Curio: Yul Brynner's Photographic Journey

Alexa here. Yul Brynner has always been a favorite of mine, maybe because The King and I was the first musical I ever saw. Or maybe because my old Ukrainian great-grandmother swore he was the spitting image of her brother. Or maybe it was just his mellifluous voice and shiny dome. But it wasn't until I spotted the recent press on an exhibit of his photographs in New York that I was aware he was such an avid photographer.

In honor of the 25th anniversary of his death, a new, four-volume book celebrates his life in pictures. Edited by his daughter Victoria, Yul: A Photographic Journey includes four volumes: "Lifestyle", "Life On Set", "1956" (the pivotal year when he starred in The King and I, The Ten Commandments and Anastasia) and "Man of Style" (containing portraits of Brynner by famous photographers). I was most taken with his portraits of other actors. Here's a sampling. You can order a copy of the set here.

I really wish more actors would take up photography! Jeff Bridges is another example of an actor who kills time between takes with his camera. But maybe today's paparazzi culture has lessened the desire to document life on set.

20:07 (Moses Moses x 2)

Screenshots from the 20th minute and 7th second of movies
(can't guarantee the same results at home. I use a VLC)

Listen -- the trumpets tell all the world he’s come back to me! Hear them and all their shouts drowned by the beating of my heart

This first glimpse of Cecil B DeMille's eternal VistaVision classic The Ten Commandments is not at the 20:07 mark but I had to lead off with it. You see, my holy trinity of takeaways from this BIG movie break down like this:

1. Yul Brynner's commanding presence


2. The parting of the Red Sea (used to wow me as a tyke)


3. Anne Baxter's boo-hiss femme fatale Nefretiri. In the screenshot above she's all hot and bothered about what's happening at this, the 20:07 mark. Witness...

The looooooord Moses: Prince of Egypt. Son of the pharoah’s sister

Pomp and circumstance, 50s VistaVision style. Every time I catch a glimpse of this movie I desperately want to get lost in Baxter's über quotability or Yul Brynner's bald everything. I know it's not original or revelatory to announced that I adore Baxter's "Moses Moses you splendid adorable fool" but when it comes to bible epics, I'm but a member of the vast gay flock ... and Camp is my shepherd.

No other Moses movies can compete but here's DeMille's first try (They've already let his people go?!!! Bible speed reading I tell you. Or did I put in the wrong disc. wha...?)

[title card preceeding this shot] All the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. And they despoiled the Egyptians of jewels of silver, jewels of gold, and raiment. [Exodus 12:41-36]