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IMDbPro

The Ten Commandments

  • 19561956
  • PGPG
  • 3h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
72K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,325
116
Charlton Heston, Edward G. Robinson, Anne Baxter, Yul Brynner, John Carradine, Yvonne De Carlo, John Derek, and Vincent Price in The Ten Commandments (1956)
4K Ultra HD + Blu-Ray + Digital
Play trailer1:32
3 Videos
99+ Photos
AdventureDramaFamily
Moses, raised as a prince of Egypt in the Pharaoh's household, learns of his true heritage as a Hebrew and his divine mission as the deliverer of his people from slavery.Moses, raised as a prince of Egypt in the Pharaoh's household, learns of his true heritage as a Hebrew and his divine mission as the deliverer of his people from slavery.Moses, raised as a prince of Egypt in the Pharaoh's household, learns of his true heritage as a Hebrew and his divine mission as the deliverer of his people from slavery.
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
72K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,325
116
    • Cecil B. DeMille
  • Writers
    • Dorothy Clarke Wilson(this work contains material from the book "Prince of Egypt")
    • J.H. Ingraham(this work contains material from the book "Pillar of Fire")
    • A.E. Southon(this work contains material from the book "On Eagle's Wing")
  • Stars
    • Charlton Heston
    • Yul Brynner
    • Anne Baxter
    • Cecil B. DeMille
  • Writers
    • Dorothy Clarke Wilson(this work contains material from the book "Prince of Egypt")
    • J.H. Ingraham(this work contains material from the book "Pillar of Fire")
    • A.E. Southon(this work contains material from the book "On Eagle's Wing")
  • Stars
    • Charlton Heston
    • Yul Brynner
    • Anne Baxter
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 338User reviews
    • 84Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar

    Videos3

    The Ten Commandments
    Trailer 1:32
    Watch The Ten Commandments
    The Ten Commandments: Blu-Ray Release
    Trailer 1:08
    Watch The Ten Commandments: Blu-Ray Release
    The Ten Commandments (1956)
    Trailer 1:04
    Watch The Ten Commandments (1956)

    Photos185

    Charlton Heston in The Ten Commandments (1956)
    Charlton Heston in The Ten Commandments (1956)
    Charlton Heston in The Ten Commandments (1956)
    Charlton Heston, Yvonne De Carlo, and John Derek in The Ten Commandments (1956)
    Charlton Heston in The Ten Commandments (1956)
    Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, Douglass Dumbrille, and Henry Wilcoxon in The Ten Commandments (1956)
    Yul Brynner in The Ten Commandments (1956)
    Debra Paget in The Ten Commandments (1956)
    Charlton Heston, Anne Baxter, and Yul Brynner in The Ten Commandments (1956)
    Charlton Heston and Anne Baxter in The Ten Commandments (1956)
    Yul Brynner in The Ten Commandments (1956)
    Charlton Heston and Anne Baxter in The Ten Commandments (1956)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Charlton Heston
    Charlton Heston
    • Moses
    Yul Brynner
    Yul Brynner
    • Rameses
    Anne Baxter
    Anne Baxter
    • Nefretiri
    Edward G. Robinson
    Edward G. Robinson
    • Dathan
    Yvonne De Carlo
    Yvonne De Carlo
    • Sephora
    Debra Paget
    Debra Paget
    • Lilia
    John Derek
    John Derek
    • Joshua
    Cedric Hardwicke
    Cedric Hardwicke
    • Sethi
    • (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke)
    Nina Foch
    Nina Foch
    • Bithiah
    Martha Scott
    Martha Scott
    • Yochabel
    Judith Anderson
    Judith Anderson
    • Memnet
    Vincent Price
    Vincent Price
    • Baka
    John Carradine
    John Carradine
    • Aaron
    Olive Deering
    Olive Deering
    • Miriam
    Douglass Dumbrille
    Douglass Dumbrille
    • Jannes
    Frank DeKova
    Frank DeKova
    • Abiram
    Henry Wilcoxon
    Henry Wilcoxon
    • Pentaur
    Eduard Franz
    Eduard Franz
    • Jethro
      • Cecil B. DeMille
    • Writers
      • Dorothy Clarke Wilson(this work contains material from the book "Prince of Egypt")
      • J.H. Ingraham(this work contains material from the book "Pillar of Fire")
      • A.E. Southon(this work contains material from the book "On Eagle's Wing")
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      At least 14,000 extras and 15,000 animals were used in this movie.
    • Goofs
      As Moses approaches the Burning Bush on Mount Sinai, tire tracks from the camera dolly are visible on the ground behind him.
    • Quotes

      Rameses: His god - IS God.

      [Rameses' last line, and final scene of Pharoah and Nefretiri]

    • Crazy credits
      This film ends with the line: "So it was written, so it shall be done."
    • Alternate versions
      In all of the film's theatrical releases, Cecil B. DeMille appears in a short prologue in which he prepares the audience for what they will see, including the fact that the picture will concentrate heavily on the early years of Moses before he led the Hebrews out of Egypt; he also indicates the length of the film and the fact that it will be shown with an intermission. This prologue has always been cut in the film's network television showings.
    • Connections
      Edited into Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
    • Soundtracks
      Chant of Priest and Priestesses
      (uncredited)

      Music by Elmer Bernstein

      Lyrics by Henry Noerdlinger

    User reviews338

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    The eyes of the audience are filled with spectacle!
    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...
    helpful•95
    22
    • Nazi_Fighter_David
    • Apr 20, 2000

    FAQ8

    • Does the film advocate civil rights?
    • What are the names of Jethro's other five daughters?
    • Why is Anne Baxter's character seducing her adoptive son, Moses and kissing him like lovers?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 5, 1956 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Ras Safsafa, South Sinai Governorate, Egypt
    • Production company
      • Motion Picture Associates (II)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 3 hours 40 minutes

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    Charlton Heston, Edward G. Robinson, Anne Baxter, Yul Brynner, John Carradine, Yvonne De Carlo, John Derek, and Vincent Price in The Ten Commandments (1956)
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