In 1997, Jeffrey Katzenberg of DreamWorks asked me to come to Los Angeles to preview a movie that was still in its early stages. What I witnessed was an animated version of the Biblical story of Moses called, “The Prince of Egypt.” It left a great impression on me.
In March of this year, I was asked back, this time to see the film in its closing stages. Having seen the movie in its entirety, I can honestly say that it is bound to be a hit: the story, the animation, the special effects and the music are captivating. Moreover, this is a film that will be enjoyed as much by adults as by children.
Catholic League members know how hard we have fought movies like “Priest,” TV shows like “Nothing Sacred” and plays like “Corpus Christi.” In all three cases, the productions failed and the Catholic League scored big. Now it is time for DreamWorks and the Catholic League to be on the same side of victory, and that is why I am urging all of you to bring your families to see this movie during the holidays.
Katzenberg wants our support because he knows that there are many Americans, of all faiths, who are critical of much of the work being done by Hollywood. He has committed big bucks to this movie and if it doesn’t go over big, it will send a message to Hollywood that people like us really don’t care. On the other hand, if it is the success I think it will be, the likelihood that we will see similar fare in the future is good.
Go see “The Prince of Egypt.” You’ll be doing yourself a favor and putting your imprint on the culture at the same time.
William Donohue
