The first part tells the story of Moses leading the Jews from Egypt to the Promised Land, his receipt of the tablets and the worship of the golden calf. The second part shows the efficacy of the commandments in modern life through a story set in San Francisco. Two brothers, rivals for the love of Mary, also come into conflict when John discovers Dan used shoddy materials to construct a cathedral.
Practical Effects
Massive Egyptian sets built and buried in sand for authenticity.
Production
The two-part structure: Bible epic becomes 1920s moral melodrama.
Acting
Estelle Taylor's silent-era face acting as Miriam.
Director
Cecil B. DeMille
Theodore Roberts
Moses - The Lawgiver
Charles De Rochefort
Rameses - the Magnificent: Prologue
Estelle Taylor
Miriam - the Sister of Moses: Prologue
Julia Faye
The Wife of Pharaoh
Pat Moore
The Son of Pharaoh - Prologue
James Neill
Aaron - Brother of Moses: Prologue
Lawson Butt
Dathan - The Discontented
Clarence Burton
The Taskmaster - Prologue
Noble Johnson
The Bronze Man - Prologue
Edythe Chapman
Mrs. Martha McTavish
Richard Dix
John McTavish
Rod La Rocque
Dan McTavish
Leatrice Joy
Mary Leigh
Nita Naldi
Sally Lung - a Eurasian
Robert Edeson
Redding - an Inspector
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
DeMille actually buried those Egyptian sets in the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes; they're still being excavated today.
This was DeMille's first 'commandments' film—he'd wait 33 years to remake it in technicolor and VistaVision, keeping only the Biblical half.
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