The Ten Commandments (1956) – Filming Locations
Drama / History · Directed by Cecil B. DeMille · Starring Charlton Heston, Anne Baxter
Escaping death, a Hebrew infant is raised in a royal household to become a prince. Upon discovery of his true heritage, Moses embarks on a personal quest to reclaim his destiny as the leader and liberator of the Hebrew people.
Where was The Ten Commandments filmed?
- Guadalupe, California, United States, Guadalupe – The parting of the Red Sea and the exodus of the Israelites across the desert. DeMille constructed a massive set at the dunes to film the iconic Red Sea parting sequence, which required extensive set construction and thousands of extras
- Mount Sinai, Egypt, Mount Sinai – Moses receives the Ten Commandments from God amid thunder and lightning. DeMille filmed location sequences on the actual Mount Sinai to establish the biblical authenticity and grandeur of this pivotal moment
- Cairo, Egypt, Cairo – Egyptian palace scenes and the plagues of Egypt sequences. DeMille shot extensively in Cairo and surrounding Egyptian locations to capture authentic Egyptian architecture and landscapes for the opening acts
- Los Angeles, California, United States, Los Angeles – Interior palace scenes, throne room sequences, and various indoor Egyptian scenes. While much was filmed on location, substantial interior sequences and controlled scenes were shot at Paramount Studios where DeMille had standing sets and soundstages
- San Francisco, California, United States, San Francisco – Various establishing shots and landscape sequences. DeMille used San Francisco Bay area locations for certain landscape and establishing shots during production