Moses 

A retelling of the Bible story. Pharaoh Ramses II decrees the death of all Hebrew children, but Moses, placed in a basket in the Nile by his mother, is taken by a royal Princess and raised ... See full summary »

Stars:

Ben Kingsley, Frank Langella, Christopher Lee

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ben Kingsley	...	Moses
Frank Langella	...	Mermefta
Christopher Lee	...	Ramses
Anna Galiena	...	Ptira
Enrico Lo Verso	...	Joshua
David Suchet	...	Aaron
Maurice Roëves	...	Zerack
Anthony Higgins	...	Korach
Philippe Leroy	...	Tuntmin (as Philippe Le Roy)
Philip Stone	...	Jethro
Anton Lesser	...	Eliav
Anita Zagaria	...	Jochabed
Dudley Sutton	...	High priest
Federico Pacifici	...	Hur
Urbano Barberini	...	Nahbi

Storyline

A retelling of the Bible story. Pharaoh Ramses II decrees the death of all Hebrew children, but Moses, placed in a basket in the Nile by his mother, is taken by a royal Princess and raised as the brother of the heir to the throne of Egypt, Mermefta. Moses is called by God to lead his people from Egypt to the promised land. A very reluctant prophet, feeling unworthy of the call, Moses accepts the task. After a series of plagues, Mermefta agrees to let the Hebrews go. With second thoughts, he pursues them to annihilation of his army in the parting of the Red Sea. Starvation is averted by manna from heaven, the ten commandments are given the people through Moses, they go astray with worship of the golden calf. Forty years of wandering in the wilderness, until finally they reach what will be their home (which Moses lives to see, but not to enter).

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Plot Keywords:

tv mini series | pharaoh | egypt | red sea | plague | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Biography | Crime | Drama | History

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Details

Official Sites:

Five Mile River Films

Country:

Czech Republic UK France Italy Germany Spain USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 April 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Bible: Moses

Filming Locations:

Agadir, Morocco

Company Credits

Production Co:

Antena 3 Televisión,Beta Film,British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

188 min 176 min (2 parts)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the first time Sir Christopher Lee played a Pharaoh. The second time he played Ramses I in In the Beginning (2000). In this movie, he played Ramses II, who is the grandson of Ramses I.

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Quotes

Moses: The Lord has spoken.

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Connections

Follows Joseph (1995)

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Soundtracks

Background music
Organized by Enrico de Melis
Performed by Orchestra Sinfonica A. M. O. di R.
Conducted by Marco Frisina
Chorus - Accademia Polifonica de Roma
Directed by Fabrizio Barchi
Paola Cecchi - solo voice

User Reviews

The Most Faithful Adaptation of the Exodus and the Best

I would like to start with the statement that I am an intelligent man who has actually read the bible. I know what is correct and what is not correct. This may not be the most glamorous or fast-moving adaptation of the Exodus by why have those when you have this which is truest to life and truest to scriptures?

Moses stutters like in the bible and for an added bonus he feels inferior and and is laughed at by the Egyptian court. He became a man confused and tormented by his origins, wondered if he was Egyptian or Hebrew and when he killed an Egyptian in anger and he fled from his mistake. When he found peace in Midian, Moses begged God not to send him back to Egypt to free the Hebrews. This is a human Moses who doubts God at times yet still keeps his faith. This is a Moses that endured disappointments, hardships and setbacks and fulfilled his God-given mission. This Moses is Moses.

As for the addition of Jethro advising Moses, it is a very moving scene and unless you are a heartless beast like some reviewers on here you will be moved by Jethro's advising of Moses. For another moving scene there is when Moses assembles the Hebrews to hear God's voice. While some flee in fear there are those who stand up and feel the spirit of God himself.

Now, I would like to give some information about the choice of Pharaohs. Moses' date of birth was first given as 1391 BC in Seder Olam Rabbah, a second century Hebrew language chronology. Later the Christian Jerome gave it as 1592 BC. The final date of birth given is 1571 BC by James Ussher. Ramesses II was not born until 1303 BC meaning that "The Ten Commandments" got the Pharaoh of the Exodus wrong. By default this also means that Merneptah, the Pharaoh of the Exodus in this film, is not the correct Pharaoh either. Going by the dates of birth, Moses being eighty at the time of the Exodus and lining this up with Egyptian history the Pharaoh would be Horemheb (1311), Thutmose I (1512) or Thutmose II (1491). I don't hold the decision of Merneptah being the Pharaoh of the Exodus against the film, I find it preferable to the endless parade of Ramesses II that Cecil B. DeMille has spawned. Ramesses II still appears but thankfully he is the Pharaoh of the Oppression so I don't have to suffer any DeMille imitation.

There is excellent actors in this, an excellent script and the production values are enough to put DeMille to shame. This is the most faithful and best adaptation of the Exodus out there. All you need is the intelligence and heart to see it.