The Bible in film in Genesis was the 1904 French film "Joseph Vendu Par Ses Frères" ("Joseph Sold by his Brothers"). Enrico Guazzoni's 1913 Italian epic "Quo Vadis?" is often considered the first successful feature-length motion picture and one of the first films with over two hours running time. Cecil B. DeMille specialized in extravagant epics throughout a career that spanned both the silent and sound eras. His 1923 silent version of "The Ten Commandments" (1923) included spectacular special effects for the parting of the Red Sea. De Mille followed "The Ten Commandments" in 1927 with "King of Kings", a lavish, reverential life of
Agnes de Mille successfully integrated dance into the musical's plot. Instead of functioning as an interlude or "divertissement", the ballet provided key insights into the heroine's emotional troubles. De Mille went on to choreograph over a dozen other musicals, most notably "Bloomer Girl" (1944), "Carousel" (1945), "Allegro" (1947, Director as well as choreographer), "Brigadoon" (1947, for which she was co-recipient of the inaugural Tony Award for Best Choreography), "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (1949), "Paint Your Wagon" (1951), "The Girl in Pink Tights" (1954), "Goldilocks" (1957), and "110 in the Shade" (1963). De Mille's success on Broadway did not translate into success in film. Her