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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.
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).
I was hesitant to review this dvd since, in every credible theologian's view, a fundamentalist approach to the Bible, ignorant of ancient and medieval civilizations and their languages, leads to erroneous interpretations (for example, errors that today are being used to justify discrimination against gays and lesbians and their families, and which, until rather recently, were used to condone racism, segregation and slavery.) But I believe DeMille, The Ten Commandments' producer and director, and the son of a lay Episcopal minister, believed the Bible is the inerrant word of God AND that a historical-critical approach is necessary to understand it (as most mainline churches do, in spite of their often inconsistent stance on gay marriage). The fact that in The Ten Commandments, the Red Sea, not a 'sea of reeds' (a correct translation), parts, is perhaps an example of artistic license.
In a sense, The Ten Commandments is DeMille's Biblical commentary. It's a swan song (DeMille nearly died making it), and a real labour of love (DeMille gave away all of his profits to the cast and crew).
Perhaps first and foremost, The Ten Commandments is great propaganda for democracy (albeit from the Cold War era). Through it DeMille sought to help unite Jews, Christians and Muslims. It argues that all persons are equal and should be 'free', regardless of 'race', ethnicity or 'creed'. It even alludes to the fact that according to the Bible, Moses married an Ethiopian princess (a somewhat daring reference during the segregated '50s).
STYLE & INFLUENCE: It's arguably one of the most spectacular, entertaining and influential films ever made. At Lucasfilm, a poster for it has hung on the wall for many years, and one can easily see the movie's influence not only on Biblical films of the '50s and '60s, but also the Star Wars movies, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders of the Lost Arc and numerous other science fiction and fantasy films. Director Michael Powell considered DeMille the greatest magician in film history.
Perhaps the most under-rated aspect of The Ten Commandments is its production design: a marvelous hybrid of art deco and nineteenth century and ancient Egyptian art. Viewing The Ten Commandments is a bit like stepping into a painting by Alma-Tadema or a Pre-Raphaelite, or a book illustration by Dorè, and having the artwork come to life.
The score, by Elmer Bernstein, is extraordinary. It's part of the very essence of the film, and uses leitmotiv beautifully.
TRANSFER: It's excellent, and the next best thing to seeing the movie on a big screen. The colours are very rich and vibrant, and the sound, originally recorded with cutting edge stereo equipment, is nicely remastered and restored.
EXTRAS: I'm SO glad I ordered the most recent dvd release (2004), containing a commentary by Katherine Orrison and a six-part documentary about the 'making of'. Both are extremely informative and entertaining. The latter features interviews with surviving cast and crew, as well as DeMille's granddaughter.
Five stars for the film, five for the transfer, and five for the commentary and documentary!
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