Sixty-nine years ago, on November 8, 1956, the Criterion Theater on Broadway lit up with Hollywood glamour as Cecil B. DeMille’s monumental Biblical drama The Ten Commandments made its world premiere. Starring Charlton Heston as Moses and Yul Brynner as Pharaoh Rameses II, the film captivated audiences with its sweeping scope, groundbreaking special effects, and a runtime of nearly four hours that tested the endurance of even the most devout moviegoers. The event drew thousands to Times Square, with searchlights piercing the night sky and a red carpet rollout rivaling any modern blockbuster premiere.
You can find The Ten Commandments on Amazon HERE.
DeMille, then 75 and a legend in his own right, introduced the film in person, his voice booming over the theater’s speakers with a prologue that framed the story as a timeless battle between freedom and tyranny. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he declared, “this is not just a motion picture. It is a testament to the human spirit and the enduring power of faith.” The crowd, including dignitaries, clergy, and Hollywood elite, erupted in applause as the curtains parted to reveal the film’s iconic opening: the parting of the Red Sea, a technical marvel that left jaws dropped across the auditorium.
The Ten Commandments was DeMille’s magnum opus, a remake of his own 1923 silent film of the same name. The idea for a Biblical epic had obsessed him for decades, rooted in his fascination with the Book of Exodus and its universal themes of liberation and divine justice. By the mid-1950s, with Hollywood embracing widescreen formats like VistaVision, DeMille saw an opportunity to bring the story to life on an unprecedented scale. Paramount Pictures greenlit the project with a then-staggering budget of $13 million—equivalent to over $140 million today.
Filming began in 1954, spanning locations in Egypt, the Sinai Peninsula, and California’s Paramount lot. Over 14,000 extras and 15,000 animals were employed, with DeMille famously directing from a motorized wheelchair due to health issues. The production faced relentless challenges: sandstorms in Egypt, logistical nightmares with massive sets, and the herculean task of creating the Red Sea sequence. Special effects pioneer John P. Fulton used a combination of practical effects—giant water tanks—and early optical tricks to depict the sea’s miraculous parting, a scene that took six months to film and remains one of cinema’s most enduring images.
Charlton Heston, fresh off Ben-Hur’s production delays, was cast as Moses after DeMille reportedly saw him in a screen test and declared, “That’s my Moses!” Yul Brynner, riding high from The King and I, brought a regal menace to Rameses, while a sprawling supporting cast—including Anne Baxter as Nefretiri, Yvonne De Carlo as Sephora, and Edward G. Robinson as the scheming Dathan—filled out the film’s vivid tapestry. The score by Elmer Bernstein, with its soaring choral arrangements, became instantly iconic.
The Criterion Theater premiere was a cultural moment. Critics praised the film’s spectacle, though some quibbled with its length and occasional melodrama. The New York Times called it “a colossal achievement in filmmaking,” while Variety hailed Heston’s “granite-jawed” performance. The film grossed $65 million domestically (over $700 million adjusted for inflation), becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the decade.
The Ten Commandments aired annually on ABC for decades, becoming a television staple during Passover and Easter. Its influence endures in pop culture, from Heston’s commanding “Let my people go!” to parodies in everything from The Simpsons to South Park. The film’s themes of faith and freedom resonated deeply in the Cold War era, and its technical innovations paved the way for future epics like Lawrence of Arabia.
Sixty-nine years later, The Ten Commandments remains a towering achievement—a testament to DeMille’s vision, Heston’s gravitas, and the power of storytelling on a grand scale. As the Criterion’s marquee glowed on that November night in 1956, it heralded not just a movie, but a legend.
You can find The Ten Commandments on Amazon HERE.
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