Beschreibung:

Typed transcript on yellow paper, 36 pp, with 2 mimeographed copies, retyped, 26 pp each, of director Cecil B. DeMille as he directs The Ten Commandments (1956). This document is a fascinating dialogue between DeMille and his assistants as they address the stars (including John Carradine, Nina Foch, "Chuck" Heston, and others) and the crowd of actors while shooting scenes for the biblical epic starring Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner Every detail of DeMille's direction is transcribed, including requests of extras: "Now the man with the white headdress step forward a little bit and face the sea–don't face me." When one assistant does not answer DeMille's command, DeMille barks, "Say aye aye, sir! or go to hell or something." DeMille's directions are extremely specific on placement of actors' hands, heads, props, headdresses, and expressions. He is blunt and curt but admits when he makes a mistake. When they are filming the parting of the Red Sea, DeMille is incensed that people are laughing. He warns one little girl, "Listen, if you laugh I'm going to throw you right through the blue screen. You understand?" He throws one extra off the set permanently (the all caps in the script denotes yelling): "GET HIM OFF THE SET. GET OFF BROTHER. YOU'LL FIND SOME GOOD COMEDIES PLAYING ELSEWHERE." When the extras are not responding incredulously as DeMille asked, he sarcastically comments: "Apparently you see an ocean divide and close every day on your way back and forth from the studio." The atmosphere one feels through the reading of the transcript is frenetic; DeMille is so vocal, alternately joking and yelling, that one expects him to drop dead from a heart attack. His brilliance as a director and his ability to handle a film of this scale is astounding. Accompanied by 5 Christmas/New Years cards from DeMille, with inscriptions and signatures, to Donald MacLean, assistant to DeMille on the film; and MacLean's invitation to the opening of the film on November 14, 1956. 8.5 x 11 in.