The Ten Commandments (1956 film)

This is a very big movie.

It tells the story of Moses. He was a prince in Egypt. Then he helped his people be free.

Many people worked on this film. They built huge sets in Egypt. They even used a real mountain.

It was the most expensive movie ever. It won a prize for special effects. Many people still love this story.

It is a very famous film.

The Ten Commandments is a famous movie from 1956.

It is an epic drama about the life of Moses. The story comes from the Bible. Moses was an Egyptian prince. Later, he helped the Hebrew people find freedom. He led them to Mount Sinai. There, he received the Ten Commandments from God.

Making this film was a massive task. Cecil B. DeMille directed the movie. It was the most expensive film ever made at that time. Many people worked on the film. Four writers and five costume designers helped. They built very large sets. Some sets were built in Egypt.

Others were built on Hollywood stages. The film used bright colors from Technicolor. It also used a wide screen called VistaVision.

The movie was a huge success. It won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. It also made a lot of money. People still watch it on TV today. The Library of Congress even chose it to be saved. They said the film is very important to our history.

The Ten Commandments is a famous 1956 movie.

It is an epic drama about the life of Moses. This story comes from the Book of Exodus in the Bible. Moses was an Egyptian prince who grew up in a palace. Later, he learned he was actually a Hebrew. He became a leader to help his people find freedom from slavery. Moses led the Hebrews to Mount Sinai. There, he received the Ten Commandments from God on stone tablets. This film is a way to share a very old and important story.

Making this film was a huge job for the workers.

Cecil B. DeMille was the director and producer. He wanted the movie to look spectacular for the audience. To do this, the crew used a wide screen called VistaVision. They also used bright colors from Technicolor to make scenes pop. Many people helped create the look of the movie. Four writers and five costume designers worked on the details. Three art directors also helped build the world of the film.

Creating the movie required traveling to many different places.

In 1954, the crew filmed in Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula. They even filmed at Mount Sinai. They built one of the largest outdoor sets ever made for a movie. For the indoor scenes, they used Hollywood soundstages in 1955. The movie was a remake of DeMille's 1923 silent film. He had wanted to make this new version for many years. He believed the story was timeless and important for everyone.

This movie was a massive success when it arrived in theaters.

It was released on November 8, 1956. At that time, it was the most expensive film ever made. It earned about $122.7 million at the box office. In 1957, the film was nominated for seven Academy Awards. It won the award for Best Visual Effects. The film is also famous for its many stars. Charlton Heston played Moses, and Yul Brynner played Rameses.

People still value this film many years later.

In 1999, the Library of Congress chose it for preservation. They put it in the National Film Registry. This means the film is culturally and historically significant. The American Film Institute even listed it as a great epic. Many people still watch the movie on television every year. It often airs during the Passover and Easter seasons. The film remains a big part of movie history.

*The Ten Commandments* is a 1956 American epic biblical adventure drama film.

It was produced, directed, and narrated by Cecil B. DeMille. The movie is based on the Book of Exodus from the Bible. It dramatizes the life of Moses, an adopted Egyptian prince. Moses eventually becomes the deliverer of the enslaved Hebrews. He leads them on the Exodus to Mount Sinai. There, he receives the Ten Commandments from God. This film serves as a grand retelling of a foundational religious narrative.

The film's production was a massive undertaking involving many specialists. Four screenwriters helped craft the story. Three art directors designed the environments. Five costume designers created the period clothing.

The production used VistaVision, a widescreen process. It also utilized Technicolor to provide vibrant colors. To create the massive scale, the crew filmed on location in Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula in 1954. They even filmed at Mount Sinai. For indoor scenes, they used Hollywood soundstages in 1955. The crew built one of the largest exterior sets in motion picture history.

The story follows a complex series of events and character shifts. It begins with Pharaoh Rameses I ordering the death of Hebrew male infants. A woman named Yochabel saves her son by placing him in a basket on the Nile. The princess Bithiah finds and adopts the boy, naming him Moses. Moses grows into a successful general and falls in love with Nefretiri.

However, Moses eventually discovers his true Hebrew heritage. This realization leads to conflict with his adoptive brother, Rameses. After a period in the desert, Moses encounters a burning bush on Mount Sinai. This event marks his return to Egypt to demand freedom for the Hebrews.

The plot reaches its climax through a series of dramatic confrontations. Moses confronts Rameses, who is now Pharaoh Rameses II. To prove his divine connection, Moses performs miracles, such as turning his staff into a cobra.

When Rameses refuses to free the slaves, God initiates plagues against Egypt. These include turning the Nile into blood and sending burning hail. A final plague results in the death of the Egyptian first-born sons. This tragedy forces Rameses to allow the Hebrews to leave. Moses then leads them through the parted Red Sea to safety.

Historically, this film was a remake of DeMille's 1923 silent film. DeMille had received letters for decades asking for a new version. He believed the story was a timeless reminder of the Law of God. The film was first announced in 1952. It was released by Paramount Pictures on November 8, 1956. At the time of its release, it was the most expensive film ever made. It represented DeMille's final directorial effort before his death in 1959.

The film achieved incredible financial and critical success.

It grossed approximately $122.7 million during its initial release. This made it the most successful film of 1956. When adjusted for inflation, it is the eighth most successful film of all time. In 1957, the film earned seven Academy Award nominations. It won the award for Best Visual Effects.

Individual actors also received honors, such as Yul Brynner winning a National Board of Review Award.

*The Ten Commandments* holds a lasting place in American culture. In 1999, the Library of Congress selected it for the National Film Registry. This honors films that are culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant. The American Film Institute also ranked it as the tenth best film in the epic genre.

Beyond its critical status, the film has a tradition of being broadcast on U.S. television. Since 1973, it has aired annually during the Passover and Easter seasons. It remains a major example of the Hollywood epic tradition.