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AVARICE AMONG THE AVOCADOS 89 tough-willed, 110 pounds of business agility. DeMille set forth his idea gently so as not to roil the little prexy. For a moment it appeared a reaction might be stirred up second only to Bikini. "The story of Moses! The Exodus!" Zukor flushed and slumped into his chair, an action capable of causing a man of his size to disappear from view. From the leathery depths came a moan of disbelief. "Old men wearing tablecloths and beards! Cecil, a picture like this would ruin us." DeMille essayed the hope the studio would advance a budget in keeping with a project of this dimension. "How much?", asked Zukor, stiffening. "A million dollars," said DeMille. If mere mention of the nature of the project had engulfed the executive, the new demand left him speechless. Before Zukor could recover, DeMille was spewing arguments like an uncorked Vesuvius: Egypt... the glory of the Pharaohs ... the children bf Israel in bondage... thousands toiling in the desert under the grinding heel of slavery... Moses pleading for their liberation... Moses leading them forth... a nation on the march... men, women, children, animals,.. Pharaoh's war chariots in pursuit ... the Israelites standing at the Red Sea.,. death in the waters or capture— His eyes were shining. "Think of it," he cried, "Well be the first studio in history to open and close the Red Sea!" Sunk in morose silence, Zukor came to life at this dreamy ejaculation, "Or maybe," he said, "the first director to open and close Paramount." DeMille did not have in mind a religious picture in the usual sense. The Ten Commandments would be a story of sin and there would perforce be scenes showing plenty of sinning. This would give it "mass appeal," an elusive ingredient which some- how makes that which is artistic also profitable. The orgy before the Golden Calf was planned as the key