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The Ten Commandments [1957]


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"The greatest adventure story ever put between the covers of a book!"
Review date: 2008-02-01 Rating: 10 out of 10

This DVD is a true collectors delight - not only is Cecil B. De Mille's last great epic presented in its original widescreen format alongside De Mille's original and very different silent version, but alongside an impressive new documentary, the legendary ten-minute trailer has been included for good measure.

Sitting in his office, with the aid of a wicker basket, a Van Dyke portrait, two stone tablets and a Bible he occasionally bashes, De Mille pitches "the greatest adventure story ever put between the covers of a book!" He solemnly assures us that Heston was cast for his resemblance to Michelangelo's statue of Moses and to prove it, he even shows us a photograph of the actor standing next to it (they look nothing alike!). One of McCarthy's staunchest Hollywood allies in the fifties anti-communist witch-hunts, he goes on to draw none-too-subtle comparisons between the tyranny of Pharaoh and the un-named forces of dictatorship that threaten us 'even to this very day', then promptly switches to plugging the sex and spectacle with the kind of wanton abandon that only the highest-minded puritans can muster; "Moses is one of the world's greatest human beings - and human he was to the point of SIN! And holy to the point of seeing God." Ever the showman, he even pops out from behind the curtains just before the film itself starts to give us the same spiel in case we missed the point and inform us that "The picture runs three hours and thirty-nine minutes; there will be an intermission."

After such a relentless barrage of hyperbole, disappointment would seem inevitable, but unlike most of De Mille's films, The Ten Commandments stands up remarkably well. Filling in the gaps in the Bible's version of events with lust, treachery and other soap opera staples, it is the complete antithesis of the `think man's epics' that followed in the Sixties. The dialogue is declamatory, the style overtly theatrical, often recoursing to striking tableaux reminiscent of the Biblical pageants of Victorian era. The performances are painted in broad strokes, with Anne Baxter emoting something rotten and Heston, his hair getting whiter every time he has a chin-wag with God, a square-jawed and solemn All-American Deliverer. Even John P. Fulton's Oscar-winning special effects show their age as well as their matte lines. It would be almost absurdly easy to tear it to pieces were it not for the fact that De Mille's implicit belief in what he put on the screen enables him to carry it off with considerable panache. This is an audience picture on a grand scale, and great fun too.

The colour is almost as superb as the original VistaVision Technicolor, the print perfect apart from some slight occasional negative damage in the top right-hand corner of the frame. More hokum than holy it may be, but with a terrific cast and, even now, a genuine sense of wonder to its set-pieces, The Ten Commandments delivers nearly four hours of great entertainment. And the parting of the Red Sea is still one of the great movie moments, matte lines or not. Enjoy!

Of the three releases of this title so far, the 2006 50th anniversary edition is by far the best, including a documentary and audio commentary about the making of the film and, better still, De Mille's original and very different silent version, which treats the story of Moses as a spectacular prologue to a modern day story. Since Amazon have a tendency to move reviews of different editions around on their site and this review may well end up gracing the wrong edition, it's the 3-disc edition which doesn't have the poster art of Moses smashing the tablets but instead has a photo-montage cover dominated by an image of Heston's Moses with his arms outstretched.


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Reviews


The definitive Ten Commandments.
Review date: 2006-12-24 Rating: 10 out of 10

An interesting title as the Commandment part is a tad closer to the end of the movie. Cecil B. DeMille takes a few liberties with history; however if he did not then this would have been some dry documentary instead of a great epic. This story is more of the life and times of Moses from birth to the last farewell. We see rivalry, temptation, brick making and dancing girls.

One item that Cecil tactfully worked around is where do you think Anne Baxter ...Nefretiri came from? Can you say sister? As the bloodlines from Egyptians, came through the women. That is why who ever married her would become pharaoh.

The graphics are great for the time; the plagues are really spooky and we all still hold the image of the parting of the sea. The acting has that 50's epic feel. Elmer Bernstein's music adds a hidden dimension to the story and you will not be able to get it out of your head. Edward G. Robinson made a great Dathan; He gets to be a modern day Dathan in "Key Largo" (1948). Is it not interesting that Pharaoh Rameses in The Prince of Egypt - DTS (1998) looks like Yul Brynner?

This is the one version most people relate too. The story has been told before and after this version. Some people know this version better than the real one.


Some of the other "Ten Commandments" floating around out there:
The Ten Commandments (1923).
The Ten Commandments (1956).
Greatest Heroes of the Bible - The Ten Commandments (1978).
Ten Commandments 1 & 2 (2000).
Ancient Secrets of the Bible - "Moses' Ten Commandments: Tablets From God?"
The Prince of Egypt - DTS (1998).



Fascinating comparison of silent and Technicolor biblical epics
Review date: 2006-04-28 Rating: 10 out of 10

This is an absolutely absorbing set as it contains both the 1923 silent version and the 1956 epic.

Cecil B de Mille version from 1923 is actually two films in one, the biblical story from the slaying of the Egyptian first born to Moses bringing the tablets containing the Ten Commandments to the Hebrews, then with a quick fade we move into a modern story, reminiscent of a Victorian novel extolling the virtues of obeying the Ten Commandments. The scale of the biblical portion is staggering with sets a hundred foot high, in some respects the film exceeds the scale of the 1956 remake. The film has been restored to pristine condition.

The 1956 version is a three and a half hour long all biblical epic covering Moses entire life. The production values are fabulous, fine acting from a stellar cast, and a cast of thousands. De Mille deliberately recreated the sets from his 1923 silent version, and where the film covers the same ground he repeats the same acting scenarios, except for some personal self indulgence de Mille reverses action left to right.

Therefore the set gives us the luxury of making up our mind which version is best. Surprisingly I prefer the 1923 version; Moses is superbly acted by the sixty two year old Theodore Roberts whose age is perfect for the timeline of the film. Amazingly the parting of the seas is very similar and more effective than in 1956, and the scene on Mount Sinai when Moses received the commandments is immeasurably better. Also the 1956 film is far too long and slow, and although it leaves a lot of striking images in the mind, and has the superb acting of Yul Brynner and Charlton Heston, a great orchestral score by Elmer Bernstein, wonderful photography, it lacks the freshness and vigour of the 1923 version.

However this is a film that divides opinion, as does de Mille, so view this marvellous set and judge for yourself.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Cedric Hardwicke
Martha Scott
Nina Foch
Debra Paget
Anne Baxter

Creators:
Anne Baxter (Primary Contributor)
Nina Foch (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Paramount Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Entertainment
EAN: 5014437907936
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2006-04-10
Audience rating: Universal, suitable for all
Region code: 2
Running time: 220 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1957
Language: English (Original Language)

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