The Ten Commandments 1956

The Ten Commandments is an epic film released in 1956, directed and produced by Cecil B. DeMille.

Fast Facts

1. Director and Producer: Cecil B. DeMille
2. Released: October 5, 1956
3. Run time: 220 min
4. Awards: 7 Oscar nominations and 1 win ("Best Visual Effects")

Plot

The Ten Commandments tells of the life of Moses and how he led the Hebrews out of slavery and into the promised Land. While Moses and the freed slaves travel across the desert the Pharaoh grows angry and sets out to capture his lost slaves, cornering then on the banks of the Red Sea. Held back by a wall of fire, the Pharaoh can do nothing but watch as Moses parts the sea and escapes. Later Moses receives The Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai and vows to uphold them and to pass them onto his people.

Trivia

• It took 3 weeks to film the orgy scenes.
• Only 5% of the film was shot in Egypt.
• Cecil B. DeMille's originally wanted William Boyd to play the part of Moses.
• Cecil B. DeMille chose Charlton Heston to play Mosses because he resembled Michelangelo's statue of Moses in Rome.
• 14,000 extras and 15,000 animals were used in the film.

Cast

• Charlton Heston
• Yul Brynner
• Edward G. Robinson
• Yvonne De Carlo
• Anne Baxter

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