The Ten Commandments
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (PG)
D: Cecil B. DeMille
Paramount (Cecil B. DeMille)
US 1956
219 mins
Religious/Historical
W: Aeneas Mackenzie, Jesse L. Lasky, Jack Garris &
Fredric M. Frank [based on the novels "The Prince Of Egypt" by Dorothy Clarke Wilson, "Pillar Of Fire" by Reverend J. H. Ingraham, "On Eagle's Wings" by Reverend G. E. Southon & in
accordance with the Bible, the ancient texts of Josephus, Eusebius, Philo & The Midrash]
DP: Loyal Griggs
Ed: Anne Bauchens
Mus: Elmer Bernstein
PD: Hal Pereira & Walter Tyler
Cos: Edith Head, Ralph Jester, John Jensen &
Dorothy Jeakins
Charlton Heston (Moses), Yul Brynner
(Rameses), Anne Baxter (Nefretiri), Edward G. Robinson (Dathan), Yvonne De Carlo (Sephora), Debra Paget (Lilia), John Derek (Joshua), Cedric Hardwicke (Sethi), Nina Foch
(Bithiah)
The most expensive film ever produced at the time of
release, spanning nearly 4 hours and adapted from several sources to tell the biblical story of Moses, from his floating crib to leading the Israelites to the promised land.
Whether or not you're religious, it remains a
sensational story, meticulously directed with focus on capturing the period, although much of the interior decoration and costume design looks set-bound by more traditional
standards.
Still, a good watch for a rainy Easter weekend, though
the pedestrian style and verbose dialogue might test the patience of younger children. Best appreciated by film buffs, as it is arguably the best of Cecil B. DeMille's bible-inspired
pictures.
8/10
