One of cinema's all-time classics, Cecil B DeMille's The Ten Commandments will be screened at Scala on Sunday as part of the Film Archive's "World Class Cinema" programme.
A Biblical epic, earnest, grandiose and perhaps a little campy, the 1959 film stars Charlton Heston as an Egyptian prince who discovers his true identity as a Hebrew prophet. As a boy, he'd been cast adrift into the Nile to evade the murderous command of Ramses I. Moses grows up alongside Ramses II (played by Yul Brynner), but soon finds out that his real place is with the Hebrew slaves. His encounter with the burning bush -- a manifestation of God -- finally turns him against the oppressive Egyptians and leads his people to deliverance.
The parting of the Red Sea, the plague that turns the Nile blood red, the locust attacks -- these are some of the iconic scenes that defined the power of early Hollywood blockbusters. Heston, bearded and robed, plays Moses first as an action hero and then as an authoritative prophet who goes up the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments.
The film was first released in Thailand in the 1960s. This is a rare chance to watch it again on the big screen.
The Ten Commandments will be shown at noon on Sunday at Scala. Tickets are available at the theatre.