No better bible movie to me. Cast is great, Effects are great, storytelling is great the Lost goes on

"The Ten Commandments" was Producer/Director Cecil B. DeMille"s 80th and final film in the Director's chair. In a career that began in 1914 with "The Squaw Man", this was arguably his best film. It tells the biblical story of Moses with all the spectacle and glamour one could expect. The special effects, including the parting of the Red Sea are legendary. The film runs almost four hours and is divided into two main parts.The first part deals with Moses' life as an Egyptian prince and ends with his first encounter with God on the Mount Sinai. An edict issued by Rameses I (Ian Keith) decreed that all first born Hebrew children were to be slain in order to kill the promised deliverer of the Hebrew people. Moses is saved by his mother Yochabel (Martha Scott) who places him in a basket and sets it afloat in the Nile. Egyptian princess Bithiah (Nina Foch), the daughter of the Pharaoh saves the Hebrew baby, names him Moses and takes him as her own swearing her sinister servant Memnet (Judith Anderson) to secrecy.Moses grows to be Charlton Heston having distinguished himself in battle and winning the favor of the new Pharaoh, Sethi (Sir Cedric Hardwicke) over his natural son Rameses (Yul Brynner). Both men seek the favor of Princess Nefretiri (Anne Baxter) who is to marry the next Pharaoh. When Moses builds Sethi's new city and gains further influence with Sethi, Memmnet decides to expose Moses as a Hebrew. Nefretiri intercedes and kills the old servant but leaves Moses' swaddling blanket in full view. Moses discovers his heritage and renounces his privileged position. Rameses is now the new Pharaoh as Rameses II and banishes Moses to the desert.Moses manages to cross the desert and comes upon the camp of the shepherd Jethro (Eduard Franz) and his seven daughters one of whom, Sephora (Yvonne DeCarlo) Moses marries and with whom he has a son. Life goes on until Moses is drawn to Mount Sinai where he encounters a burning bush through which God directs Moses to return to Egypt and free his people.Part 2 of the story follows Moses' efforts to free his people. To do so, He causes the Nile river to turn red, brings several plagues upon the Egyptians and finally causing the first born of every Egyptian family, including Rameses II' s own son to die. Moses and his people are released from bondage and begin the pilgrimage to the Promised Land. However, Rameses decides to send his chariots after the group to slay them. But following the celebrated parting of the Red Sea, they are swallowed up and drown. Rameses then decides to let the Hebrews go their way even though Nefretiri maintains her love for Moses.When Moses and the Hebrews reach Mount Sinai, Moses goes up the mountain for 40 days and nights to await God's further direction. Meanwhile the slimy Dathan (Edward G. Robinson) fires up the crowd convincing them that Moses has abandoned them. With the help of Moses' brother Aaron (John Carradine). they build a golden cow as a false god. Moses is meantime receiving the ten commandments of God from the master. Moses decends the mountain and is furious when he sees the Golden Calf and all the sinful activity around it. He loses it and....................................................................................................This film made star Charlton Heston a major star and cemented his career as a biblical/ middle ages type leader. Brynner is excellent as Rameses and conveys a certain regal quality in his role . Robinson is good as the evil Dathan who takes the young Lilia (Debra Paget) unto himself in order to free Joshua (John Derek) from death. Anne Baxter is suitably seductive as Nefratiri.Other notables in the large cast include DeMille regulars Henry Wilcoxen, Julia Faye, Francis McDonald and Olive Deering as well as, Vincent Price as the Master Builder Baka who also covets Lilia, Douglas Dumbrille, Frank DeCova, and John Miljan as the blind man.It is interesting to note that Marsha Scott played Charlton Heston's mother both here and in "Ben-Hur" (1959) while Olive Deering played a character named Miriam both here and in "Samson and Delilah" (1949).

This is a long film with overly theatrical performances and a story that you know well enough for there to be few surprises. Some of the modifications and additions to the general story of Moses are clichéed and unnecessary. As a story, this movie is not interesting. And the performances are often grand, but foreign to a modern audience, as they're not going for realism.But all of that feels almost like despite the point. This was a huge production of biblical (sorry) proportions. There are huge sets, enormous crowds, huge special effects, heroic stances, amazing locations and a big orchestra soundtrack. There is nothing small about this movie. It was crazy expensive, and the last movie of a Hollywood legend. And the story is one of the oldest ones that we have. Because of all of this, the movie is still more than worth watching, especially if you like film.And there are some things going for it, other than the spectacle. Despite being a long film with a known story, it does manage to hold you through it all. While strange today, some of the performances are quite good, considered what they were going for. It's a joy to hear Heston proclaim "Let my people go", and all of the villainous characters are also great fun. It's at times visually stunning, and I would love to see a movie like this in an actual theater. It's also interesting (though not always good) how they have made changes to the story.I can't imagine watching this movie yearly (as many do), but it's a fantastic production, and I wish modern movies could feel as grand as this. The closest thing I can imagine, is the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS is a biblical epic film about human spirit and the freedom of a people, which is inspired by faith in their Maker. This is the biblical story of life of an adopted Egyptian prince and redeemer of the Jewish people from slavery. The film is based on the Book of Exodus. The film was DeMille's last work. It is a partial remake of his 1923 silent film of the same title.The director has tried to present a biblical story through a romantic, moving and visually expensive spectacle. The visual effects are really impressive. Given the duration of the film, it can be concluded that this is the most expensive film to date. Some scenes may be described as legendary. However, this spectacle can act too aggressively for less devout viewers. Given the fact that this drama lacks sincerity, especially in the second part of the film. Some of the special effects are overblown, given that they are signs of God's will.Nevertheless, I am delighted with the scenery and I think the costume is simply amazing.Charlton Heston as Moses is the embodiment of a heroic character that is honest and modest. I thought he was much better accustomed to the role of a young and capable Egyptian prince. His character possesses extraordinary strength of spirit. He is a very good choice for this role, which would later prove to be right in one film from year 1959.Anne Baxter as Nefretiri is a beautiful princess. She is something between the poisonous snake and lovelorn woman. Her appearances are too theatrical. Yul Brynner as Rameses II is quite a tough competitor. He is not presented as the villain. However, his character falls into the trap called the exaggerated melodrama.There are a number of different characters in this film. Edward G. Robinson (Dathan) as a treacherous overlord is the biggest villain in the film. Sir Cedric Hardwicke (Sethi) is a reasonable, good-natured and witty old Pharaoh. Yvonne De Carlo (Sephora) is a shepherdess, Moses's wife and probably the strongest female character in the film. Debra Pegat (Lilia) and John Derek (Joshua) are young Jewish slaves and loving couple who in the general plot are trying to preserve their love. Nina Foch (Bithiah) is an Egyptian princess who, out of love for the "son" who was brought up, joins the exodus. Judith Anderson (Memnet) is the designer of the main plot.This is not entirely credible and insightful drama, but it is certainly an exciting movie.