This film feels like two distinct narratives joined together, highlighting both Cecil B. DeMille's remarkable ambition and his difficulty with brevity. The initial segment portrays events from Exodus and Leviticus in the Old Testament – specifically, Moses guiding enslaved people out of Egypt and delivering the Ten Commandments while they construct the Tabernacle. Later, the film updates these principles, setting a family drama against the backdrop of 1920s America where two brothers compete for a woman's attention, one pursuing wealth and recognition, the other desiring simpler happiness. Both sections emphasize the importance of the Commandments as fundamental guidelines for ethical behavior, and they don’t hesitate to show harsh consequences for those who break them. The first section features a memorable musical score and, considering when it was made, quite remarkable special effects—the Red Sea parting being a standout example. However, the second part is less compelling; it's a somewhat heavy-handed story about greed and materialism, which wasn’t particularly unique then, nor is it now. With an enormous budget of $1.8 million for its time, the scope of the first section—the cinematography, the large number of extras—is truly impressive and believable. The performances improve in the second act, with Richard Dix and Rod La Rocque effectively portraying the brothers, and Nita Naldi standing out as "Sally Lung," a Eurasian woman who is alluring. Like many silent films, it relies heavily on actors' expressions, and this one doesn’t fail to deliver—even if there are moments of excessive theatricality. Overall, I lean towards DeMille’s 1956 remake, but the difference isn't significant, and if you happen to have a few free hours, this is undeniably an excellent example of large-scale filmmaking from a director with a unique vision.

Source on TMDB