The main thing that I liked about Moses The Lawgiver was that it dealt with a lot of what Cecil B. DeMille in his twice told tale failed to cover. A lot of things happened to the Israelites before they're allowed to cross the Jordan into Canaan. DeMille skipped over that whole part of the story. Of course it doesn't have the splashy spectacle that so typifies DeMille, but there's a lot to be said for this made for TV mini-series.Burt Lancaster as Moses is not the commanding presence nor does he speak in arcane dialog as Charlton Heston did. He leads by persuasion and example and he has more than one reason to think those Hebrews are a 'stiff necked people'. The character of Aaron given short shrift by DeMille is more fully developed and played here by Anthony Quayle.It was certainly a 20 year trial for Moses leading this bunch. These people did see this man come through for them many times in a crisis and still they carp and complain. Lancaster becomes irritable in a way Heston didn't and wouldn't. It's a more human Moses.Bible scholars will praise this interpretation of the story, but the masses will still love their DeMille.

Spectacular story produced by Italian RAI television with all-star-cast such as Burt Lancaster as Moses , Anthony Quayle as Aaron , Ingrid Thulin as Miriam , Irene Papas as Zipporah and narrated by Richard Johnson . Biblical and evocative tale that deals with Moses , the Hebrew lawgiver . Evocative adaptation about known story , it recounts the greatest Bible story ever told , a journey through the Holy Land that focuses Moses (Burt Lancaster, great appearance as the liberator of the Israelites, forever typecast him as the sort for epics , along with Charlton Heston) , the Hebrew leader , leading the Jews out of Egypt and realized in Italian style . This is the wonderful story about an extraordinary man receiving a holy calling , and follows his life from birth , abandonment , slavery and trials in leading the Jews ; this is the greatest event in epic motion picture history . Biblical story developed in on a great scale though no such as the classic Cecil B. De Mille's version . An Egyptian prince named Moses (Bill Lancaster , Burt's son) who is adopted and brought up in the court by an Egyptian princess (Mariangela Melato) and learns of his identity as a Hebrew and later his destiny to become the chosen deliverer of his people . This vivid storytelling although fairly standard follows appropriately the Moses'life , the son of a Jew slave , from birth and abandonment on a basket over river Nile , as when the Pharaoh ordered the killing of all newborn babies , being pick up by Egyptian princesses and he's raised in the royal court , becoming into Prince of Egypt . One time grown-up Moses (Bill Lancaster as Young Moses) embarks a supernatural mission , as the Egyptian Prince , learns of his true heritage as a Hebrew and his divine mission as the deliverer of his people , getting the freedom for Hebrews . When his Hebrew origin is revealed , Moses is cast out of Egypt , and makes his way across the desert . Then , Moses retires out of Egypt where meets Jethro , marring him with his daughter Sefora . The stoic Moses along with his brothers Aaron (Anthony Quayle) and Miriam (Ingrid Thulin) confront Pharaoh Mernefta (Laurent Terzieff). Moses asks Pharaoh to liberate them but he refuses, causing the Egyptian plagues : invasion of locusts , fogs , epidemic , water become in blood and death of the first-born . As Moses instructs the slaves to put lamb's blood above their doors for protection and in the night , the angel of death comes , and passes over the protected doors . In the homes of the Egyptians where there is no protective sign , the angel kills off the first born children of Egypt, including Pharaoh' son . Moses goes to his brother after this , and is given permission to take the Jews . Moses takes charge of God's people and wrests them from Pharaoh's punishing grip . Moses like liberator of the Jewish leads his people throughout desert battling enemies and with holy intervention . Finally , Moses climbs the Mount of Sinai bringing the holy tablets , meanwhile Jewish people worshipping the golden calf .This is a monumental TV version of the Biblic book of ¨Exodus ¨ with production design carried out in utter conviction and passable special effects professionally made by the great Mario Bava , including the parting of the Red Sea ; in spite of the time effects still look acceptable . The production team formed by Sir Lew Grade and Vincenzo Labella conferred with roughly experts to make the film as accurate as possible and ample participation by various screenwriters as Vittorio Bonicelli , Anthony Burgess , Bernardino Zapponi and the same director Gianfranco De Bosio . Obviously changes were made to the story to make it work as a Biblical feature , in fact , there is a short list of differences between the movie and the Biblic account of the Exodus . Serious acting by veteran Burt Lancaster who plays a sober Moses. Just as Charlton Heston's son Fraser played the infant Moses in Ten commandments (1956), Burt Lancaster's son Bill (as William) plays Moses as a young man . Secondary cast is frankly good , such as Ingrid Thulin , Marina Berti , Jacques Herlin , Umberto Raho , Simonetta Stefanelli , Michele Placido , Paul L. Smith , Mariangela Melato , among others . Glamorous and luxurious costume design by Enrico Sabbatini . Colorful cinematography by Marcello Gatti , being necessary a right remastering ; filmed on location in Morocco and Negev desert , Israel . Special mention to sensitive musical score by maestro Ennio Morricone , including an enjoyable leitmotif . This movie was the most expensive Italian TV series ever made at the time . However , watching in TV it makes lost most really spectacular scenarios on the small screen . The picture professionally directed by Gianfranco De Bossio is suitable for family viewing and religious people. Other adaptations told in compactly form about this biblical story are the followings : classic mute (1923) by Cecil B. DeMille with Theodore Roberts , Charles Rochefort ; the second handling and the greatest , made in a gargantuan scale by Cecil B. DeMille (1956) played by Charlton Heston , Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter , Debra Paget , John Derek , Edward G. Robinson and Vincent Price . Furthermore , a new take on titled ¨In the beginning¨ (2000) by Kevin Connor with Billy Campbell as Moses , Christopher Lee as Seti and Art Malik as Rameses ; animated rendition (1998) titled ¨Prince of Egypt¨ produced by Dreamworks and directed by Simon Welles . And television rendition (2006) by Robert Dornhelm with Dougray Scott , Susan Lynch , Naveen Andrews , Paul Rhys , Omar Sharif , Linus Roache , among others

This earthy and realistic film is an excellent piece of Biblical History. It is true to the story in the Bible and is very engaging. Anyone that loves the Bible or just a historical piece will appreciate the effort that went into this. Burt Lancaster's son Bill plays the young Moses and does a brilliant job! Burt, of course, picks up where his son leaves off and gives a great performance. When you watch the actors in the scenes of the desert you can feel the heat and sweat. The earthy tones in the film give it a distinct character. The narrator does an excellent job while not interfering with the story itself. The lavish scenery gives the viewer a feast to behold.

I've seen this movie just because of Burt Lancaster. The whole picture is bad. The direction, the cinematographer, the actors. The only exception besides Lancaster is the score by Ennio Morriconne.