Christian Retailing

Classic 'Ten Commandments' coming Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Thursday, 24 March 2011 02:40 PM America/New_York
Commemorating its 55th anniversary and timed for Easter, The Ten Commandments will be released March 29 in a new boxed video set by Paramount Home Entertainment, and distributed to Christian stores by Word Distribution.

The 1956 epic film dramatized the biblical story of Exodus, in which the Jewish-born Moses—an adopted Egyptian prince—turned deliverer of the Hebrew slaves. Cecil B. DeMille's last film made Charlton Heston a superstar in the lead role of Moses. The Ten Commandments was filmed in Egypt and the Sinai with one of the biggest sets ever constructed for a motion picture.

Besides the six-disc Blu-ray/DVD gift set, which is fully restored for the first time and in high definition, The Ten Commandments will also be available in a two-disc Blu-ray and two-disc DVD—both of which include commentary, newsreel footage of the film's New York City premiere and trailers.

The Blu-ray/DVD gift set includes a commemorative photo and archive book, a new 75-minute, in-depth documentary about the film and its impact, original costume sketches, the 1923 silent film The Ten Commandments, international premiere photos, production notes from DeMille, correspondence from Heston and feature commentary.

The Ten Commandments retails for $14.99 for the two-disc DVD, $24.99 for the two-disc Blu-ray and $59.99 for the six-disc Blu-ray/DVD gift set.

Meanwhile, the acclaimed documentary set "Charlton Heston Presents The Bible" will also be released March 29 for the first time on Blu-ray by Warner Home Video, and distributed to Christian stores by Word Distribution.

Narrated by Heston, each of the four films in the set—Genesis, The Story of Moses, Jesus of Nazareth and The Passion—retails for $12.97, and features a 28-minute behind-the-scenes featurette.

Additionally, King of Kings—widely regarded as one of the finest cinematic retellings of the life of Jesus—retails for $19.98 on Blu-ray.