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The Ten Commandments (1956)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
5 October 1956 (USA)
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Tagline:
The Greatest Event in Motion Picture History more
Plot:
The Egyptian Prince, Moses, learns of his true heritage as a Hebrew and his divine mission as the deliverer of his people. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar.
Another 3 wins
&
7 nominations
more
NewsDesk:
(48 articles)
Debra Paget: Snake Charmer
(From SneakPeek. 14 December 2009, 12:33 PM, PST)
Morgan Freeman Is Nelson Mandela In 'Invictus'... Here Are Five More Historical Figures He Should Play
(From MTV Movies Blog. 10 December 2009, 1:00 PM, PST)
(From SneakPeek. 14 December 2009, 12:33 PM, PST)
Morgan Freeman Is Nelson Mandela In 'Invictus'... Here Are Five More Historical Figures He Should Play
(From MTV Movies Blog. 10 December 2009, 1:00 PM, PST)
User Comments:
The eyes of the audience are filled with spectacle!
more (175 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| 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 (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke) | |
| Nina Foch | ... | Bithiah | |
| Martha Scott | ... | Yochabel | |
| Judith Anderson | ... | Memnet | |
| Vincent Price | ... | Baka | |
| John Carradine | ... | Aaron | |
| Olive Deering | ... | Miriam | |
| Douglass Dumbrille | ... | Jannes |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
220 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (Westrex Recording System) (70 mm prints) |
Dolby Digital (1998 re-release) |
Dolby (1989 re-release) |
Mono (35 mm prints)
Certification:
Iceland:16 |
South Korea:All |
Brazil:Livre |
USA:Approved (Certificate #18021) (original rating) |
Argentina:13 |
Australia:G |
Belgium:KT |
Chile:14 |
Finland:S |
Netherlands:AL |
Norway:12 |
Sweden:15 |
UK:U |
USA:G (1972) |
West Germany:16 |
Canada:PG |
Spain:T
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
One day in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, a casting director for this film approached Jack Peters and his son Jon Peters to ask if Jon wanted to appear in the film, as multitudes of people with dark hair and complexions were needed to cross the Red Sea. Jon was chosen to ride a donkey and lead a goat by rope. He was so excited that he refused to wash off his makeup when he went home at night.
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Goofs:
Continuity: When Moses is on the shore of the Red Sea and Dathan approaches, the sea behind is calm. However, when Dathan reaches him the sea behind is now turbulent.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in The Closer You Get (2000)
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FAQ
How does it end?more
more (175 total)
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| The Prince of Egypt | Ben-Hur | Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom | Solomon and Sheba | Moses |
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Cecil B. DeMille was a motion-picture producer-director whose use of spectacle attracted vast audiences and made him a dominant figure in Hollywood... He was successful in a genre - the epic - that he made definitely his own, until William Wyler came along three years later with "Ben Hur."
In his first epic role, Charlton Heston is cast as Lord Moses, prince of Egypt, son of the pharaoh's sister...
As a true prince, he saves a slave's life; as a great prince, he gives the priest's grain to the slaves and one day in seven to rest; as a man of justice, he confronts Nefretiri with a piece of Hebrew cloth, the key to his origin; as a warrior and in excellent physical condition, he kills a tough and cruel master builder; as a courageous Hebrew, son of slaves, he tells the pharaoh: "It would take more than a man to lead the slaves from bondage, but if I could free them, I would!" As a man of prowess, he shows his latest methods of combat when he takes on the shepherds and routed them; as God's torch, he proves to be the Deliverer of the Hebrews, their prophet and leader; as the Lawgiver of the Covenant, he is the founder of the community; and as interpreter of "The Ten Commandments," he is an organizer and legislator...
Yul Brynner is superb as Rameses, the rival of Moses... His arrogance and swaggering snobbery are well represented... Brynner delivers an intelligent cynical role... Regarding himself as divine, he rejects the demand of this unknown God and responds by increasing the oppression of the Hebrews...
Anne Baxter is Nefretiri, the sensual princess who leaves her scar upon Moses' heart... Nefretiri is beautiful as a jewel, and her eyes green as the Cedars of Lebanon... For Moses, she is always ready to lie, to kill and betray... She is selfish in her life as certainly in her love...
Edward G. Robinson plays Dathan, the chief Hebrew overseer who confessed to Rameses: "Give me my freedom and I'll give you the scepter. Give me the water girl Lilia and I'll give you the princess your heart's desire." As a treacherous overlord, he charges to the people yelling: "Go where? To drown in the sea?"
Yvonne De Carlo plays Sephora, the midnight shepherdess to whom Moses is wed... Sephora couldn't fill the emptiness of Moses' heart, but promised not to be jealous of the memory...
John Derek is Joshua, the stone cutter, who is totally convinced that Moses is God's Messenger...
Debra Paget plays the delicate flower who quench the thirst of the working slaves... For her the hour of deliverance will never come...
Sir Cedric Hardwicke plays Sethi, the mighty Pharaoh, whose words to his son mark great significance: "Who would take a throne by force that he has earned by deeds?"
Nina Foch plays Bithiah, pharaoh's sister, who discovers the basket in which Moses has just floated down the Nile...
Vincent Price plays Baka the sadistic, covetous, murderous whip-wielding slave-driver...
"The Ten Commandments" is filled with tremendous special effects: Moses's staff turns to a snake; Moses turning the Nile to blood; the Passover of the Angel of Death striking all the Egyptian first-born; the tremendous pillar of fire which halts Rameses' men; the Exodus from Egypt; the parting of the Red Sea; and the delivery of the "Laws of life, and right, and good, and evil."
The relationship between God and man is the powerful drama in our world... Moses is 'every man,' in his pride and humility, in his courage and prowess, in his love and hatred, in his weakness and confusion,in his conduct and ability...
DeMille's "The Ten Commandments" is a moving story of the spirit of freedom rising in a man under the divine inspiration of his Maker... It is a remarkable spectacle with great music, filled with exceptional setting and decor...