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IMDbPro

The Ten Commandments

  • 19561956
  • GG
  • 3h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
71K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,264
264
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
  • Adventure
  • Drama
  • Family
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
71K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,264
264
  • Director
    • 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
Top credits
  • Director
    • 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
    • 331User reviews
    • 90Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 12 wins & 12 nominations total

    Videos3

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

    Photos170

    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)
    The Ten Commandments (1956)
    Charlton Heston in The Ten Commandments (1956)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Charlton Heston
    Charlton Heston
    • Mosesas Moses
    Yul Brynner
    Yul Brynner
    • Ramesesas Rameses
    Anne Baxter
    Anne Baxter
    • Nefretirias Nefretiri
    Edward G. Robinson
    Edward G. Robinson
    • Dathanas Dathan
    Yvonne De Carlo
    Yvonne De Carlo
    • Sephoraas Sephora
    Debra Paget
    Debra Paget
    • Liliaas Lilia
    John Derek
    John Derek
    • Joshuaas Joshua
    Cedric Hardwicke
    Cedric Hardwicke
    • Sethias Sethi
    • (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke)
    Nina Foch
    Nina Foch
    • Bithiahas Bithiah
    Martha Scott
    Martha Scott
    • Yochabelas Yochabel
    Judith Anderson
    Judith Anderson
    • Memnetas Memnet
    Vincent Price
    Vincent Price
    • Bakaas Baka
    John Carradine
    John Carradine
    • Aaronas Aaron
    Olive Deering
    Olive Deering
    • Miriamas Miriam
    Douglass Dumbrille
    Douglass Dumbrille
    • Jannesas Jannes
    Frank DeKova
    Frank DeKova
    • Abiramas Abiram
    Henry Wilcoxon
    Henry Wilcoxon
    • Pentauras Pentaur
    Eduard Franz
    Eduard Franz
    • Jethroas Jethro
    • Director
      • 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
    • See more cast details 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 Histoire(s) du cinéma: Une histoire seule (1989)
    • Soundtracks
      Chant of Priest and Priestesses
      (uncredited)

      Music by Elmer Bernstein

      Lyrics by Henry Noerdlinger

    User reviews331

    Review
    Top review
    Behold HIS mighty hand..DeMille's I mean.
    What a fantastic movie to climax DeMille's illustrious career.

    Charlton Heston, king of the biblical epics, shines brightly as Moses, the one time Egyptian Prince, who now carries staff and perm in order to work Gods will and free his enslaved people from bondage.

    Yul Brynner, in what I believe to be his finest turn before the camera plays Rameses the Pharoah who's hateful relationship with Moses spans the entire epic. He is charismatic and shows off the arrogance of a stubborn Pharoah to perfection. This is indeed a film stealing performance.

    The beautiful Anne Baxter is at her sultry best as Nefretiri, the woman who would be queen to Rameses, but a slave in love to Moses. However the character is complex and I certainly had trouble in deciding who's side she was on in this epic battle of good verses evil. In the beginning she claims not to care for Moses' discovered background and is willing to be with him no matter what, however as the film progresses she does nothing but ridicule him and belittle him in true anti-semitic fashion.

    Edward G. Robinson, Vincent Price, John Derek, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Yvonne De Carlo, Nina Foch, John Carradine, and Debra Paget all lend fine and memorable support, to an already colourful and breathtaking experience.

    Incidentally it is worth mentioning that so convincing was Martha Scott in her role as Moses' mother Yochabel, that she was given the chance to play Charlton Heston's mother again in the later epic Ben-Hur.

    Another interesting fact is, it was Charlton Heston's own voice who spoke the words of God. It was Heston's own idea that to hear God would be to feel God from within, which is why he thought it would be interesting to hear His voice as his own.

    A remake of DeMille's earlier screen adaptation of the fine book of Exodus, many can see why this film ranks as his ultimate achievement. The sets were lavish and the story handled with suitable reverence and dignity.

    People today often make the mistake of comparing older films like this to the modern epics of today with regards to their effects and they quite wrongly categorize them as inferior. Today anyone can create CGI images on their PC. Even my three year old daughter can make something look convincing with a mouse and a keyboard and although these effects are great, people have to remember that CGI was not available in 1956.

    Okay there are a few obvious matte backdrops used here, but to achieve the effects they did nearly fifty years ago was an outstanding and impressive feat which took talent and knowledge. I tend to look upon these effects as superior because it took the use of mans own brain to bring them about. The human brain is the best computer available, yet one seldom used in todays world. So please take this on board before you slam The Ten Commandments for it's "cheap and nasty" look as one reviewer called it.

    This movie is ALMOST faultless, even the length is forgivable as I was so engrossed, I hardly notice the time passing.

    One fact that did rouse my curiosity was Moses' appearance throughout the film. I know he went to speak to God at the burning bush, but did he really have to stop off at the salon on the way back? Or did God appear to Moses complete with curling tongs and hair dryer? "Just a little off the top Oh Lord."

    And why did Moses seem to age more than everyone else? It seemed like he went from a youthful dark to everyones favourite Santa in the space of a week.

    This aside, this film is a fantastic piece of cinema and must rate as a personal favourite of all fans of Biblical epics.
    helpful•69
    16
    • Scaramouche2004
    • Sep 10, 2004

    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)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Prince of Egypt
    • Filming locations
      • Ras Safsafa, South Sinai Governorate, Egypt
    • Production company
      • Motion Picture Associates (II)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $13,282,712 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $65,500,000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $65,500,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      3 hours 40 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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