The Ten Commandments (1956)

The Ten Commandments (1956) is a sweeping biblical epic that follows Moses — born a Hebrew but raised as an Egyptian prince — as he discovers his true heritage, is cast out of Egypt, and returns as God’s chosen deliverer to free the Israelite slaves. The film traces his rise from the opulence of Pharaoh Sethi’s court (Sir Cedric Hardwicke) and his complicated bond with Princess Nefretiri (Anne Baxter) and rival Rameses II (Yul Brynner), to exile in the desert, marriage and quiet family life, and ultimately the divine commission that sends him back to confront Rameses and lead his people to freedom while receiving God’s law on Mount Sinai. If you watch the movie you’ll experience an enormous, old-Hollywood spectacle: lavish production design and costumes, vast crowd scenes, Technicolor cinematography, dramatic special effects for its time (including the Ten Plagues and the parting of the Red Sea), and a rousing musical score. Charlton Heston’s commanding performance as Moses anchors the story’s moral and spiritual weight, while Yul Brynner’s Rameses provides a charismatic antagonist. The film blends adventure, romance, and religious drama with themes of destiny, faith, justice, and leadership. Expect moments that are grand and inspirational, sometimes stylized and theatrical, with powerful set pieces that aim for awe and emotional catharsis. It’s both a dramatized life story and a cinematic celebration of biblical mythology — designed to move, stir, and impress through scale and spectacle.

Actors: Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter

Director: Cecil B. DeMille

Runtime: 220 min

Genres: Adventure, Drama

7.3 /10 7.9 /10 7.6 /10