The Robe, epic movie on healing Combat PTSD

The Robe, epic movie on healing Combat PTSD
by Kathie Costos
Wounded Times Blog
April 1, 2013

One of my favorite Easter movies was on last night, The Robe. I love old movies especially movies telling the story of Christ. This one is very different from the others because it explores a side of what few others do.

It tells the story of one of the Romans responsible for nailing Christ's hands and feet to the Cross. It is also an epic movie on healing Combat PTSD. It was made before I was even born.

The Robe is not your typical Easter movie but above that it is not your typical Post Traumatic Stress Disorder movie either.
The Robe was released in 1953 but when you watch it, you notice the connection to our modern knowledge of war and PTSD.
This is the basic plot.

"Marcellus is a tribune in the time of Christ. He is in charge of the group that is assigned to crucify Jesus. Drunk, he wins Jesus' homespun robe after the crucifixion. He is tormented by nightmares and delusions after the event. Hoping to find a way to live with what he has done, and still not believing in Jesus, he returns to Palestine to try and learn what he can of the man he killed. Written by John Vogel"

In the first scene, Marcellus Gallo (played by Richard Burton) is a hot headed Tribune is arguing with woman. It is clear he only cares about himself until he reconnects with his childhood sweetheart, Diana (Jean Simmons) and he softens as soon as he realizes who she is.

Marcellus had gone to a slave auction because he wanted to buy set of beautiful twins but ended up in a bidding war with Caligula (Jay Robinson) and out bided by him. The next slave to be offered was Demetrius (Victor Mature) a Greek warrior. Marcellus and Caligula get into another biding war over him and Marcellus wins setting off Caligula's rage.

Just when you think Marcellus is a jerk, he has the handcuffs taken off Demetrius, tells him where he lives then trusts him to just go there.

Because Caligula was so angry, orders arrived for Marcellus to go to Jerusalem. Diana promised to go to Emperor Tiberius to have the orders changed.

Marcellus set sail and arrived on Palm Sunday as Jesus was being greeted with the palms and crowds. Demetrius had never heard of Him before that day. Soon orders came to have Jesus arrested. Demetrius heard about the orders and tried to warn him but he was too late.

Pontius Pilate had new orders for Marcellus as soon as he did one duty before he left. Crucify Christ. Marcellus won Christ's robe so when the storm began, he told Demetrius to put it over him. Immediately Marcellus freaked out believing the robe had a spell on it. Demetrius screamed at Marcellus and cursed him. From that moment one Marcellus was tormented.

Marcellus was an expert war fighter in hand to hand combat and the sword. He was no coward and a loyal Roman soldier. He felt guilt over the death of Christ, His blood on his hands and the fact Christ did not deserve to die that way. He felt responsible for killing an innocent man.

Emperor Tiberius had compassion for Marcellus and sent him to find the Robe believing it had magical powers and Marcellus could only be restored to sanity by it.

Marcellus' family loved him but could not understand what he was going through and he had the love of Diana to support him.

While searching for the Robe, Marcellus learned what forgiving, charity and compassion were all about and his transformation began as he saw things differently. Reunited with Demetrius and the Robe, Marcellus finally understood what Christ meant when He said in his last moments, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."

If you are suffering from Combat PTSD or love someone who is, this is a great way to discover what it is, why it is and how to heal.