The Ten Commandments (1923)

Directed by Cecil B. DeMille. Starring Richard Dix, Rod La Rocque, Leatrice Joy, Edythe Chapman, Theodore Roberts, Charles De Roche, Nita Naldi, Robert Edeson, Estelle Taylor.

The Book of Exodus is retold on film, but unlike DeMille’s later colossal Technicolor production of the Bible story, this version is told to its conclusion in the first fifty minutes. The rest of the motion picture is devoted to a modern day parable that would be obvious to preschoolers, telling an unconvincing tale of two brothers—one a sinner, the other a saint—and how “the LAW” of God’s commandments affects their fates. The first half is worth a look—the spectacle is still special by silent epic standards—but you can tune out early unless you want to see some truly hoary symbolism and Christ-related parallels, or Naldi’s embarrassing vamping as a stereotyped Eurasian seductress. As the “good” brother (a carpenter, to boot), Dix proves he can be an overripe ham even without sound. Story credited to Jeanie MacPherson.

44/100