Which 1953 Biblical epic was the first film in CinemaScope?

The 1953 Biblical epic that was the first film released in CinemaScope is The Robe. The film follows Marcellus Gallio, a Roman tribune who commands the unit responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus and later becomes entangled with the robe associated with that event.

Henry Koster directed the production for 20th Century Fox, with Richard Burton, Jean Simmons, and Victor Mature in major roles. The film was adapted from Lloyd C. Douglas’s 1942 novel and was designed to showcase CinemaScope, a widescreen process using anamorphic lenses developed from Henri Chrétien’s Hypergonar system.

The Robe premiered at New York’s Roxy Theatre on September 16, 1953. Because many theaters were not yet equipped for CinemaScope, the filmmakers shot both widescreen and “flat” versions, with some differences in setups and dialogue. The film’s launch helped establish widescreen spectacle as a major theatrical attraction during Hollywood’s competition with television. Its sequel, Demetrius and the Gladiators, followed in 1954.