FAQ

According to Katherine Orrison, author of "Written in Stone: Making Cecil B. DeMille's Epic, The Ten Commandments," DeMille believed in racial equality, one of the film's major themes. Moses tells Sethi that he does not understand why men deprive their brothers of "spirit and hope and faith, only because they are of another race, another creed." Later in the film, during the Passover, Moses welcomes Bithiah's Nubian (African) bearers into his home and says, "All who thirst for freedom may come with us." Other Nubians are also seen accompanying the Hebrews during the Exodus.

The film gives the names of two of them: Sephora (the eldest) and Lulua (the youngest). The script provides names for the rest: Saada, Iyda, Nura, Nassura, and Dhira. In the scene where they find Moses at the well, Saada wears a lavender veil, Iyda wears a brown veil with patterned headband and a tan gown, Nura is the one with light brown hair, Nassura wears a red veil and gown, and Dhira wears a teal gown and a coral red headband.

Additional information on actresses who played Jethro's daughters and their age & place of birth at the time of casting in 1955:

Yvonne De Carlo 33 years old (Sephora [pronounced 'Sefra' "the oldest") Vancouver, Canada 1922;

Lisa Mitchell 15 years old (Lulua) Bronx, New York 1940;

Noelle Williams (Saada) unknown to date

Pat Richard (Iyda) unknown to date

Diane Hall 17 years old (Nura) Pasadena, California 1938, engaged at 22 years, to Ray Anthony in 1960;

Joyce Vanderveen 28 years old (Nassura) Holland, Netherlands 1927;

Joanna Merlin 24 years old (Dhira) Chicago, Illinois 1931

The bible records this as miracle.

In fact, not only moses but all hebrews that wandered in the wilderness for 40 years show no sign of aging in their clothing and shoes.

You can read deuteronomy 29, verse 5 as an example

In 1954, Cecil B. DeMille signed Cornel Wilde for the role of Joshua (this widely reported in the press), but a few months later, Wilde turned it down, claiming the part was too small for a major movie star like him. DeMille cast his second choice, John Derek, in the role.

In a later interview, Wilde admitted turning down the role of Joshua was the worst mistake of his career: "I said it was too small and the money wasn't enough. C.B. never spoke to me again and even one line in such a blockbuster would have bolstered my career momentum."

Chicago Tribune, Saturday, March 16, 1955, pt. 3, p. 6, c. 1:

LOOKING AT HOLLYWOOD

by Hedda Hopper

Judith Anderson was signed by Cecil De Mille for "The Ten Commandments." Cecil tells me he's finished writing the script after three years of work. Starts shooting in 10 days. . . .

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