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Written in Stone: Making Cecil B. DeMille's Epic The Ten Commandments

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This is a first rate rendition of how the movie,"The Ten Commandments" was produced from interviews with the actors through the outstanding direction by C.B. DeMille. I especially commend the chapters by Henry Wilcoxen, producer and actor, and actor Clint Walker. Wilcoxen wanted Clint for the role of Joshua and ended up the Captain of the Sardinian Guard when DeMille decided he was too tall and dominated his scenes when compared to the other more famous (at the time) actors. Artist Arnold Friberg had even completed a color sketch of Clint as Joshua. An outstanding piece of work by the author. An interesting list of the actors and actresses considered for the various roles is provided. It would have been interesting to see how the movie would have turned out with William Boyd as Moses, DeMille's first choice. Or Jack Palance as Ramases II. I highly recommend this work to anyone interested in Cecile B. DeMille and Company. Five star rating.

Outstanding. Katherine Orrison has made a long-awaited contribution to the memory of a phenomenal motion picture and the "world's greatest showman...ever" with the release of this book. Only two regrets: 1) although the reflections presented by the various participants were in chronological order for the most part, a narrative thread by the author taking us through the entire production process may have improved the impact of the eyewitness accounts, and 2) from Ken Whitmore's commentary, I'd guess we have only seen a fraction of the photo collection. I would love to read more and see more. Finally, I have yet to hear or read an explanation of why the final cut of the film was allowed to show Moses' staff jump magically from one hand to the other during the Exodus. All that aside, this book is wonderful reading for anyone who remembers the first time they saw this picture unfold on a movie screen.

This book is a series of behind-the-scenes interviews with people who worked on Cecil B. DeMille's masterpiece The Ten Commandments (1956), almost none of whom had ever before been interviewed about their contributions to the film.

Among the interviews are associate producer Henry Wilcoxon, screenwriter Jesse Lasky, Jr., and actors Woody Strode, Yvonne De Carlo and Joan Woodbury. Special-effects wizard William Sapp describes how he turned the Nile to blood (with a garden hose) and made it hail (popcorn). A highlight is exclusive Egyptian location photographs by Ken Whitmore, never before seen in print.

Did you know that Charlton Heston was NOT DeMille's first choice for Moses? The book reveals that the part was offered to (and turned down by) William Boyd, a longtime friend and associate of DeMille's best known as Hopalong Cassidy. This is one of many fascinating revelations in this unique book.

This book is a must have if you are a fan of the classic Cecil B. DeMille film, The Ten Commandments.

Writer Katherine Orrison, does a great job interviewing and presenting those involved with the creation of this epic, classic film. The book is both informative and engaging.

With interviews of the cast and crew, as well as behind the scenes photos, location pictures, and more, you won't find a more complete and enjoyable source for this film.

The information from actor, producer, and friend, of Cecil B. DeMille, Henry Wilcoxon, is priceless.

I found myself wanting more and more. Which is a good sign when you read a book.

This book is really easy to read. Katherine Orrison (the author) interviewed many of the actors and production team and used their own words as the text like a diary entry. Reading each chapter is like listening to the person describe their involvement as if you are sitting right in front of them. The Photographs are beautiful- nearly all of which were taken by the stills photographer on the set. There are also production sketches as well as more intimate photos of the 'fun' behind the camera.

This book is not very long but it ties in beautifuly with Katherine Orrisons commentary on the special edition DVD of the Ten Commandments.The Ten Commandments (50th Anniversary Collection)

Hello.... I wrote an honest and civil review of this book over a week ago and I still don't see it posted. Is this feature for real?

I am not a fan of Cecil Blount DeMille's second filming of "The Ten Commandments," in my view a Victorian bore peopled with the most ludicrous cast this side of "The Greatest Story Evertold." Katherine Orrison's behind-the-scenes look at the epic, in contrast, is thoroughly entertaining, well-researched and beautifully illustrated by set photographer Ken Whitmore. Miss Orrison went about interviewing surviving crew and cast members, each of whom offer a different point of view of film-making in the last days of the old Hollywood studio system. The book is filled with surprising and amazing tidbits -- Shirley Booth (Hazel) was actually up for a role later essayed by Yvonne de Carlo! -- but is most importantly a warm and insightful look at the man who had been there from the beginning -- if not during the Exodus then certainly when Hollywood was little more than an orange grove. The book's most surprising revelation (at least to me) is that William Boyd was actually DeMille's first choice to play Moses! I personally agree with old C.B. and would have paid good money to have witnessed Hopalong Cassidy part the Red Sea. Rather him than that blowhard Charlton Heston!