Movie Review: The Ten Commandments (1956)

Whenever Christmas or Easter rolls along, this monstrosity is playing on one of the three networks. This movie is one of the most overrated of all time. Before you send me/post hate comments hear me out on this.

As a young boy I saw this movie in India and was fascinated to see Moses part the Red Sea or building of the Pagan Gold Statue. I marveled and continue to marvel at the performance of the late Yul Brynner as Ramses II and Charleton 'Gunslinger' Heston as Moses. In my opinion, the former stole the show. Also superb as Ann Baxter as Nefettiti, the Egyptian Queen.

Now watching it with my kids, I found some glaring faults in the movie. I can deal with thesets looking like the props they are. We are spoilt with new technology adding more realism over time. I can also forgive the fact that I could not find a single outdoor filmed scene in the whole movie. (I quietly laugh when I see exagerated bright green and blood red clouds in the background.) Still some special effect like the parting of the Red Sea and the mass migration crowd scene were terrific. Yes, we have to know that this was time when Computers did not produce special effects.

However I cannot call this movie an anachronism for many reasons. For instance, it diverges from History and even the Bible shamelessly.For instance, it alleges that it was Moses was the actual builder of all the marvels of Egypt and Ramses II took the credit. This is unfair to Ramses II who has been hailed in Egyptian writings as the greatest of rulers. Hollywood propaganda, unforgivable for any time.

The classic part of this is when Ramses I asks to have Moses's name striken off from all edicts. How did they do this when the edicts were literally 'carved in stone.'?

Then there is Moses's love interest in Nefetiti. Well I will not go into this one as it was still possible. Let's allow director Cecil B. DeMille some poetic license.

Finally where is Moses's brother Aaron who is in the Biblical version?
For these reasons, the Ten Commandments is an overhyped movie. It probably is not politically correct to be shown on TV. Final verdict, Watchable,.. once.

A newer version of this movie for our times is highly desirable. Then again after Alexander and Troy,...Maybe not!
To director Cecil B. DeMille:
Respectfully sir, You could have done better with the storyline even in 1956. You could have stuck to the one in the Bible.

Oh yes: Plot of the movie:Moses is born to a Jewish slave, grows up a prince, romances the queen to be, is banished for killing a cruel guy, returns enlightened,leads the people of Israel to the promised land, after incurring the wrath of the Pharoh and opening the Red Sea.

I apologise for ruining the ending.

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