Search - The Ten Commandments on DVD

MPAA Rating: G Content Advisory: Suitable for Children Movie Release: 1956 DVD Release: 03/30/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, French SwapaDVD Credits: 2 Number of Discs: 2 Run Time: 3 hrs 40 mins Studio: Paramount Members Wishing: 28 Genres: Epic, Religious Epic, Hagiography See Also: The Ten Commandments [Special Edition]

Based on the Holy Scriptures, with additional dialogue by several other hands, The Ten Commandments was the last film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. The story relates the life of Moses, from the time he was discovered in the bullrushes as an infant by the pharoah's daughter, to his long, hard struggle to free the Hebrews from their slavery at the hands of the Egyptians. Moses (Charlton Heston) starts out "in solid" as Pharoah's adopted son (and a whiz at designing pyramids, dispensing such construction-site advice as "Blood makes poor mortar"), but when he discovers his true Hebrew heritage, he attempts to make life easier for his people. Banished by his jealous half-brother Rameses (Yul Brynner), Moses returns fully bearded to Pharoah's court, warning that he's had a message from God and that the Egyptians had better free the Hebrews post-haste if they know what's good for them. Only after the Deadly Plagues have decimated Egypt does Rameses give in. As the Hebrews reach the Red Sea, they discover that Rameses has gone back on his word and plans to have them all killed. But Moses rescues his people with a little Divine legerdemain by parting the Seas. Later, Moses is again confronted by God on Mt. Sinai, who delivers unto him the Ten Commandments. Meanwhile, the Hebrews, led by the duplicitous Dathan (Edward G. Robinson), are forgetting their religion and behaving like libertines. "Where's your Moses now?" brays Dathan in the manner of a Lower East Side gangster. He soon finds out. DeMille's The Ten Commandments may not be the most subtle and sophisticated entertainment ever concocted, but it tells its story with a clarity and vitality that few Biblical scholars have ever been able to duplicate. It is very likely the most eventful 219 minutes ever recorded to film--and who's to say that Nefertiri (Anne Baxter) didn't make speeches like, "Oh, Moses, Moses, you splendid, stubborn, adorable fool"? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Charlton Heston - Moses
Yul Brynner - Rameses
Anne Baxter - Nefertiri
Edward G. Robinson - Dathan
Yvonne De Carlo - Sephora
James Coburn

Charlton Heston plays the great Moses in the adaptation of one of the greatest stories ever told, The Ten Commandments. Paramount's transfer of this anamorphic widescreen picture looks surprisingly well rendered and even. While a few instances of grain and dirt show up from time to time, overall this is a very clear and concise-looking picture. The audio is presented in a newly remixed Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. The soundtrack doesn't have as full a range as some other 5.1 remixes, though overall this is a very nice-sounding mix with all aspects of the dialogue, effects, and music even and distortion free. Also included on this disc is a Dolby Surround soundtrack in English and French. The only extra features on this two-disc set are three theatrical trailers (one from 1956, 1966, and 1989). A film of God-like proportions, this DVD is not to be missed. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide