The Ten Commandments. While some might think of the biblical commandments, others will think of Charlton Heston as Moses carrying the tablets down Mount Sinai. Premiering in 1956, The Ten Commandments became an instant hit, and its messages and story have lived on for over 60 years after its release. Directed by visionary Cecil B. DeMille, The Ten Commandments followed the biblical story of the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt.
Today it is considered a classic movie for the spring holiday season, usually airing every year around Passover and Easter. But even if you and your family have been watching The Ten Commandments for years, there may be some fun facts you didn’t know about the film. Interested in learning some fun tidbits from behind the scenes? Then keep reading to find out!
[post_page_title]Religous inspirations [/post_page_title]
It’s not hard to see where DeMille drew inspiration from, regarding the overall story of the Exodus. Afterall, it is prominently featured in the Old Testament, and the Jewish holiday of Passover revolves around the Israelites’ exit from Egypt. However, for smaller points of inspiration regarding the characters, DeMille and the writers looked to the Quran.
They found that the descriptions of Moses in the Islamic text really lent to how they wanted to portray him in the film. Additionally, the scene where Moses places his hands on Joshua’s head to pass the mantle of leadership was taken from the way Mormons do ordinations, which was suggested by Arnold Friberg, a Mormon artist in the film’s art department.
