Ten Commandments Movie Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Family News in Focus ^ | March 20, 2006 | Terry Phillips

[beaversmom]

Movie is commemorated with a DVD edition.

Hollywood’s Past and the Bible’s History haunt us this week as Cecil B. DeMille’s classic renditions of The Ten Commandments are re-released in a collector’s DVD edition. This year is the 50th Anniversary of the second version, the one in which Charlton Heston leads the Exodus. Syndicated radio host and movie critic, Michael Medved says its “it’s amazing how well the movie has held up.” And with a chuckle fondly offers his own opinion.

“The Ten Commandments is one of the most endearing and important bad movies ever made. But the movie works.”

DeMille historian, Katherine Orrison, says it was a labor of love for the famous director.

“We’re talking about five years and we’re talking about the biggest budget movie ever made up until that time.”

And Orrison would not agree that DeMille turned those ancient events into a “bad” movie.

“DeMille took those ideas and those scenes and he embellished them so that they don’t look old and they don’t bore even in 2006.”

But then, Medved says the original “writer” is the best-selling, actuality-reporter for the millennia and a million Hebrews backed His account.

“The fact that there are so many people, who are alleged to have seen this public display of God’s role in history, I think is the strongest argument that something very, very remarkable happened all those 3,000 years ago in the Wilderness of Sinai.”

The Ten Commandments was the centerpiece in a decade of biblical epics that movie-goers loved and Hollywood has abandoned.

[Borges]

It is campy and Charlton Heston is a rather Aryan looking Moses. :-) However, a four hour movie that isn't boring for a minute is an achievement in and of itself. DeMille's showmanship and storytelling savvy is sorely lacking these days. It's twice as long as Gladiator and goes by twice as fast. And you have to love Edward G. Robinson's 'Brooklyn-born Ancient Israelite' schtick.

[EveningStar]

a four hour movie that isn't boring for a minute is an achievement in and of itself

That is what has always amazed me about this film. I agree with you.

[HairOfTheDog]

I don't think it's campy! Some of the sets look like matte paintings, but I sortof expect that in a movie of that era. You're right, it's not ever boring, no matter how many times I've seen it.

[Alamo-Girl]

Indeed, a whole movie could have been made of the manna and the water from the Rock. Thank you for your insights!

[decal]

"Charlton Heston is a rather Aryan looking Moses."

Ever seen the silent version (also directed by DeMille)? Chuck is practically a caricature Semite compared to Theodore Roberts ;)

Nevertheless, I may actually prefer the earlier 10 C - 2 hours shorter and it has a modern-day story illustrating what happens to those who don't keep the Commandments.

[tob2]

I love this movie! When I was in grade school, we had a class trip to New Haven, CT to see it. I'm sure the tv remake will not be anywhere nearly as good.

[Borges]

Yeah the 1923 version was directed by DeMille as well. He was once asked if he was influenced by earlier film makers when he started making movies...he replied correctly that there were no earlier filmmakers.