The Ten Commandments is an epic film in the truest sense of the word. After televisions became a widespread form of entertainment, filmmakers needed to find new ways to keep audiences coming to the theaters. The result is films like The Ten Commandments; huge, sweeping blockbusters that are worth watching if only for their tremendously ambitious scope. The Ten Commandments is a particularly impressive technical achievement, dramatizing the story of Moses in vibrant technicolor. The film features an astounding cast of extras, with as many as several thousand people appearing in some of the larger set pieces. It was probably one of the most expensive film made up to that point, but luckily it was a major success for Paramount, grossing over $120 million (adjusted for inflation, that's enough to put it over $1 billion in sales). The Ten Commandments pits Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner against each other as Moses and Ramses respectively, and the spectacle is enough to captivate even those who have no interest in the biblical story.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
