Extras flocked to other side prior to Pharoah's pursuit

Annotated photograph used in the production process for the `Parting of the Red Sea' sequence from the film THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, 1955: Extras flocked to other side prior to Pharoah's pursuit, sea wall partially added, no. #FF 113AX-2.

Preliminary insertion by the optical department of Paramount Pictures of the left water wall's end and markings in orange to indicate the parameters of the right water wall. The perspective shows black matte around the water element, which would later be eliminated by miniature sky effects consisting of coloured britt smoke. Latent holes for rocky matte paitings can also be seen. Double for actor John Derek stands on the right side with his hand on a rock.

The parting of the Read Sea sequence is one of the most impressive in The Ten Commandments. It was created thorugh a combination of rear projection and optical photography. The sequence took 6 months to create, with scenes shot on the banks of the Red Sea and at the Paramount backlot.

The wall of water was created at Paramount on 1/5th scale using a tilted ramp approximately 32 feet high and 80 feet long. The water was supplied by an elevated tank through 15 manually controlled hydraulically operated valves allowing the 360,000 gallons of water to cascade down in a thin sheet. Along the ramp were long wooden batons which caused the water to break up into choppy tides and undertow. This shot was then used in reverse to give the impression of the water going up and the sea parting. All elements were combined in an optical printer and matte paintings of rocks concealed the matte lines between the 'real' location shots and the special effects.