<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> <P> Sets, costumes and props from the film The Egyptian were bought and re-used for The Ten Commandments . As the events in The Egyptian take place 70 years before the reign of Rameses II, an unintentional sense of continuity was created . </P> <P> An Egyptian wall painting was also the source for the lively dance performed by a circle of young women at Seti's birthday gala . Their movements and costumes are based on art from the Tomb of the Sixth Dynasty Grand Vizier Mehu . Some of the film's cast members, such as Baxter, Paget, Derek, and Foch, wore brown contact lenses, at the behest of DeMille, in order to conceal their light - colored eyes which were considered inadequate for their roles . Paget once said that, "If it hadn't been for the lenses I wouldn't have got the part ." However, she also said that the lenses were "awful to work in because the kleig lights heat them up". When DeMille cast Yvonne De Carlo as Sephora, she was worried about having to wear these contact lenses; she also believed that her gray eyes were her best feature . She asked DeMille to make an exception for her . He agreed, expressing the idea that De Carlo's role was special, and that Moses was to fall in love with her . </P>

Who played ramses wife in the ten commandments