Cecil B. DeMille had already long been one of the premier directors in Hollywood, and indeed took a leading role in establishing the movie industry there, when he decided to take on his most challenging task yet: the life story of Moses, from...
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Cecil B. DeMille had already long been one of the premier directors in Hollywood, and indeed took a leading role in establishing the movie industry there, when he decided to take on his most challenging task yet: the life story of Moses, from birth, to his departure from the earth. It would be his directorial swan song, and the movie for which he is best remembered, his many, many others notwithstanding.

The 1923 silent version, which DeMille directed, was in two parts, part one dealing with the Exodus from Egypt and God giving Moses the Ten Commandments, and part two a modern (1920s) story about two brothers and how they deal with the commandments. The 1956 extravaganza was set entirely in the time of Moses. The special effects made everything, especially the parting of the Red Sea, look so real, like you're really there.

The all-star cast makes it all the more worthwhile, especially John Derek as Joshua, perhaps the most likable character in the movie. And Yul Brynner is a convincing Rameses. Some critics berate some of the dialog, which does seem a bit much at times, and in some scenes some of the players, especially Anne Baxter as Neferteri, seem to be overacting a tad, but it should be remembered that that was DeMille's style. He was from the old school, going back to the silent era when such dialog and acting were the norm and made the silents more understandable. It's classic DeMille, and this reviewer for one wouldn't have it any other way.

It's difficult to imagine anyone other than the late, great Charlton Heston as Moses, but I found it interesting that DeMille's first choice was William Boyd, yes, he of "Hoppalong Cassidy" fame. This and other interesting tidbits are available on the special collector's edition of the DVD, through a superb commentary by Katherine Orrison, author of a book about the making of "The Ten Commandments".

Moses is one of my favorite person from the bible. While some part in the movie is not true it's still a very good movie. My favorite part has to be when the Red Sea make way for the people of Isreal escape from the eygpt. (Sorry about the bad...
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Moses is one of my favorite person from the bible. While some part in the movie is not true it's still a very good movie. My favorite part has to be when the Red Sea make way for the people of Isreal escape from the eygpt. (Sorry about the bad spelling) That was a great specail effect of the movie. In real life one of God's greatest miracle in the bible. I give it 4 stars.

i grew up watching this movie every holy friday, and now i could probably recite the entire 3 and a half or so hours by heart. i have always been intrigued by watching the egyptian court, moses' decision to side with his people, god's miracles,...
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i grew up watching this movie every holy friday, and now i could probably recite the entire 3 and a half or so hours by heart. i have always been intrigued by watching the egyptian court, moses' decision to side with his people, god's miracles, and the bedouin way of life. i much prefer it to the similar movie made recently... for a film made in 1956, this has phenominal special effects and is a must-see.

I love this movie. It is not 100 percent accurate, but it is very good entertainment. A great classic.