Rameses II is the main antagonist in the 1956 biblical epic film The Ten Commandments. He is the cold-hearted Pharaoh of Egypt who has enslaved the Hebrews into serving his empire and is challenged by his adoptive cousin Moses. He was portrayed by the late Yul Brynner.
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.
Cecil B. de Mille hired Brynner for The Ten Commandments (1956) to play Ramesses II opposite Charlton Heston after seeing him in the stage version of The King and I, telling Brynner backstage that he was the only person for the role.
The Ten Commandments was directed by Cecil B. DeMille and premiered on 5th October 1956. Starring Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter, Cedric Hardwicke, Edward G. Robinson, Vincent Price, Yvonne De Carlo, Debra Paget, John Derek and John Carradine. Screenplay by Aeneas MacKenzie Jesse Lasky Jr., Jack Gariss and Fredric M. Frank. Music by Elmer Bernstein. 220 mins.
The story of Moses. A Hebrew child is found in the bulrushes and raised as a prince of Egypt by the Pharaoh Seti’s sister. Pharaoh loves the boy more than his own son Rameses, But the day comes when Moses discovers his true heritage. When Seti dies Rameses becomes Pharaoh of Egypt, he exiles Moses. God speaks to Moses and tells him to return to Egypt, free all the slaves and deliver them to the promised land.
Cecil B. DeMille (1881-1959) first directed The Ten Commandments in 1923, an epic silent movie which starred Theodore Roberts as Moses the Lawgiver.
Only about a third of the film concerned the story of Moses and the Exodus, the rest of it is in a modern setting. A morality parable about two brothers, one who follows the laws of the Ten Commandments and is poor the other brother breaks every commandment and becomes rich, though his life is soon cut short.
Cecil B DeMille announced in the Aug 1952 issue of Daily Variety that he would be remaking The Ten Commandments and that this time it would be all about the life of Moses. He intended the film to be the biggest of his career.
DeMille’s final movie, The Ten Commandments (1956), was a remake of his 1923 film but without the modern-day story. Heston starred (in his best-known role) as Moses and Yul Brynner as his foe the Pharaoh Ramses
