The Ten Commandments

HUGE

While Judah Ben-Hur was one of Charlton Heston’s finest screen roles, his most enduring performance is undeniably the Hebrew patriarch, Moses in Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments. From the moment Heston rides triumphantly through the streets of Egypt, returning from Ethiopia, to his ascension to Heaven after proclaiming liberty throughout the land, he commands the screen, engaging your senses and placing your heart and soul into the character as well as his own.

DeMille, renders an appropriate, heartwarming introduction to his film, stepping out from behind a lavish stage curtain and giving you a brief history of sources (Josephus and Philo and of course the Bible) for his epic. His venerable tone commands your attention. After he announces the running time and short intermission, the Paramount logo accompanied by the music of Elmer Bernstein sets The Ten Commandments in motion.

Although the Bible omits some 30 years of Moses’ life, DeMille delivers a powerful interpretation of how his life could have unfolded through massive research. He enlisted a host of historical advisors including Doctors William C. Hayes, George Hughes and Keith Seele.

Fraser Heston (Charlton’s son) makes his screen debut as baby Moses being placed inside a straw basket and set upon the waters by his mother Yochabel played by Martha Scott who also played Ben-Hur’s mom. (This gave him the advantage of behaving naturally before the camera with no acting skills required.) He is rescued from the Egyptian pharaoh, Rameses the first’s murderous edict by Bithia, his daughter. She knows he’s a son of Hebrew slaves, but takes him in, dubs him “Moses” because he was drawn from the water and makes him a prince of Egypt. His Levite swaddling cloth is hidden away by Bithiah’s servant Memnet.

Moses is echoed from Bithiah through the crowds of Egypt chanting his name years later upon his return from Ethiopia much to the delight of Nefretteri (Anne Baxter). After an elaborate ceremony involving the Ethiopian king, his sister and great riches for Sehti’s (Sir Cedric Hardwike) treasure city, he is challenged by his brother Rameses ( Yul Brynner) to take over the building of their father’s city, a task he has, not exactly, been successful in doing.

Rameses, is given the task of finding the prophesied deliverer of the Hebrews from bondage in which he enlists the help of Dathan (Edward G. Robinson) chief Hebrew overseer- and traitor to his people. Dathan also happens to be the most obsequious character in The Ten Commandments.

I know many have seen this DeMille masterpiece, but for those who have not, I don’t want to give too much away. I will say now that eventually Moses, through a set of God ordained circumstances, discovers he is actually Hebrew, not Egyptian and sets out on a course that changes his life forever.

Nothing is pretentious in this fine film, especially the acting. One noteworthy performance other than Charlton Heston, is Sir Cedric Hardwicke’s Seti. His portrayal of the most powerful man on earth, Pharaoh of Egypt, provides much comic relief because he doesn’t take himself so seriously. It ‘s what makes Hardwicke so lovable in this role. Although he rules the enslaved Hebrews with an iron hand, Sir Cedric brings such an impeccable humanity to Seti, you can’t help but to like him. The “son of his body” Rameses, is portrayed by a chiseled Yul Brynner who seems to have been made for this role. Once you see him, you’d be hard pressed to imagine any other actor in the part, taking himself a bit more seriously than his father. Captivating Anne Baxter is a semi-femme fatale pining for Moses’ love and despising Rameses.

When my mother took me to see The Ten Commandments, re-released in 1972, I was fourteen and totally captivated by the end. I remember telling her on our way back home, that I wish I could be like Moses. Heston’s performance really had an effect on me.

Charlton Heston has played many parts in his long career; cowboys ( The Big Country), future police officers (Soylent Green), astronauts (Planet of the Apes). I still consider Moses his most intense role. He was the driving force of The Ten Commandments, giving one of the most revered men in the Bible, body, soul and spirit on the big screen unsurpassed by any of his other film personas.

His final production before his death in 1959, legendary producer/director Cecil B. DeMille masterfully coordinated the tireless efforts of hundreds of crew members and literally thousands of cast members in this magnum opus. It has and always will be an everlasting legacy to a great movie mogul.