The Ten Commandments | 1923 | Religious Epic

Title: The Ten Commandments | 1923 | Religious Epic Director: Cecil B. DeMille Studio: Famous Players–Lasky Corporation / Paramount Pictures Starring: Theodore Roberts, Charles De Rochefort, Estelle Taylor, Julia Faye, Pat Moore, James Neill, Richard Dix, Rod La Rocque, Leatrice Joy, Nita Naldi, Robert Edeson, Charles Ogle, Agnes Ayres Based on: Original screenplay by Jeanie MacPherson Release Date: December 4 1923 (Los Angeles premiere); December 21 1923 (New York premiere) Runtime: Approximately 136 minutes Format: Silent black and white with Technicolor sequences Country: United States Language: Silent with English intertitles Genres: Religious Epic Drama --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Biblical Prologue: Exodus and Moses 00:30:00 Parting of the Red Sea 01:00:00 Moses at Mount Sinai 01:30:00 Modern Era introduction 01:45:00 The McTavish brothers’ conflict 02:15:00 Moral resolution --- Summary: The Ten Commandments is a 1923 American silent religious epic dramatized in two parts. The first part recounts the biblical story of Moses leading the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, receiving the Ten Commandments, and witnessing miraculous events such as the parting of the Red Sea. The second part tells a modern tale set in the 1920s about two brothers whose divergent moral paths test the enduring relevance of the Commandments in everyday life. The film interweaves spectacle and morality, contrasting ancient divine law with contemporary ethical dilemmas through a narrative that emphasizes faith, justice, and personal responsibility. --- Background: Directed and produced by Cecil B. DeMille, The Ten Commandments was one of the most expensive and ambitious films of the silent era, noted for its large-scale sets, extensive cast, and pioneering use of special effects and Technicolor processes. It bolstered DeMille’s reputation as a master of cinematic spectacle and was Paramount’s highest-grossing film for decades. --- Trivia: The Ten Commandments was the first major cinematic adaptation of the biblical Exodus story by DeMille. The film was released with a mix of black-and-white, hand-tinted, and early Technicolor sequences. The production included massive sets and thousands of extras, with scenes filmed near Guadalupe, California. DeMille later remade the story as a color sound film in 1956 focusing solely on the biblical narrative. The silent 1923 version entered the public domain in the United States in 2019. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: December 4 1923 Original Studio / Distributor: Famous Players–Lasky / Paramount Pictures Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Unknown --- Hashtags: #TheTenCommandments1923 #CecilBDemille #SilentEpic #ReligiousFilm #ClassicCinema #Exodus #PublicDomain