Source: Chris Matthew Sciabarra
by Chris Matthew Sciabarra
“I was lucky to see The Ten Commandments for the first time at the Ziegfeld Theatre in all its big-screen glory, when it was re-released in 1972. ABC later bought the rights to show the film annually, and has done so around this time of year, nearly every year since 1973. (ABC will be showing the film this Saturday night!) Some critics have argued that movies like The Ten Commandments and those often dismissed as ‘sword and sandal’ spectacles don’t truly rise to the level of art; their popularity is due to their ‘simplicity’ and entertainment value. … While it’s always important never to separate the text from its context, the film from its times, something I will surely explore, it is also important to recognize that there is no necessary dichotomy between art and entertainment.” (04/07/25)