DreamWorks' The Prince of Egypt, a 1998 American animated musical drama, tells the story of Moses, from his life as an Egyptian prince to his destiny as the leader who would free the Hebrews from slavery. Directed by Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner, and Simon Wells, the film has been praised for its visuals, songs, score, and voice acting.
The Prince of Egypt movie poster
Story and Production
Jeffrey Katzenberg had wanted to produce a film adaptation of the life of Moses. The idea for The Prince of Egypt was discussed at the formation of DreamWorks Pictures on October 12, 1994, when Katzenberg's partners, Steven Spielberg, and David Geffen, were meeting in Spielberg's living room.
The film is an adaptation of the Book of Exodus and follows the life of Moses from being a prince of Egypt to a prophet chosen by God to carry out his ultimate destiny of leading the Hebrews out of Egypt. It features songs written by Stephen Schwartz and a score composed by Hans Zimmer.
To ensure theological accuracy, DreamWorks consulted with Biblical scholars, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim theologians, and Arab American leaders. The animation team, including 350 artists from 34 different nations, was recruited from Walt Disney Feature Animation and Amblimation.
Read also: Exploring The Prince of Egypt's Impact
Plot Summary
In Ancient Egypt, the enslaved Hebrew people pray to God for deliverance. Pharaoh Seti, fearing that the growing numbers of Hebrews could lead to rebellion, orders a mass infanticide of all newborn Hebrew boys.
Yocheved saves her son Moses by placing him in a basket on the Nile. Miriam follows the basket as it floats to Seti's palace and witnesses her brother safely adopted by Seti's wife, Queen Tuya, who names him Moses. Years later, Moses learns the truth about his heritage and his destiny to free the Hebrews.
Moses casts the first of the Ten Plagues of Egypt by changing the waters of the Nile into blood, but Rameses remains unmoved. God inflicts eight more plagues onto Egypt: frogs, lice, flies, livestock pestilence, boils, hailfire, locusts, and prolonged darkness, but still Rameses refuses to relent, vowing never to release the Hebrews. Grief-stricken, Rameses permits the Hebrews to leave after the tenth plague kills all the firstborn sons of Egypt, including Rameses's young son.
Once at the Red Sea, a vengeful Rameses pursues them with his army, intent on killing them. However, a pillar of fire blocks the army's way, while Moses uses his staff to part the sea. The Hebrews cross the open sea bottom; the fire vanishes and the army gives chase, but the sea closes over and drowns the Egyptian soldiers, sparing Rameses alone.
Moses parting the Red Sea
Read also: "When You Believe" analysis
Voice Cast
The film features an impressive cast of voice talent, including:
- Val Kilmer as Moses
- Ralph Fiennes as Rameses
- Michelle Pfeiffer as Tzipporah
- Steve Martin as Hotep
- Martin Short as Huy
- Ofra Haza as Yocheved
Soundtrack
The soundtrack of The Prince of Egypt combines elements from the score composed by Hans Zimmer and film songs by Stephen Schwartz. The songs were either voiced over by professional singers, such as Salisbury Cathedral Choir, or sung by the film's voice actors, such as Michelle Pfeiffer and Ofra Haza. DreamWorks Records released three soundtrack albums simultaneously for The Prince of Egypt, each of them aimed towards a different target audience.
Here's a list of songs featured in the movie:
- "Deliver Us" (Main Title)
- The River
- Chariot Race
- One Weak Link
- Rameses' Hiding Place
- Desert Flower
- You Are Our Brother
- "All I Ever Wanted"
- Hieroglyph Nightmare
- "Sacrifice"
- This is Your Home
- Slavery
- The Sand Storm
- "Through Heaven's Eyes"
- Burning Bush
- The Mission
- Let My People Go
- "Playing with the Big Boys"
- Rameses vs. Moses
- Nile of Blood
- "Plagues"
- Ultimatum
- Death of the Firstborn
- "When You Believe"
- Parting the Red Sea
- The Closing of the Red Sea
- Goodbye Brother
DVD and Blu-ray Details
The Prince of Egypt was released on DVD, VHS, and LaserDisc in the United States on September 14, 1999. The DVD includes various extras, such as an audio commentary, making-of featurette, multi-language presentation of "When You Believe," and a focus on technical aspects. The Blu-ray release offers superior colors and accuracy, but the picture quality seems dated and flawed.
Blu-ray Audio and Video Quality
The Prince of Egypt appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 1.85:1 on this Blu-ray Disc. The film boasted a nice layer of grain, but it also came with occasional spots, specks and marks. Colors went with a fairly earthy palette that emphasized sandy tones and reds.
Read also: "The Prince of Egypt" Streaming Guide
The Prince of Egypt's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is largely well rounded and engaging. During much of the film, the forward channels dominate the action, and they do so nicely. Audio seemed precisely placed with the environment and all sounds blended together neatly.
Reception and Legacy
Reviews for The Prince of Egypt were generally positive, with critics praising the visuals, songs, score, and voice acting. The film grossed $218 million worldwide in theaters, making it the most successful non-Disney animated feature at the time. The song "When You Believe" won Best Original Song at the 71st Academy Awards.
Since its release, the film continues to receive acclaim from critics and audiences alike. It is celebrated for its dark but inspirational tone and its portrayal of complex emotions and history.
Here's a summary of the film's key details:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Directors | Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner, Simon Wells |
| Music | Stephen Schwartz (songs), Hans Zimmer (score) |
| Voice Cast | Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Steve Martin, Martin Short, Ofra Haza |
| Release Date | September 14, 1999 (DVD) |
| Box Office | $218 million worldwide |
| Academy Award | Best Original Song ("When You Believe") |
The Making of The Prince Of Egypt
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