The Ten Commandments 4K 1956 Ultra HD 2160p

Story Movie

The film tells about the famous biblical character Moses, about his birth, maturity, the cult exodus of Jews from Egypt ...

Review 4K Movie

Once this film was played on TV, it seems, on Easter, but so late (and considering the chronometers, it was midnight!) That I started watching, but soon turned it off and calmly forgot about it for many years. And, although I always watched the ashes of old Hollywood with great pleasure, my hands did not reach the "Ten Commandments". Now, the theme of Moses, thanks to Ridley Scott's Exodus, has become relevant again, and, as a result, I was drawn to get acquainted with the classics. Even if “Exodus” is in many ways an unsuccessful film, a disappointment, but I am grateful to him, because who knows, if not for him, when I would have watched Cecil DeMille's “Ten Commandments”, which I liked incomparably more.

I am not an expert on biblical stories, and therefore I will not start from the Book of Exodus and look for correspondences / inconsistencies in the film. And is it worth it? The film should be assessed as a film, regardless of the original source, especially when the source is the Bible, and the main thing is to convey the idea of ​​sacred texts, and not the subtleties of the plot. In addition, they say, "The Ten Commandments" is almost canonical from the point of view of the plot of the film (except, of course, the love triangle), so let's take its word for it.

The peculiarity of this film is that there are at least two full-fledged plot lines: the story of the Exodus itself and the love line, which, although clearly does not fit into the canon, gives the film intrigue.

The first is endowed with all sorts of pathos of the classics of the genre - from the birth of Moses, the future leader of the Israelites, to the Promised Land, where Moses himself was ordered to move. The only thing that is a bit disappointing is the somewhat scanty depiction of the Egyptian executions, because in fact, apart from bloody water and the dead firstborn, nothing else was shown. But, this impression, perhaps inspired by the recent viewing of "Exodus" by Ridley Scott, in which the execution was almost the main emphasis. Moreover, one must take into account the lack of computer technology in 1956, which prevented this kind of filming, and everything that was available then was used during the diverging waters of the Red Sea. But, however, all this is not important, especially since, for example, the exodus of the Jews from Egypt was a grandiose spectacle. Characters are more important.

The main character of the story, Moses, is a hero to the core, a kind of idealized leader, a classic representative of the peplum of that era. Although he grew up as a nephew and practically heir to the pharaoh, his innate sense of justice lived so deeply that he, while still a prince, sympathizes with the slaves and tries to help them. Having learned that he himself is a slave tribe, Moses not only does not deny his origin, but of his own free will goes to test the share of a slave, which finally breaks his ties with the royal family and inclines him to fight for the freedom of his people. This man puts common interests above his interests, feelings and beliefs, which sometimes makes him act not only mercilessly, but also meanly, as in the case of Nefertiri's son, whom he refused to save, although she warned him about the danger to his own child. In general, Moses is such a character who is difficult to understand, like most of the saints - chosen by God, for whom faith and duty are above all. He fulfills God's orders to the last, caring for the well-being of his people, and then humbly transfers himself into the hands of the Almighty, knowing that he himself will not be destined to enjoy the fruits of his exploit.

Charlton Heston played here a role in many ways similar to Ben-Hur, for whom he received an Oscar three years after the Ten Commandments, and, especially, El Cid: types of pretentious heroes in historical films, apparently, were his strong point.

Against the background of the sublime and inaccessible in his holiness of Moses, the "down-to-earth" and therefore more understandable Ramses and his wife Nefertiri look more attractive. Ramses, the legitimate heir and native, but unloved, the son of Pharaoh Seti, captivates literally from the first frame with his villainously charming expression on his face, a sly look and an eternal grin behind which, at times, it seems, he tried to hide his grievances. His father's dislike of him is understandable, because Ramses is vain, envious and ready at any convenient moment to denigrate his more capable cousin Moses. On the other hand, perhaps, if Pharaoh had not repeated at every step that he had read Moses as his receiver, if in spite of everything he had not pronounced his name on his deathbed, Ramses would have had no reason to hate Moses. Princess Nefertiri, with her obsessive love for Moses, with whom she had nothing in common, is somewhat reminiscent of Scarlett from "Gone with the Wind", hanging on the neck of a stranger to her in spirit Ashley. In reality, Nefertiri and Ramses are two boots of a pair: if he is a snake, then she is a snake, and what he told her more than once. The only episode illustrating their difference from each other in favor of Ramses is the death of their child. If Ramses, being near the deceased day and night, in despair begs his god to return life to his son, moreover, he himself realizes that his god is powerless, then Nefertiri at this time thinks only of revenge on Moses, and not so much for his son, no, how because he stopped loving and rejected her. How to think, then Nefertiri with Ramses could be quite happy, but ... you can't command either your heart or stubbornness. So they remained, each sitting on his throne, Pharaoh and his queen, hating each other, but forever bound by fate.

In general, Ramses, despite his negativity, evokes both compassion and respect. After all, it was he who saved Moses' life (while a weaker rival would probably have killed), thereby playing an important positive role in the fate of the Israelites, paradoxically. And, having lost everything - his son, army, wife and the love of the people - he finds the strength to return and admit: “His God is who I am”, closing the storyline with these words with Nefertiri.

Yul Brynner, who had a specific appearance, created the brightest image of the evil pharaoh, who, nevertheless, is inherent in both greatness and purely human feelings that are understandable to everyone. And, although for me his character was secondary (the first was in "Exodus", except for the cartoon "Prince of Egypt"), it is difficult to imagine the best Ramses. The main character among the few female characters in the film, Nefertiri, beautifully played by Anne Baxter (with her, however, purely European features and skin color), will also remain in the memory for a long time.

The Ten Commandments of 1956 belong to those great films that, like classical literature, will never become outdated, will not lose their relevance, will not be forgotten and will not cease to admire new generations, films that hardly anyone will be able to reshoot with repeated success.