The 1956 epic The Ten Commandments (directed by Cecil B. DeMille) was filmed primarily in Egypt and the United States , with authentic on- location shooting that was unusual for Hollywood at the time.

🎬 Main Filming Locations

Location| Country| Key Scenes Shot Here
---|---|---
Mount Sinai (Ras Safsafa)| Egypt, South Sinai Governorate| Moses receiving the commandments, Mount Sinai scenes 35
Luxor (Temple Complex of Karnak)| Egypt| Egyptian palace scenes, Temple of Ramesses II & III 19
Abu Rudeis (Ras Abu Rudeis)| Egypt| Red Sea parting sequence 13
Red Rock Canyon State Park| California, USA (Cantil)| Desert scenes, wilderness wandering 135
Monument Valley| Arizona, USA| Exodus journey, desert landscapes 135
Paramount Studios| Los Angeles, California| Interior scenes, soundstage work 19

🏜️ Notable Facts About the Filming

  • Egypt location shooting : Despite being made in 1956, DeMille took the massive cast and crew to actual biblical locations including the Pyramids of Giza and the River Nile
  • Burning Bush scene : Filmed at St. Catherine's Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai, believed to be the original burning bush location and the oldest Christian monastery in the world
  • Filming dates : Production occurred in two major blocks:
    • October 13 – December 3, 1954
    • March 28 – August 13, 1955
  • The film became the second-highest-grossing film of the 1950s , earning $122.7 million

⚠️ Note: There Are Two Films

There's also a 1923 silent version of The Ten Commandments , also by DeMille. Its Exodus scenes were filmed at the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes in California, where the massive Egyptian city set was buried in the sand dunes and remained hidden for 90 years.

"Why spend time, money and effort building an elaborate set half the way across the world when all the original locations still exist and are accessible?"

The 1956 film's commitment to authentic locations added incredible realism to this biblical epic that won the Academy Award for Best Special Effects.

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