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This Day in Pop Culture

This Day in Pop Culture for October 5

“The Ten Commandments” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s

October 5, 2020

2–3 minutes

1956: Moses Makes a Big Splash

One of the most famous faith-based films, The Ten Commandments, was released today in 1956 as a preview in Salt Lake City. The epic, produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille, tells the story of Moses. The film was shot in Egypt, Mount Sinai and the Sinai Peninsula.

The movie starred Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter, Edward G. Robinson and Vincent Price. Yvonne De Carlo, who is best known as Lily from The Munsters TV show, played Sephora.

The movie was DeMille’s last and most successful film and ironically was partially a remake of his silent film of the same name that was created in 1923. At the time, it was the most expensive film ever made and is one of the most financially successful ones too.

The Ten Commandments was nominated for seven Academy Awards but only won one for Best Visual Effects. ABC has aired the movie every year near Easter since 1973. (Image: Wikimedia)

1961: Eating Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in *Breakfast at Tiffany’s (TVDB)*

Even if you’ve never seen the romantic comedy Breakfast at Tiffany’s, you’ve seen images of Audrey Hepburn as the eccentric socialite Holly Golightly. But Hepburn wasn’t the first choice for the character. Directed by Blake Edwards, the movie was based on Truman Capote’s novella of the same name. He wanted Marilyn Monroe to play the part but she declined. Other choices for the part included Shirley MacLaine and Kim Novak. When Paramount chose Hepburn, Capote felt betrayed.

When it came to the leading man’s role, Steve McQueen was offered the role of Paul Varjak. So was Jack Lemmon and Robert Wagner. In the end, George Peppard won the part of the writer who moved into Holly’s apartment building. The most controversial part was filled by Mickey Rooney. He played, Mr. Yunioshi, a stereotypical caricature of a Japanese man.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s was nominated for five Academy Awards and Henry Mancini won two Oscars for Best Music Score and for the song, “Moon River”.