The Ten Commandments

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The Ten Commandments

G

1956

3h 40m

History

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

89 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Enjoying a life of ease in the court of Egypt's pharaoh, Moses (Charlton Heston) discovers his Hebrew heritage and, later, God's expectations of him. He dedicates himself to liberating his people from captivity and -- with the aid of plagues and divine intervention -- manages to lead them out of Egypt and across the Red Sea. A greater challenge comes in the form of the golden calf idol, however, and it takes an unforgettable visitation by God on Mount Sinai for Moses' mission to prevail.

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Critics Consensus

Bombastic and occasionally silly but extravagantly entertaining, Cecil B. DeMille's all-star spectacular is a muscular retelling of the great Bible story.

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Philip K. Scheuer

Los Angeles Times

2d

The Ten Commandments proves, once again and at last again, the power of which the screen is capable.

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Mae Tinée

Chicago Tribune

2d

With all due respect to the subject matter, and the obviously painstaking care devoted to the detail and to special effects, the film is uneven and the story varies between great solemnity and surprising banality.

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Ann Jones

Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com

2d

Although he has not hesitated to glamorize the Word, DeMille also has demonstrated in The Ten Commandments his love for his subject matter.

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John Gardiner

Windsor Star

2d

The Ten Commandments beggars all description. It is a motion picture for every living being. It carries a story, a message and an inspiration to everyone, irrespective of age, sex, color or creed.

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H. Viggo Andersen

Hartford Courant

2d

In this day when criticism of Hollywood and its product is often condemnatory, The Ten Commandments stands out as representative of what this great industry is capable of doing when it puts its best minds and principles to work.

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Podine Schoenberger

Times-Picayune

2d

We predict an Academy Award for this truly amazing picture. It has so much to offer -- color, pageantry on a gigantic scale, good acting, consistently exciting plot.

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Beth

Apr 7

It’s one of my favorite old movies . I have the dvd & the digital. But it was awesome to watch on the big screen. I loved the music , costumes & sets . I wish that the movie had been more accurate to scripture with some things . But it’s a wonderful movie to watch and then read the Bible to see what they did & didn’t get right.

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Patty

03/30/2023

Very good presentation for a movie made over 60 years ago.

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Brad D

03/29/2023

Should be shown in every school ,, The Best Movie Ever Made

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Gloria Leon

04/18/2022

A great movie, cinematography, casting, story! It was moving and the time flew by. Also a great venue at The Alamo Drafthouse!

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Karthik Y.

@madkarthi 4d

It is an absolutely amazing experience overall. The oldschool style of filmmaking with its deliberate slow walking grandeur and massive physical sets is incredibly charming. The epic acting performances make this a truly timeless film. I really thoroughly enjoyed watching this masterpiece on 4K Bluray. Even with its massive 3 hour and 50 minute runtime the movie holds attention completely.

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Blake- N

@PBSAniDom Apr 17

The Ten Commandments is a classic epic that still stands out for its scale, ambition, and storytelling. Cecil B. DeMille delivers a sweeping biblical drama that brings the story of Moses to life with impressive set design, massive crowd scenes, and a sense of grandeur that modern films rarely match. Charlton Heston gives a strong, commanding performance as Moses, evolving convincingly from Egyptian prince to prophet. Yul Brynner also stands out as Ramses, adding intensity and emotional weight to their rivalry. The film takes its time, but that slow pace helps build the seriousness of the story and the importance of its themes. While some effects and acting styles feel dated by today’s standards, the film’s impact and visual ambition remain impressive. The parting of the Red Sea is still iconic. Overall, it’s a powerful, historically significant epic that deserves its reputation. 8/10.

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Cecil B. DeMille

Director

Charlton Heston

Moses

Yul Brynner

Rameses

Edward G. Robinson

Dathan

Anne Baxter

Nefretiri

Yvonne De Carlo

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Synopsis

Enjoying a life of ease in the court of Egypt's pharaoh, Moses (Charlton Heston) discovers his Hebrew heritage and, later, God's expectations of him. He dedicates himself to liberating his people from captivity and -- with the aid of plagues and divine intervention -- manages to lead them out of Egypt and across the Red Sea. A greater challenge comes in the form of the golden calf idol, however, and it takes an unforgettable visitation by God on Mount Sinai for Moses' mission to prevail.

Director: Cecil B. DeMille
Screenwriter: Æneas MacKenzie, Jesse Lasky Jr., Fredric M. Frank, Jack Gariss
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Rating: G
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 5, 1956, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 24, 2016
Runtime: 3h 40m
Sound Mix: Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)