When was ten commandments

VOL V VOL IV VOL II VOL I Who was Moses and what was the Exodus? The Book of Exodus contains 40 chapters but the very human desire to express these narratives in imagery has been evident for millennia.

In the Dura-Europos synagogue from the 3rdcentury CE Moses appears three times across a single panel, leading the Israelites out of Egypt, across the Red Sea, and then organized into Twelve Tribes, all below the guiding hands of God.

But how do we visualize these moments of liberation today? Now at 60, how are we to think of the film? The Ten Commandments must first be spoken of in terms of its director, Cecil B. But for over four decades he directed, produced and wrote a bewildering assortment of films; frothy comedies like Madam Satan, potboilers like The Cheat, historical dramas such as Cleopatra, and high dramas like The Greatest Show on Earth. Though he directed at least 80 films he is, perhaps unfairly, best known for his Biblical epics, Samson and Delilah , Sign of the Cross , King of Kings, and two versions of The Ten Commandments.

The story of the two McTavish brothers, one a poor carpenter, the other a rich contractor, and the construction of a church with substandard concrete, the collapse of which spoiler alert kills their poor grey haired mother, was heavy handed allegory and awkward storytelling.

When DeMille undertook to remake the film in the early s his own fame was long established. Allegory was jettisoned in favor of a mostly literal retelling of the Exodus story. The newly developed VistaVision technique, which exposed a 35mm negative sideways, produced a widescreen experience in finely detailed and lush Technicolor. One way that DeMille strove for epic dimensions was through historical accuracy, which also became a canny marketing point.

Noerdlinger even produced a book, Moses and Egypt , which detailed the Biblical translations, Egyptian sources, and other materials behind the film, down to analyses of the thread counts in ancient Egyptian linen. But this provides an ironic sort of authenticity; an elite ancient Egyptian vision is translated into a dynamic expression where the king and his minions are the bad guys.

An epic product a posterior numbing 3 hours and 40 minutes worth also required an epic scale of production. The widescreen format provides a scale rarely seen today, a fitting tableau for the enormous sets and masses of extras. The location sets in Egypt were the largest ever built. One of the two water tanks built on the Paramount back lot for the Red Sea was reportedly feet on each side.

The matte paintings that created background landscapes, pyramids, and mountains, were the pinnacle of the art, as were the incredibly complicated optical compositing techniques, which used up to 12 separate negatives to create the final image. These techniques create an artistic feeling that connects the film to classic paintings. But to a 21st century eye accustomed to computer animation, they feel static. Each year, Jewish people celebrate the story of Moses freeing the nation of Israel from slavery and leading them to the Promised Land.

A version of the story appears in the Quran, which mentions Moses more than any other character. Little Christian kids learn the story in Sunday School. And something about the tale inspires political rhetoric as well: Moses has been invoked by political leaders from Winston Churchill to Barack Obama , and the story of the Exodus was a major part of the imagination behind the movements driving the abolition of slavery and the civil rights movement in the United States.

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The Ten Commandments has been a springtime TV staple since , with good reason. Reddit Pocket Flipboard Email. Charlton Heston as Moses in The Ten Commandments Every weekend, we pick a movie you can stream that dovetails with current events. I was sorry Vincent Price was killed so early - what a great villain. It still demands my attention when it appears on TV. I swear I have seen it enough, but if I catch a glimpse then I have to see it again!!

I find it unbelievable that it won almost nothing at the Oscars. At least best Actor for Brynner and best supporting actor for Edward G.!! No costume design? No set design? No Music? A travesty!! See this if you have not already - you are in for a treat- it still stands up. Long but absorbing. FAQ 8. Does the film advocate civil rights? What are the names of Jethro's other five daughters? Why is Anne Baxter's character seducing her adoptive son, Moses and kissing him like lovers?

Details Edit. Release date October 5, United States. United States. Prince of Egypt. Motion Picture Associates II. Box office Edit. Technical specs Edit. Runtime 3 hours 40 minutes.

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