If you have enjoyed this film, then you may appreciate the background story; if you’ve never seen it, then this article is a nice introduction. Cecil B. DeMille (1881–1959) began in the theater, acting and writing. He shot his first movie in a rented barn: “The Squaw Man” (1914). Fame and success came quickly. In 1922, he invited fans to write in with suggestions for his next picture. The surprise winner was 1923’s “The Ten Commandments.” …In 1952, at an age when most directors have retired, DeMille was coming off two big hits. How could he top them? With an even bigger epic, of course: a remake of his own work “The Ten Commandments.” …Steven Spielberg called the movie’s Red Sea scene “the greatest special effect in film history…
