Where Was Richard Burton???
I wonder why he wasn't cast in this?
sharethe robe had not yet been released..burton was an unknown in early 1953
shareRichard Burton wasn't exactly an unknown in Hollywood at the time -- had been in My Cousin Rachel opposite Olivia de Havilland in 1952. But in terms of Hollywood economics and aesthetics, he was a handsome hunk figure, same age (28) as Brando who had been signed as the box-office star of the film. So, having the two of them would have been superfluous, and they wpould have clashed in style with Burton being very much the classically trained thespian (no offense). And Brando had the pull, being keen on doing just the one Shakespearian play on screen to prove himself the most versatile actor of the Fifties (and the rest).
shareby unknown i didnt mean he had never made a movie,and as for classically trained,mr gielgud,mr mason and mr calhern had pretty good reps themselves..
shareHe had already made two films in Hollywood prior to his making in "The Robe" and they were "My Cousin Rachel" and "The Desert Rats", both very successful.
shareaccording to imdb,my cousin rachel was released in december 1952 and the robe in 1953..julius caesar had already completed pricipal photography by then,so burton really had no american rep..he would have been great,but brando was already a star,and of course,a great actor with a stage reputation as well..if the movie was made 2 years later,i wouldnt have been surprised if they cast burton..but in the fall of 1952,i totally understand why they cast marlon,who,i think,handled himself very well..
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