DramaFantasy

The Ten Commandments

The first part tells the story of Moses leading the Jews from Egypt to the Promised Land, his receipt of the tablets and the worship of the golden calf. The second part shows the efficacy of the commandments in modern life through a story set in San Francisco. Two brothers, rivals for the love of Mary, also come into conflict when John discovers Dan used shoddy materials to construct a cathedral.

Release Date : 1923-11-23

Language :No Language

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Paramount Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Moses - The Lawgiver

Original Name : Theodore Roberts

Gender : Male

Character Name : Rameses - the Magnificent: Prologue

Original Name : Charles De Rochefort

Gender : Male

Character Name : Miriam - the Sister of Moses: Prologue

Original Name : Estelle Taylor

Gender : Female

Character Name : The Wife of Pharaoh

Original Name : Julia Faye

Gender : Female

Character Name : The Son of Pharaoh - Prologue

Original Name : Pat Moore

Gender : Male

Character Name : Aaron - Brother of Moses: Prologue

Original Name : James Neill

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dathan - The Discontented

Original Name : Lawson Butt

Gender : Male

Character Name : The Taskmaster - Prologue

Original Name : Clarence Burton

Gender : Male

Character Name : The Bronze Man - Prologue

Original Name : Noble Johnson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Martha McTavish

Original Name : Edythe Chapman

Gender : Female

Character Name : John McTavish

Original Name : Richard Dix

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dan McTavish

Original Name : Rod La Rocque

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mary Leigh

Original Name : Leatrice Joy

Gender : Female

Character Name : Sally Lung - a Eurasian

Original Name : Nita Naldi

Gender : Female

Character Name : Redding - an Inspector

Original Name : Robert Edeson

Gender : Male

Character Name : The Doctor

Original Name : Charles Ogle

Gender : Male

Character Name : The Outcast

Original Name : Agnes Ayres

Gender : Female

Character Name : (uncredited)

Original Name : Genevieve Belasco

Gender : Male

Character Name : Extra (uncredited)

Original Name : Wilson Benge

Gender : Male

Character Name : Extra (uncredited)

Original Name : Virginia Bradford

Gender : Female

Character Name : Israelite Slave (uncredited)

Original Name : Arthur Edmund Carewe

Gender : Male

Character Name : Extra (uncredited)

Original Name : Gino Corrado

Gender : Male

Character Name : Egyptian Girl (uncredited)

Original Name : Dorothy Dale

Gender : Male

Character Name : Extra (uncredited)

Original Name : Cecilia de Mille

Gender : Male

Character Name : Child Extra (uncredited)

Original Name : Attilio Degasparis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Elderly Israelite (uncredited)

Original Name : Louise Emmons

Gender : Female

Character Name : Israelite Slave (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Farrell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Extra (uncredited)

Original Name : Viscount Glerawly

Gender : Male

Character Name : Israelite Slave (uncredited)

Original Name : Rex Ingram

Gender : Male

Character Name : The Boy in the Rain (uncredited)

Original Name : Roscoe Karns

Gender : Male

Character Name : Israelite Slave (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Montgomery

Gender : Male

Character Name : Israelite Slave (uncredited)

Original Name : Kathleen O'Shee

Gender : Male

Character Name : Israelite Slave (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Padjan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Israelite Slave (uncredited)

Original Name : Eugene Pallette

Gender : Male

Character Name : Israelite Slave (uncredited)

Original Name : John J. Richardson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Israelite Woman (uncredited)

Original Name : Mabel Richardson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Extra (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert St. Angelo

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-06-06

Essentially two separate stories, this shows well the aspirational brilliance of Cecil B. De Mille as well as his complete inability to condense anything! The first part depicts the Exodus and Leviticus books from the Old Testament - the story of Moses leading the slaves from their somewhat brutal existence in Egypt and the passing down of the Ten Commandments to the people as they build the great Tabernacle. The second part modernises the application of the Commandments and applies them to a family in 1920's America with two brothers who vie for the affections of the same girl whilst one seeks fame and fortune, the other a more contented existence. Both stories exhort the import of the Commandments as the basic tenets of human decency and values - and shy not from visiting severe punishments on those who transgress. The former story includes a wonderful score and, for the time, some pretty impressive special effects - especially the parting of the Red Sea. The second story is less impressive - more a slightly over-moralistic tale of greed and avarice that was hardly unusual then (or is now). The budget - some $1.8m was enormous for the time and the scale of the cinematography, extras etc. in phase one is impressive and convincing; the acting comes into it's own a bit more in the second act - with Richard Dix and Rod La Rocque playing the brothers well, and Nita Naldi shining as the Eurasian temptress "Sally Lung". As with so many silent films, it's all in their faces - and this one doesn't disappoint - even if there is a little too much theatrical gesturing and posturing now and again. On balance I probably prefer the 1956 iteration, again by De Mille, but there is little in it and if you do get a spare 2¼ hours then this is certainly a superb example of grand cinema from a visionary director.