MovieChat Forums > The Bible in the Beginning... (1966) Discussion > How is this compared to 'The Ten Command...

How is this compared to 'The Ten Commandements' (1956)?


Being an atheist I still like "The Ten Commandements" seeing it on TV when I was a kid, and bought it on DVD last summer, still a very cool film.
How is "The Bible.. In The Beginning" compared to that? It's an hour shorter, but is it as entertaining?

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I think "The Ten Commandments" is much better, even though I like this film (my family went to see it at a drive-in on its original release - I was 4).
It's quite the epic, but doesn't have the through line plot like "TTC". It is more like a series of episodes: Adam & Eve, Nimrod & the Tower of Babel, Noah, Sodom & Gomorrah, and finally, Abraham & Sarah. Each segment is well done, in that near over the top acting style of "TTC", but it doesn't have the grandeur.

The highlight of the film is definitely John Houston as Noah.

Definitely worth a place on your Netflix queue.

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TTC has more action I'd say. The rising rivers scene is pretty much more than this movie has, but this is still good, and has it's moments of excitement.


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Ten Commandments has a script with lots of clever dialogue. The Bible: In The Beginning is largely silent, relying on visuals and music, and when people speak they are basically quoting the Bible, which is many things but "clever" (in the sense I mean) is not one of them.

Ten Commandments, thanks to the acting and the script, is a "camp" classic, The Bible: In the Beginning is not, even though it has a whole segment set in Sodom.

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I agree with others that TTC are better, but it's not stupid to compare. I think they fits quite good together. Bible first, and then TTC.
I will say the part with Noah matches TTC in most ways. If you like TTC, chances are good you will like the Bible as well

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It's sexier.

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TTC is the better film. Both films get on my nerves but The Bible makes no sense and you don't feel for any of the characters.

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TTC takes much more creative license. TB:ITB attempts to tell the story more directly from the scriptures allowing for the drama to come through naturally. There are MANY added elements to TTC to make it more "dramatic" as a movie. I do like it for what it is but I prefer the more direct telling of the story as can be read and to let the viewer/reader decide for themselves what it means and to make any application.

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If you were to see The Ten Commandements today I don't think you'd hold that it is superior to this film 'The Bible. TTC first half is truly magnificent and Heston more than holds his own but it meanders into a swamp once Heston hits the burning bush. The acting from that point forward is wooden at best and the worst is John Derek as well as some of the poor saps that guard Yul Brynner. One in particular just before he falls dead in front of Brynner as the smoke of the Angel Of Death enters the throne room. Brynner has the best parts and doesn't go camp with them neither did Anne Baxter.

Once they get out of the Red Sea (incredibly done for 1956 with jello) it's back to Billy Graham aka Charlton Heston - the slow measured walk, same monotone voice and the fanatic look in his eyes.

The Bible is far more nuanced and when DiLaurentis goes after Sodom and Gommorrah the 'gays' would go bonkers today - the faces on the perverts is telling for the control that lifestyle has upon them. Scott is great as Abraham as is O'Toole as all of the three strangers who arrive in the noonday sun. Stephen Biyd's brief cameo as Nimrod is memorable and the depiction of the state of mankind prior to the flood as well as prior to the destruction of Sodom and Gommorrah can be seen today in West Hollywood.

This movie would definitely not get the GLBT 'kiss' of death.

The Bible is a great movie.

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