The Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments (1956) is a grand biblical epic that dramatizes the Old Testament story of Moses and the Exodus. Spanning over three hours, the film follows Moses from his upbringing as an Egyptian prince to his discovery of his Hebrew heritage and his eventual divine calling to lead his people out of slavery. The narrative depicts Moses' confrontations with Pharaoh Rameses, the plagues inflicted upon Egypt, the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, and the reception of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. Crafted with lavish sets, thousands of extras, and groundbreaking special effects for its time, the movie aims to tell a timeless story of faith, liberation, and divine power. While presented as a dramatic historical retelling, it incorporates elements of human drama, romance, and conflict within the broader biblical framework. The film is primarily intended for a broad audience, including families, though its length and thematic intensity may be more suitable for older children and adults. Overall, the film is a monumental cinematic achievement revered for its scale and its respectful, albeit dramatized, portrayal of a foundational biblical narrative. It emphasizes themes of perseverance, justice, and the sovereignty of God.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe film contains frequent instances of violence, some implied and some depicted, ranging from physical assaults and whippings to divine acts of mass destruction and murder. The intensity of these scenes, though often not graphically explicit, is high due to their severe consequences and the suffering portrayed.
1. Hebrew slaves are shown being whipped by Egyptian taskmasters, and an Egyptian guard is depicted cleaning blood from his blade after Pharaoh orders the killing of Hebrew newborns. 2. Moses kills the cruel master builder Baka with a headlock for beating Joshua, and Nefretiri murders a maidservant by throwing her from a balcony to conceal Moses' heritage. The Angel of Death descends upon Egypt, causing the widespread death of the firstborn sons, depicted with screams of anguish. Later, Pharaoh's army is entirely drowned when the Red Sea crashes upon them.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe film features numerous scary and intense sequences, primarily revolving around the divine plagues, acts of judgment, and the harrowing journey of the Israelites. These scenes can be genuinely frightening, especially for younger audiences, due to their scale and visual impact.
1. The plagues inflicted upon Egypt, such as the Nile turning to blood, burning hail, and particularly the Angel of Death's descent to kill the firstborn sons, are highly intense and visually/audibly disturbing. 2. The miraculous parting of the Red Sea is followed by the terrifying collapse of the walls of water, which spectacularly drowns the pursuing Egyptian army. Crocodiles are also shown snapping at the infant Moses' basket early in the film.
Disrespect & Rebellion
HighDisrespect and rebellion are central to several key conflicts in the film, particularly Pharaoh Rameses's defiance of God and Moses, and the Israelites' rebellion against divine authority. These acts lead to severe and dramatic consequences.
1. Pharaoh Rameses repeatedly defies Moses and God's commands to 'let my people go,' hardening his heart through multiple plagues, even stating to his general, 'Better to die in battle against a god than live in shame,' after the Red Sea parts. 2. Dathan, a Hebrew, frequently demonstrates disrespect and rebellion by betraying his people for power, and later leads a significant portion of the Israelites in open rebellion by constructing and worshiping the Golden Calf idol. The Israelites also call for Moses' stoning on more than one occasion.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumThe film features significant romantic and implied sexual content, including passionate relationships, suggested non-consensual situations, and suggestive revelry with partial nudity. The themes of desire, manipulation, and power dynamics are prominent in the romantic subplots.
1. Moses and Nefretiri share a passionate romantic relationship, including deep kisses and expressions of love, before Moses discovers his true heritage. 2. After Moses' banishment, Rameses tells Nefretiri, 'You will be my wife. You will come to me whenever I call you, and I will enjoy that very much. Whether you enjoy it or not is your own affair,' implying a forced conjugal relationship. Additionally, the slave master Baka lusts after the Hebrew woman Lilia and attempts to force himself on her, and the traitor Dathan later forces Lilia to marry him. During the Golden Calf idolatry, a 'suggestive revelry' occurs with 'scantily clad women' dancing and washing in the Nile, revealing 'bare legs and some cleavage,' while many men are shirtless.
Witchcraft & Occult
MediumThe film depicts supernatural events and a form of sorcery practiced by Egyptian magicians, which is presented as real but ultimately inferior to divine power. Idolatry is also a central theme, particularly with the Golden Calf incident.
1. Egyptian magicians turn their staves into snakes to challenge Moses' miracle, though Moses's staff-turned-snake then swallows theirs. 2. The Israelites engage in widespread idolatry by worshipping a golden calf idol, accompanied by a 'decadent orgy,' defying God and Moses after the Exodus.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
LowThe film contains no explicit or direct LGBTQ+ characters or themes within its narrative. Retrospective critical analyses, however, have observed that villains in some biblical epics of this era, including the Egyptian overseer Baka played by Vincent Price, were sometimes interpreted as embodying stereotypical 'homosexual monster' characteristics through their portrayal, reflecting tropes of the time rather than explicit representation.
1. There are no openly LGBTQ+ characters or relationships depicted in the film's storyline. Searches for explicit LGBTQ+ content related to the film yielded no canonical results. 2. An external critical interpretation notes that villains like Vincent Price's character Baka, the Egyptian overseer, were presented with characteristics that, in retrospect, have been identified as stereotypical 'homosexual monsters' within cinematic analysis of biblical epics.
Profanity
LowThe film contains very minimal profanity, limited to one mild expletive and some insulting language used to demean characters. Strong, offensive language is largely absent from the dialogue.
1. There is one recorded instance of the word 'hell' being used. 2. Characters use mild insults such as calling someone a 'rat's ears,' a 'ferret's nose,' a 'lying adder,' or an 'old frog.'
Substance Use
LowThe film includes incidental depictions of alcohol consumption. There is no portrayal of illegal drug use, addiction, or excessive alcohol abuse as a central theme.
1. Wine drinking is shown in various scenes, consistent with historical settings. 2. During the revelry surrounding the Golden Calf, a woman is seen pouring wine into a man's mouth.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe film, being a direct adaptation of a core biblical narrative, explicitly upholds Christian and Jewish religious themes. It presents a strong biblical-moral worldview and portrays God as the ultimate hero, emphasizing themes of faith and divine intervention. There are no anti-Christian themes present in the movie itself.
1. The film is fundamentally built upon the Book of Exodus, emphasizing God's power and Moses's role as a divine messenger. 2. Cecil B. DeMille, the director, intended the film to be 'in line with the spiritual reawakening of all nations of the free world in these troubled times,' underscoring its pro-religious stance.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Parental guidance is suggested for children under 8, with the film being generally suitable for ages 8 and up. While officially rated G, the nearly four-hour runtime and numerous intense scenes, including depictions of death, divine judgment, and implied sexual coercion, may be overwhelming or frightening for very young viewers.
Additional Notes
The film's lengthy runtime of approximately 3 hours and 40 minutes may be challenging for younger viewers. While largely faithful to the spirit of the biblical account, it takes creative liberties and incorporates extrabiblical sources for dramatic effect, particularly in the earlier parts of Moses' life as an Egyptian prince.
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