THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

US, 1956, Colour, Paramount.
Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter, Yvonne De Carlo, Edward G. Robinson, Debra Paget, John Derek, Nina Foch, Judith Anderson, Cedric Hardwicke, John Carradine, Douglas Dumbrille, Martha Scott, Vincent Price.
Directed by Cecil B. de Mille.

The Ten Commandments turned out to be the climax of Cecil B. de Mille's career. He had made a silent version in the 20s which was very popular and, after a series of popular entertainments with a sexual emphasis, he moved to the spectaculars. He was at home directing big-budget costume melodrama, e.g. The Sign of the Cross and Cleopatra in the 30s. He turned his attention to Americana in the late 30s and 40s with such films as The Plainsman, Union Pacific, Reap the Wild Wind. He was back to the Bible with Samson and Delilah in 1949 and then portrayed the circus in The Greatest Show on Earth which won the Oscar for 1952. With The Ten Commanments, he drew on an enormous amount of talent in stars, photographers, set designers. The film is quite a mammoth event. He himself appears at the beginning of the film, intoning rather solemnly its authenticity as based on the sacred scriptures. Charlton Heston is effective as Moses and was at the beginning of his career of portraying many famous people. De Mille died during preparations for The Buccaneer which was completed by his then son-in-law, Anthony Quinn.

1. Why does this film have such a great reputation? Does it deserve it? What is its overall impact? Why? What expectations do audiences have of this film? Why? How well were they fulfilled?

2. What are the characteristics of Cecil B. De Mille's religiosity? The importance of his introduction and his attitudes towards religion? His reverential attitudes towards his sources and to Scripture? His assertion of historical research? Does this seem to have been borne out in the film? The authenticity of costumes and sets? The importance of such set spectacular pieces as the Exodus itself, the Ten Commandments? The value of spectacle that Cecil B. De Mille stands for? De Mille as an entertainer and wanting to entertain via religion? De Mille's eye on box-office success?

3. How genuine did the film seem? Did it seem to be real history? Or did it take Scriptures too literally and not understand them as saga? Or did it present Hebrew history as saga and as Hebrew tradition? How balanced a picture of Scriptural events did the film give? How realistic a picture of religious events?

4. How well portrayed was the atmosphere of Egypt - the importance of sets, costumes, spectacle for communicating the reality of Egypt? The wealth of Egypt, palaces, homes, style? The contrast with Hebrews, their work, the Egyptians as task masters, the slavery of the Hebrews? The religion of the Hebrews compared with that of the Egyptians? This atmosphere of Egypt as showing a need for liberation for the Hebrews?

5. How well did the film focus centrally on Moses? How interestingly did it portray his birth and its importance? The death of the Hebrew children? The shrewdness of mother and sister? The finding of Moses in the bulrushes? The impact on Princess Bithia? How plausible did it seem that Moses was raised as an Egyptian? Nursed by his mother and sister? Moses and the atmosphere of Egypt in which he grew up?

6. The portrayal of Moses as a man - the success of Charlton Heston's performance? why was he admired so much in Egypt? The admiration of Sethi and the question of the inheritance? The contrast of Moses and Rameses? The love of Nefertiti? The status of Moses and his behaviour in Egypt and in the royal court? His sharing in the Egyptian arrogance?

7. The importance of Memnet and her betrayal? Judith Anderson's portrayal as sinister, too sinister? As a spectacular villainess? Dathan as a spectacular villain? Edward G. Robinson style? Were these two convincing?

8. Baka as a villain? His role in the oppression of the Hebrews? His attitude towards Lilia and Joshua's enmity with him? The importance of Baka's death and its impact on Moses' life?

9. How well did the film portray the reality of Moses' exile? The impact of the desert and his wandering in the desert? Away from Egypt? The reality of his awareness of being a Hebrew?

10. The beauty of the desert photography, its harsh reality, Moses' finding of Jethro and the dancing daughters? His love for Sephora? Moses ageing in the land of Midian? His future there if he had stayed?

11. How well introduced was the sequence of the burning bush? Was it presented too literally and in too gimmicky a way? The reverence as regards these religious events? And yet the American overtones? The significance of the burning bush event for Moses and his mission? was this convincingly portrayed?

12. The impact that Moses made in Egypt? His needing Aaron as his speaker? The sequences with Rameses and Nefertiti? The snakes, the impact of the plagues and the way that they were filmed? The dramatic conflict between Rameses and Moses?

13. Why was Rameses so hard of heart? His jealousy of Moses, attitudes towards Nefertiti, his son?

14. How convincing was the role of Nefertiti in the film? Her marriage to Rameses and her son? Her love for Moses and her pleas? Did this look too much like romantic interest or did it seem genuine?

15. The role of Lilia and Joshua as young romantic lovers? As the foundation of the liberated people of the Hebrews?


16. How kind was the film in allowing Bithia to go on the Exodus? How convincing a personality was Bithia? Her help for the liberation? Her relationship to Moses' real mother?

17. The dramatic impact of the slaughter of the first-born? Especially with Nefertiti and her bitterness? The impact on Rameses?

18. Did the Exodus itself look convincing? The importance of the Passover and the religious overtones, the assembly at the Red Sea, the scepticism of Dathan, the authority of Moses? The filming of the parting of the Red Sea and its parting again? Did this distract from the theme? Was it impressive? Why?

19. How authentic did the wandering in the desert seem? The photography of the desert, the day to day reality of the wandering, the search for Israel, the complaints against Moses, Moses' doubts?

20. The impact of the giving of the Ten Commandments? The spectacular gimmickry of these sequences? Did this distract from the reality of the commandments? The importance for Moses?

21. The dramatic contrast of Dathan leading his revolt, Aaron's weakness, the orgy and the building of the calf, and Moses' anger?

22. How satisfying was the fulfilment of the Exodus? Moses and his death, Joshua and Lilia leading the people?

23. How successful a Biblical spectacular was this film? Was its religious meaning clear? What effect did it have on the audience? How satisfying was it?