| Overall: | A |
|---|---|
| Violence: | B |
| Sexual Content: | B |
| Language: | A |
| Drugs/Alcohol: | A |
| Run Time: | 220 |
| Theater Release: | |
| Video Release: | 29 Mar 2011 |
| MPAA Rating: | |
| See Canadian Ratings | |
| How We Determine Our Grades | |
The life of Moses is also the basis for the animated movie, The Prince of Egypt. Charlton Heston plays another religious role in the epic Ben Hur. Yul Brynner makes a commanding performance in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical, The King and I.
Home Video Extra Features
Blu-ray Notes: The Ten Commandments (1956): 2011 Restored Edition
Release Date: 29 March 2011
The Ten Commandments releases to Blu-ray on March 29, 2011 with the following bonus extras:
- Commentary by Katherine Orrison, author of Written in Stone: Making Cecil B. DeMille’s Epic, The Ten Commandments
- Newsreel: The Ten Commandments - Premiere in New York (in HD)
- Theatrical Trailers (in HD)
The Ten Commandments also releases on Blu-ray as a Limited Edition Gift Set. This 6-disc package includes all of the above, plus:
- 1923 Feature Film
- Hand-tinted Footage of the Exodus and Parting of the Red Sea
- The Ten Commandments: Making Miracles|75-minute documentary
- Photo Galleries—1923 and 1956
- 6-Disc Set (3 Blu-rays, 3 DVDs)
- Collector’s Box with Tablets
- Commemorative Photo and Archive Book
DVD Notes: The Ten Commandments: 50th Anniversary Collection
DVD Release Date: 21 March 2006
The Ten Commandments (1923) MPAA: Not Rated
The Ten Commandments (1956) MPAA: G
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Cecil B. DeMille’s epic masterpiece, The Ten Commandments has been released to DVD in a three-disc set.
Along with the 1956 classic film, which was nominated for seven Academy award (although it took home only one statue for Best Special Effects), is DeMille’s 1923 adaption of this biblical story. Also named The Ten Commandments, this Oscar-winning, silent film now boasts a digitally recorded score. Shot in black and white (of course), this edition may prove more colorful than the remake—thanks to some very scantly clad (sometimes naked) female extras. Fortunately, the picture quality obscures most details. However, it is plainly evident how this first movie inspired the second with its art direction, set design and costumes. Hand-tinted footage of the Exodus and Parting of the Red Sea sequence are added as bonus features.
Other extras include an audio commentary by Katherine Orrison, author of Written in Stone: Making Cecil B. DeMille’s Epic, The Ten Commandments, for both the 1956 and 1923 versions, three theatrical trailers (the 1956 making-of trailer, as well as the 1966 and 1989 re-release trailers), newsreel footage of the New York premiere and a 6-part documentary containing interviews with cast and crew members. Here actor Charlton Heston credits his casting in the lead role to his resemblance to Michelangelo’s statue of Moses, composer Elmer Bernstein explains his fortuitous appointment to create the movie’s score, and DeMille’s granddaughter shares her memories of accompanying Grandpa to the studio. (A few profanities creep into these dialogues.)
This last picture to be made by the visionary director (DeMille was 75 year-old when it was completed) can now be heard in Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround (English) or Dolby Digital 1.0 (French), with subtitles available in English.
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About the Reviewer: Donna Gustafson
Donna Gustafson has been involved with her husband Rod's work since the
beginning. Handling many of the behind-the-scenes tasks, she also creates
preview pages for up-coming movies, acts as managing editor and occasionally writes reviews.
