In Cecile B. Demille’s 1956 film, The Ten Commandments, Anne Baxter plays an Egyptian queen named Nefretiri, who is based on a real queen named Nefertari, who is not to be confused with Nefertiti, who was like the mother-in-law of King Tut
Anne Baxter
In the film, she plays pharaoh’s sister, Nefertiti, who of course, is also, or will be his wife…but it’s Moses she loves. Visiting his slave quarters where he lives with his devoted wife after he has shirked court and high life, she tries once more to win him back before he’s off on the Exodus. “Oh, Moses, Moses, Moses…!” Can you imagine writing that? Unfortunately, I didn’t find a still of that scene, she in a stunning silver lame dress and lustrous black hair, enviously surveying the slave hut, a society girl who is risking all for her last chance at true love and happiness and hating the humble slave who has won a place besides Moses. Well, she needn’t be too envious: it’s obvious that Moses loves only his Calling now
.In June 1954, Baxter won the part of the Egyptian princess and queen Nefertari in Cecil B. DeMille’s award-winning The Ten Commandments. Her scenes were shot on Paramount’s sound stages in 1955, and she attended the film’s New York and Los Angeles premieres in November 1956. Despite criticisms of her interpretation of Nefertari, DeMille and The Hollywood Reporter both thought her performance was “very good,” and The New York Daily News described her as “remarkably effective.” For her work in The Ten Commandments, she won a Laurel Award for Topliner Female Dramatic Performance. She later remembered the film in an interview:
“DeMille asked me to come in. His office at Paramount was bursting with books, props, rolls of linens. I told him I’d have to wear an Egyptian false nose and he pounded the table. “No. Baxter, your Irish nose stays in this picture.” He acted out my part and I kept nodding, and I walked out with the part. The sound stage sets were magnificent. It was all corny, sure, but DeMille knew it was corny—that’s what he wanted, what he loved. I loved slinking around—really, this was silent film acting but with dialogue.”
In 1960, Baxter received a motion pictures star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6741 Hollywood Boulevard.
In 1956, renowned director Cecil B. DeMille made one of the greatest biblical epics, “The Ten Commandments”. Starring Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner, the film is a master achievement in cinema. From the amazing set designs and costume work, to the incredible performances, “The Ten Commandments” is a treasure trove of great characters. In the case of Anne Baxter, she remains one of the most memorable, portraying the beautiful queen of Egypt.
Of the 4 honorable mentions, Queen Nefertiti is perhaps the most alluring. I suppose I’ve could have easily chosen Elizabeth Taylor’s Cleopatra. But I prefer Anne Baxter in this case, if only because I find Cleopatras look a tad too over the top. She’s the prime example of a delicate desert flower. Her posture, her charm, her piercing green eyes, all culminate to one of the most beautiful women shown on screen. And don’t get me started on her dresses! I’ll just make this brief, every outfit that she wares is gorgeous.
This came out in 1956, when cinema was beginning to expand and evolve. There were rules as far as what was considered acceptable on screen. Yet some of Nefertiti’s outfits are surprisingly revealing in a way that’s both subtle but seductive. The best example of this is the blue dress she wears when she’s conversing with Ramsay’s early on in the film. Upon first glance you wouldn’t notice, but the dress is actually see through, so much so that you can see her breast behind the sheer fabric. But it never comes off as inappropriately provocative. It’s a perfect balance of sexiness and regalness.
