"The Ten Commandments" is one of director Cecil B. DeMille's greatest cinematic achievements, and the results of Paramount's restoration efforts -- available in high definition on a new Blu-ray gift set ($60; also two-disc Blu-ray, $25, and two-disc DVD, $15) -- are absolutely stunning. This is the film that started Charlton Heston's long association with biblical dramas.
He plays Moses, chosen by God to lead the Jews out of Egypt and, thus, out of bondage. It is difficult to imagine anyone other than Heston as Moses.
Heston's son Fraser said DeMille would agree with that.
"Mr. DeMillle had an old painting of Moses on his desk, and he always said the painting looked just like my dad," he said. "And it did."
Yul Brynner is perfect as Pharaoh, Moses' adversary. Among the others in the cast are Anne Baxter, Edward G. Robinson, Cedrick Hardwicke, Vincent Price, Yvonne De Carlo, Debra Paget and John Derek.
Fraser Heston got a taste of the movies at an early age by playing baby Moses in DeMille's production. He was just 3 months old at the time. Although he doesn't remember those days, Heston vividly recalls the stories of the production as told by his dad, who died in 2008.
"I think it [playing Moses] had a big impact on him," Heston said. "I know he did a great deal of research. His goal was to play Moses as the human being he was. I think he accomplished that."
The film, DeMille's last, is a visual feast. The six-disc Blu-ray/DVD gift set is packaged in a box featuring an image of the Red Sea that parts when it is opened. Inside are two tablets which contain all six discs. Also inside are many photos, production notes and two booklets devoted to the film.
