NOMINATIONS
Best Picture
Best Cinematography, Color - Loyal Griggs
Best Editing - Anne Bauchens
Best Costume Design, Color - Edith Head/Ralph Jester/John Jensen/Dorothy Jeakins/Arnold Friberg
Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color - Hal Pereira/Walter H. Tyler/Albert Nozaki/Sam Comer/Ray Moyer
Best Sound, Recording - Loren L. Ryder
Best Effects, Special Effects - John P. Fulton (WON)
Now that I think about it, that might not be so bad. As a recent graduate of the film school (toot. toot.), I am equally interested in both the film itself and the behind-the-scenes fun! And truly, is there anything more beautiful than the inspiring dedication and zeal of producer/director Cecil B. DeMille? When I saw Sunset Boulevard, I knew why Norma Desmond would want to work with the master. DeMille may have taken some creative liberties with chronologies, and some critics may claim that his work is bloated and sappy, somewhat cheesy. But can you doubt his sincerity? Can you doubt his dedication? Can you doubt his ability to actually get a large cast and crew and finances together to make his enormous vision come to be? I'm pretty sure you can't.
It was only a matter of time before this movie showed up here. Its significance in my life combined with my dream of making Biblical epics made its presence an inevitability. It's been some time since I've seen it, but I did take an Old Testament course last semester that made me reread the story of Moses in its entirety (that's a high five moment). Let's take a journey on the Casting Coup Couch, shall we?:
JETHRO
Who is He: The father of Sephorah. Jethro, a Midianite priest, teaches the palace-raised Moses about the Jewish faith, eventually offering his daughter's hand in marriage.
Originally played by:
Eduard Franz (The Magnificent Yankee, The Thing from Another World)
My Choice: Academy Award/Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actor [in a Drama] (The Great White Hope), Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy (Claudine), Indie Spirit Nominee for Best Supporting Actor (Matewan), SAG Award Nominee for Best Actor (Cry the Beloved Country)
James Earl Jones (Star Wars, Coming Home)
If you're going to have a tribal leader that is also a priest, wouldn't you want James Earl Jones?
If you're going to have a tribal leader that is also a priest, wouldn't you want James Earl Jones?
BAKA
Who is He: An Egyptian overseer who delights in oppressing and whipping the Jewish slaves. He lusts after Lilia, and when he tries to kill Joshua over her, Moses kills him. Thus Moses has to flee, leading him to Jethro.
Originally played by: Indie Spirit Nominee for Best Supporting Actor (The Whales of August)
Vincent Price (Leave Her to Heaven, House of the Long Shadows)
My Choice: SAG Award Nominee for Best Ensemble (The English Patient)
Naveen Andrews (Rollerball, The Brave One)
Though only vaguely such, he played a kind of villainous (or at least ruthless) role in Grindhouse...with relish. I imagine he would also take great pleasure in a role like this, one where he gets a spectacular final scene!
Though only vaguely such, he played a kind of villainous (or at least ruthless) role in Grindhouse...with relish. I imagine he would also take great pleasure in a role like this, one where he gets a spectacular final scene!
MEMNET
Who is She: An Egyptian slave who served Bithiah, and now serves Nefretiri. She knows of Moses's true origins, and so Nefretiri gets rid of her to keep her silence.
Originally played by: Academy Award Nominee for Best Supporting Actress (Rebecca)
Judith Anderson (A Man Called Horse, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock)
My Choice: Academy Award Nominee/Indie Spirit Winner for Best Supporting Actress (House of Sand and Fog)
Shohreh Aghdashloo (The Stoning of Soraya M., The Adjustment Bureau)
Aghdashloo is mostly cast as doctors or scientists, with something stern about her. This sternness could be put to good use in the role of Memnet, a midwife with a stick up in her nethers. Because Memnet is also prideful, though, we'd get to see Aghdashloo play off her noble countenance. She could bring the sad, doomed loyalty that comes from the character of Memnet.
Aghdashloo is mostly cast as doctors or scientists, with something stern about her. This sternness could be put to good use in the role of Memnet, a midwife with a stick up in her nethers. Because Memnet is also prideful, though, we'd get to see Aghdashloo play off her noble countenance. She could bring the sad, doomed loyalty that comes from the character of Memnet.
YOCHEVED
Who is She: Moses's birth mother. She sends him into the reeds in hopes that someone will discover him and raise him, fearing the Pharaoh's baby massacre.
Originally played by: Academy Award Nominee for Best Actress (Our Town)
Martha Scott (In Old Oklahoma, Ben-Hur)
My Choice: Academy Award Nominee for Best Actress (An Officer and a Gentleman, Terms of Endearment, Shadowlands), BAFTA Award Nominee for Best Actress (Shadowlands), Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actress in a Drama (An Officer and a Gentleman, Terms of Endearment, A Dangerous Woman) and Best Supporting Actress (Urban Cowboy), Indie Spirit Nominee for Best Supporting Actress (Rachel Getting Married)
Debra Winger (Black Widow, The Sheltering Sky)
I believe in her ability to play a proud Jewish woman who will do anything for her son. The fact that she's a proud Jewish woman probably helps.
BITHIAH
Who is She: Moses's adopted mother. The daughter of Sethi, Bithiah is bathing with her maidens when a woven reed basket floats by...with a baby. Bithiah raises the baby as her own in the palace, making Moses a prince of Egypt.
Originally played by: Academy Award Nominee for Best Supporting Actress (Executive Suite)
Nina Foch (An American in Paris, Spartacus)
My Choice:
Amina Annabi (The Sheltering Sky, Cairo Time)
She exudes beauty and warmth. I can see her and Debra Winger walking together through the parted Red Sea.
SETHI I
Who is He: Pharaoh in Moses's youth. He orders the massacre of the Jewish firstborns when he fears a Hebrew uprising; unbeknownst to him, Moses is one of those Jewish firstborns. He winds up raising Moses alongside his son Rameses.
Originally played by:
Sir Cedric Hardwicke (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Richard III)
My Choice:
Jamie Farr (The Cannonball Run, Scrooged)
Miss him.
JOSHUA
Who is He: A frustrated Hebrew slave who yearns for freedom.
Originally played by:
John Derek (All the King's Men, Exodus)
My Choice: Academy Award/BAFTA Award/Golden Globe/SAG Award Nominee for Best Actor [in a Drama] (127 Hours), Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy (Pineapple Express), Indie Spirit Winner for Best Supporting Actor (Milk), SAG Award Nominee for Best Ensemble (Milk)
James Franco (Spider-Man, Howl)
Franco has enough confidence to play a future leader, but he's still youthful. You can see greatness in him, just as we should see greatness in Joshua. And he doesn't look stupid with a beard.
LILIA
Who is She: A beautiful female Jewish slave, beloved of Joshua. She serves water to the masters and slaves.
Originally played by:
Debra Paget (Tales of Terror, The Haunted Palace)
My Choice:
Emmanuelle Chriqui (Wrong Turn, You Don't Mess with the Zohan)
Lilia just needs a capable, beautiful actress. Chriqui is a solid actress...and a knock-out.
SEPHORA
Who is She: A Midianite woman, daughter of Jethro. She gives Moses water after his many days of wandering, an exile after the murder of Baka. She later marries him.
Originally played by:
Yvonne de Carlo (Munster Go Home, Satan's Cheerleaders)
My Choice: Academy Award/SAG Award Nominee for Best Supporting Actress, SAG Award Nominee for Best Ensemble (Hotel Rwanda)
Sophie Okonedo (Dirty Pretty Things, The Secret Life of Bees)
Sephora is the wife of the greatest leader in Jewish history. Shouldn't she be played by an actress who conveys class and wisdom as easily as she does beauty and grace?
DATHAN
Who is He: A Jewish overseer, he is the rare Hebrew with some pull in the government. The others, of course, see him as a traitor, lording over his fellow Hebrews. He is doubtful of Moses yet fearful of Yahweh. Dathan helps to lead the Golden Calf orgy at Sinai.
Originally played by:
Edward G. Robinson (Key Largo, Soylent Green)
My Choice: Hollmann Award Nominee for Best Actor (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly)
Mathieu Amalric (Wild Grass, On Tour)
He's delicious when he's villainous.
NEFRETIRI
Who is She: An Egyptian princess in love with Moses. She wants to marry and rule Egypt with him, even if it means getting rid of anyone who can bring to light his Jewish heritage. When he flees, she is left to wed Rameses.
Originally played by: Academy Award/Golden Globe Nominee for Best Supporting Actress (The Razor's Edge)
Anne Baxter (The Magnificent Ambersons, All About Eve)
My Choice: Academy Award/BAFTA Award/Golden Globe/SAG Award Nominee for Best Actress [in a Drama] (Frida)
Salma Hayek (Bandidas, Grown Ups)
Hayek has the fire to play the passionate Nefretiri, whether loving or scheming. We've seen her chutzpah on display in many a film and television show -- I was reminded of her talents while watching "30 Rock" on Netflix. She wouldn't look stupid with that hair, either.
RAMESES II
Who is He: Reigning pharaoh when Moses returns to let his people go. Rameses is hard-hearted, refusing to allow the slaves to go free. He is also an enemy of Moses from long ago, jealous of his popularity with women, the people, and Sethi. He loves Nefretiri, too, and makes her his queen when Moses leaves. Even when the Angel of Death takes his son, Rameses pursues the Israelite exiles.
Originally played by: Academy Award Winner/Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actor [in a Musical/Comedy] (The King and I)
Yul Brynner (Anastasia, The Magnificent Seven)
My Choice:
Oded Fehr (Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo, The Mummy)
Fehr is one of those commanding, handsome actors that never made it huge in Hollywood, for some reason. He could bring that presence -- and his accent -- to one of the greatest roles in history.
MOSES
Who is He: A Hebrew, born into slavery, raised in luxury. He discovers his heritage and protects his own when he sees a brutal Egyptian beating a Jew. The subsequent murder leads him to exile, where he meets with a God who tells him to free the Israelites from the bonds of slavery, leading them out of Egypt. He is the one of the great religious/historical leaders in the world.
Originally played by: Academy Award Winner for Best Actor (Ben-Hur), Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actor in a Drama (The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur) and in a Musical/Comedy (The Pigeon That Took Rome)
Charlton Heston (Touch of Evil, Planet of the Apes)
My Choice:
Eric Bana (Troy, Munich)
Bana as leader: Troy and Munich. Bana with beard: Troy and Munich. Bana as Jewish hero: Munich. If Bana looks like he did in the above, we're guaranteed the female audience. Besides, I like Bana. Underrated actor.
I believe in her ability to play a proud Jewish woman who will do anything for her son. The fact that she's a proud Jewish woman probably helps.
BITHIAH
Who is She: Moses's adopted mother. The daughter of Sethi, Bithiah is bathing with her maidens when a woven reed basket floats by...with a baby. Bithiah raises the baby as her own in the palace, making Moses a prince of Egypt.
Originally played by: Academy Award Nominee for Best Supporting Actress (Executive Suite)
My Choice:
She exudes beauty and warmth. I can see her and Debra Winger walking together through the parted Red Sea.
SETHI I
Who is He: Pharaoh in Moses's youth. He orders the massacre of the Jewish firstborns when he fears a Hebrew uprising; unbeknownst to him, Moses is one of those Jewish firstborns. He winds up raising Moses alongside his son Rameses.
Originally played by:
My Choice:
Miss him.
JOSHUA
Who is He: A frustrated Hebrew slave who yearns for freedom.
Originally played by:
My Choice: Academy Award/BAFTA Award/Golden Globe/SAG Award Nominee for Best Actor [in a Drama] (127 Hours), Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy (Pineapple Express), Indie Spirit Winner for Best Supporting Actor (Milk), SAG Award Nominee for Best Ensemble (Milk)
Franco has enough confidence to play a future leader, but he's still youthful. You can see greatness in him, just as we should see greatness in Joshua. And he doesn't look stupid with a beard.
LILIA
Who is She: A beautiful female Jewish slave, beloved of Joshua. She serves water to the masters and slaves.
Originally played by:
My Choice:
Lilia just needs a capable, beautiful actress. Chriqui is a solid actress...and a knock-out.
SEPHORA
Who is She: A Midianite woman, daughter of Jethro. She gives Moses water after his many days of wandering, an exile after the murder of Baka. She later marries him.
Originally played by:
My Choice: Academy Award/SAG Award Nominee for Best Supporting Actress, SAG Award Nominee for Best Ensemble (Hotel Rwanda)
Sephora is the wife of the greatest leader in Jewish history. Shouldn't she be played by an actress who conveys class and wisdom as easily as she does beauty and grace?
DATHAN
Who is He: A Jewish overseer, he is the rare Hebrew with some pull in the government. The others, of course, see him as a traitor, lording over his fellow Hebrews. He is doubtful of Moses yet fearful of Yahweh. Dathan helps to lead the Golden Calf orgy at Sinai.
Originally played by:
My Choice: Hollmann Award Nominee for Best Actor (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly)
He's delicious when he's villainous.
NEFRETIRI
Who is She: An Egyptian princess in love with Moses. She wants to marry and rule Egypt with him, even if it means getting rid of anyone who can bring to light his Jewish heritage. When he flees, she is left to wed Rameses.
Originally played by: Academy Award/Golden Globe Nominee for Best Supporting Actress (The Razor's Edge)
My Choice: Academy Award/BAFTA Award/Golden Globe/SAG Award Nominee for Best Actress [in a Drama] (Frida)
Hayek has the fire to play the passionate Nefretiri, whether loving or scheming. We've seen her chutzpah on display in many a film and television show -- I was reminded of her talents while watching "30 Rock" on Netflix. She wouldn't look stupid with that hair, either.
RAMESES II
Who is He: Reigning pharaoh when Moses returns to let his people go. Rameses is hard-hearted, refusing to allow the slaves to go free. He is also an enemy of Moses from long ago, jealous of his popularity with women, the people, and Sethi. He loves Nefretiri, too, and makes her his queen when Moses leaves. Even when the Angel of Death takes his son, Rameses pursues the Israelite exiles.
Originally played by: Academy Award Winner/Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actor [in a Musical/Comedy] (The King and I)
My Choice:
Fehr is one of those commanding, handsome actors that never made it huge in Hollywood, for some reason. He could bring that presence -- and his accent -- to one of the greatest roles in history.
MOSES
Who is He: A Hebrew, born into slavery, raised in luxury. He discovers his heritage and protects his own when he sees a brutal Egyptian beating a Jew. The subsequent murder leads him to exile, where he meets with a God who tells him to free the Israelites from the bonds of slavery, leading them out of Egypt. He is the one of the great religious/historical leaders in the world.
Originally played by: Academy Award Winner for Best Actor (Ben-Hur), Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actor in a Drama (The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur) and in a Musical/Comedy (The Pigeon That Took Rome)
My Choice:
Bana as leader: Troy and Munich. Bana with beard: Troy and Munich. Bana as Jewish hero: Munich. If Bana looks like he did in the above, we're guaranteed the female audience. Besides, I like Bana. Underrated actor.
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
Best Actor: Eric Bana
Best Supporting Actor: Mathieu Amalric, Naveen Andrews, Jamie Farr, Oded Fehr, James Franco, James Earl Jones
Best Supporting Actress: Shohreh Aghdashloo, Amina Annabi, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Salma Hayek, Sophie Okonedo, Debra Winger
*By the third time, I started spacing out and would skip the parts with Sephora and anything after the Red Sea. Because for me, it was all about Rameses and Nefretiri. Anne Baxter had kind of a wonderful hold on me.
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