The Ten Commandments* (1956)

This is one of those classic films that speak for itself. Cecil B. DeMille’s sprawling epic is a masterpiece and its reputation continues to assert that fact. The Ten Commandments is the be-all and end-all of Bible epics and will almost certainly remain a permanent fixture of Easter season television programming in America.

As evidenced in DeMille’s 1923 incarnation of the Exodus story, the man knows how to bring the Bible to life. This film was made at a great time for the Hollywood studio system. Using large studio settings and some outdoor location shoots (though very little was actually shot in Egypt), audiences are treated to a seemingly real and habitable ancient Egypt. Couple this with a supporting cast of over 10,000 people and even more animals and you get a lush kaleidoscope of colors and bodies that simply can’t be beat.

Acting titans Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner square off as Moses and the Pharaoh of Egypt. While several major creative liberties were taken in crafting the script for this film, it wouldn’t have been the same without these alterations. Both men are adept at striking just the right pose to fuel their commanding presences. Several of the film’s actresses showcase their abilities in portraying strong women in what is largely a male-dominated story about a very patriarchal era. Anne Baxter is seductive and alluring as Nefertiri, making her an equally dangerous force for Moses to reckon with.

While more than a few of the special effects look hokey and horribly dated by today’s standards, one has to remember that these were pretty dazzling for 1956. Many admirers of the film have grown accustomed to shrugging off these visual shortcomings with a smile while others embrace them as part of the original magnificence of the piece.

The legacy that The Ten Commandments carries with it is simply impressive. While other Bible epics were produced in the 50s and 60s, only Ben Hur has stood the test of time alongside this film, though The Ten Commandments is, without question, more popular. It contains some indefinable element that never fails to grab audiences with every viewing, despite running over three and a half hours in length.

At this point I have literally run out of things to say for this film. It is a film that you must experience for yourself. Once you do, you’ll get it. Yes, it looks cheesy now and makes religious scholars and historians cringe but this is one inspiring and jaw-dropping epic that continues to win over the masses.

RATING: 4 out of 5