The Bible in film religious epics produced as vehicles for its biggest stars. "Samson and Delilah" was the biggest moneymaking movie of 1949 and is considered the picture that sparked the biblical-epic film craze of the 1950s. It was followed by two of 1951’s biggest box-office hits, "Quo Vadis" and "David and Bathsheba". Charlton Heston starred in Cecil B. DeMille's "The Ten Commandments" and "Ben-Hur". According to author Diane Apostolos-Cappadona, in the 1950s and 1960s, during the era of the production code, "the most acceptable cinematic path for movies to incorporate sex and violence was the biblical epic". Basing a film on the Bible
Carmen (1915 Cecil B. DeMille film) Carmen (1915 Cecil B. DeMille film) Carmen is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. The film is based on the novella "Carmen" by Prosper Mérimée. The existing versions of this film appear to be from the re-edited 1918 re-release. Don José, an officer of the law, is seduced by the gypsy girl Carmen, in order to facilitate her clan's smuggling endeavors. Don José becomes obsessed, turning to violent crime himself in order to keep her attention. DeMille had intended to film a musical version of George Bizet's opera "Carmen", but its libretto was under copyright