Thou Shalt Make Great Movies

A couple of weeks back, Nick and Nora saw the splendid film Amazing Grace - a historical epic which told the story of William Wilberforce's lifelong battle to outlaw slavery.

Just as impressive was the unapologetic and forthright treatment of the protagonist's religious views.

It harks back to Hollywood's early days where religious subject matter was cheerfully plundered for its story value.

Amongst the first was Cecil B DeMille's 1923 epic The Ten Commandments, unlike his 1957 remake, this film is more than just a costume epic, it is also a very modern morality play.

The first part of the film tells of Moses liberating the Israelites and leading them to the promised land (including a Technicolor reel of the Red Sea parting), the second takes place in the present day and centres on two brothers, played by screen heart throbs Richard Dix and Rod La Roque.

John McTavish (Dix) follows the Ten Commandments and is a poor but honest carpenter, the Dan McTavish (La Roque) breaks every one and becomes a rich business man.

But as one might expect, the story doesn't end there as the brothers vie for the affections of sweetheart Mary, played by Leatrice Joy.

It's a pity that Biblical epics have largely fallen out of favour with Hollywood, the human condition and the struggle between good and evil is a the very essence of compelling story making.

Just a little political joke: How can you tell Moses was a conservative and not a libertarian? Because he brought back The Ten Commandments not The Ten Suggestions.