The Ten Commandments (1956)

Director: Cecil B DeMille
Starring: Charlton Heston,Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter

Synopsis:
The son of Hebrew slaves, raised as a prince of Egypt, goes into exile, where he is commissioned by God to lead his people to freedom.

Impressions:
This is perhaps the most acclaimed of the Biblical epics and rightfully so. Extracanonical liberties are taken to spin the yarn, but it serves to create a compelling narrative that weaves the different threads together. Establishing a relationship of fraternal rivalry between Moses and Ramses, introducing Dathan as a collaborationist, and providing a romantic subplot for Joshua among other elements add complexity and enrich the characters.

This is rightly revered classic and deserves all the honors it gets. For those of you in the States, they show it every year, so if you haven't seen it yet, you don't have much excuse. Go see it, add it to your collection. It's worth it.

Rating:
Own It