The Ten Commandments

"The greatest event in motion picture history!"

Oct 5 1956 G 3h 40m
Adventure, Drama

Escaping death, a Hebrew infant is raised in a royal household to become a prince. Upon discovery of his true heritage, Moses embarks on a personal quest to reclaim his destiny as the leader and liberator of the Hebrew people.

Plot

To escape the edict of Egypt's Pharaoh Rameses I (Ian Keith), condemning all newborn Hebrew males, the infant Moses (Fraser C. Heston) is set adrift on the Nile in a reed basket. Saved by the pharaoh's daughter Bithiah (Nina Foch), he is adopted by her and brought up in the court of her brother, Pharaoh Sethi (Sir Cedric Hardwicke). Moses (Charlton Heston) gains Sethi's favor and the love of the throne Princess Nefretiri (Anne Baxter), as well as the hatred of Sethi's son, Rameses II (Yul Brynner). When his Hebrew heritage is revealed, Moses is cast out of Egypt, and makes his way across the desert where he marries, has a son, and is commanded by God to return to Egypt to free the Hebrews from slavery. In Egypt, Moses' fiercest enemy proves to be not Rameses II, but someone near to him who can "harden his heart".

Written by

Dorothy Clarke Wilson, J.H. Ingraham, A.E. Southon

Directed by

Cecil B. DeMille

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

Motion Picture Associates, Paramount

Languages

English

Awards

Won 1 Oscar. 13 wins & 12 nominations total

Scores
# of Votes
80,003
Average Rating
7.9 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA