left off. This time Susan Hayward is to the fore in the role of Mesallina. It is an enjoyable enough Roman- Christian spectacle. The Robe was very serious and solemn. Demetrius concentrates on the spectacle and the enjoyment and is successful in its way. It was directed by Delmer Daves. He is a Hollywood man who at various times specialised in Westerns, e.g., Broken Arrow, The Last Wagon, Cowboy, 3.10 to Yuma. In 1960 he moved to romantic soap-operas like A Summer Place, Parrish, Susan Slade. Most audiences will enjoy Demetrius and the Gladiators at a popular level.
1. Was this an enjoyable spectacle? The picture of ancient Rome, costume drama, the brutality, the pagan aspects of Rome?
2. Was it a successful biblical spectacular: as a successor to The Robe, the touches of Christianity, the problems of sin and conversion? The film's reverent treatment of its subject or not?
3. Which predominated in the film: paganism or Christianity - in the tone of the film? Why?
4. The emphasis on the gladiators, the school and the fights? How well were these portrayed visually and dramatically? The brutality involved? The brutality of the Romans who could watch such games? The condemnation and the thumbs down? The gladiators having no choice but to fight for life? our participating in watching such brutality and the effect on modern audiences?
5. Did the contrast between paganism and Christianity make sense? Conversion? The place of religion in the Roman empire?
6. Demetrius as the focus of the film: Victor Mature's appearance and style, a brawny hero, Demetrius with Peter and the robe? Demetrius' place in Rome, his love of Lucia? The drama of the arrest? The encounter with Messalina, and her manipulation with him? His encounter with Glycon and his fighting with Glycon and allowing him to live? The encounter with Caligula and the threat of death? Messalina’s manipulation enforcing Demetrius to lose his faith? His fighting against Dardallus and the others? His life with Messalina. and his unwillingness to believe in anything? The encounter with Peter , the discovery of Lucia, the value of his conversion? The future with its happy ending?
7. The performance of Susan Hayward as Messalina: did she seem an empress, her relationship with Claudius and her infidelity, her brutality, her sexual appetites? Her brutality in watching the gladiators and tormenting them? Her horror of Christianity? Her manipulation of Lucia's injuries? Her lust and it being threatened by Peter? The happy ending with her going back to Claudius? Did this seem credible?
8. Caligula and his madness? What judgement on the Roman empire did he make? His arbitrary use of power, his cruelty, his killing, his not understanding the Praetorian guard, the inevitability of his death? What was wrong with the Roman empire in people like Caligula?
9. The contrast with Claudius? Claudius claiming foolishness in order to survive? Claudius and his gladiator school? A cruel Roman despite his gentleness? His not interfering with Messalina's life? His acclamation as emperor? How simplified was this presentation of Claudius' career?
10. How convincingly was Peter portrayed - his sermon about the Last Supper etc.? His visionary work? His encounter with Demetrius? His dignity?
11. The importance of Lucia in the film - a Christian heroine, love interest, a contrast with Messalina, her injuries, the miraculous way in which she recovered when Demetrius repented? The point of this? (The help of Paula?)
12. The presentation of Stribo and his school - Stribo and his boasting of his talents and his school, the men in the school, Dardallus and his brutality?
13. Glycon and his conversion to Christianity and his effect on Demetrius?
14. The Christian ethic of love versus Roman brutality - was this convincing?
15. Why do biblical and Roman spectacles appeal? Action, characters, costumes,
