<P> For the Large Crowd shots, at least 14,000 extras and 15,000 animals were used while filming this movie . </P> <P> Commentary for the film's DVD edition chronicles the historical research done by DeMille and associates . Katherine Orrison says that many details of Moses' life left out of the Bible are present in the Quran, which was sometimes used as a source . She also presents some coincidences in production . The man who designed Moses' distinctive rust - white - and - black - striped robe used those colors because they looked impressive, and only later discovered that these are the actual colors of the Tribe of Levi . Arnold Friberg would later state that he was the one who designed Moses' costume . As a gift, after the production, DeMille gave Moses' robe to Friberg, who had it in his possession until his death in 2010 . Moses' robe as worn by Charlton Heston was hand - woven by Dorothea Hulse, one of the world's finest weavers . She also created costumes for The Robe, as well as textiles and costume fabrics for Samson and Delilah, David and Bathsheba, and others . </P> <P> Jesse Lasky Jr., a co-writer on The Ten Commandments, described how DeMille would customarily spread out prints of paintings by Lawrence Alma - Tadema to inform his set designers on the look he wanted to achieve . Arnold Friberg, in addition to designing sets and costumes, also contributed the manner in which Moses ordained Joshua to his mission at the end of the film: by the laying on of hands, placing his hands on Joshua's head . Friberg, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints, demonstrated the LDS manner of performing such ordinations, and DeMille liked it . </P> <P> Pharaoh is usually shown wearing the red - and - white crown of Upper and Lower Egypt or the nemes royal headdress . For his pursuit of the Israelites, he wears the blue Khepresh helmet - crown, which the pharaohs wore for battle . </P>

Who played jesus in the ten commandments movie