I have just been watching ther 1923 version of Cecil B De Mille’s The Ten Commandments (in glorious Black & White – and silent too!)
Considering it was made in 1923 it has some quite spectacular effects – particularly the parting of the Red Sea, which was done by placing two blocks of gelatine side by side, heating them until they melted then running the footage in reverse! The overall effect is quite astounding.
The one thing that did strike me was the vast amount of gesticulating by all concerned. Arms were waved like windmill sails in a force nine gale. Backs of hands were placed across foreheads and much swooning took place. Although very dated, it told the story quite well, but in a very sactimonious way.
Particularly jarring is the second part of the film, which takes us to present day (1923) San Francisco, where we meet a mother and her two sons. The mother is an avid Bible beater and preaches to the two offspring. One of the brothers is a bit of a goody goody, whilst the other is rebellious, and goes out of his way to antagonise his mother by showing his lack of belief in the Ten Commandments. The two brothers are rivals for the love of Mary, and come into conflict when John discovers Dan has used shoddy materials to construct a cathedral.
The melodrama hits top gear when the building falls down and kills the mother!
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