The Lion King ***** (1994, voices Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones) – Classic Movie Review 1620

Directors Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff’s 1994 animation favourite featuring Matthew Broderick as the voice of the lion Simba (and Jonathan Taylor Thomas as his young cub version) is one of the Walt Disney studio’s finest, most delightful and best-loved animations. It is one of those relatively rare, treasurable films that provide as much entertainment and built-in appeal for adults as it does for children.

It continues the studio’s Nineties run of animation success with a timeless African-set story, attractively drawn visuals and a well-constructed screenplay in the classic Disney manner, all handled with plenty of confidence and flair.

It won two Oscars, for Best Original Song [Can You Feel the Love Tonight?, Elton John (music), Tim Rice (lyrics)] and Best Original Score (Hans Zimmer), with John and Rice’s songs Circle of Life and Hakuna Matata also Oscar nominated.

It is surprisingly Disney’s first ever animated feature based on original material. Jonathan Roberts, Irene Mecchi and Linda Woolverton wrote the screenplay but there are an amazing 18 credited writers for the story. It follows the saga of the young lion cub Simba as he gets into trouble while he searches for his identity and embarks on his heroic journey to claim his destined role as king of the jungle.

Simba’s wicked Uncle Scar would have been king after Mufasa had Mufasa not had a son, so Scar plots to kill Mufasa and Simba to take over the throne of the Pride Lands. Scar uses the hyenas to cause a stampede, killing Mufasa, but Simba escapes, blaming himself for his father’s death.

Hans Zimmer’s score and the five new Elton John-Tim Rice songs (‘Circle of Life, ‘I Just Can’t Wait To Be King’, ‘Be Prepared’, ‘Hakuna Matata’ and ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight?’) are huge assets to enjoyment of the movie. The superb art direction is by Andy Gaskill and lovely production designs are by Chris Sanders.

Other voices are provided by Jeremy Irons (Simba’s Uncle Scar), James Earl Jones (Simba’s father, King Mufasa), Moira Kelly (Simba’s childhood friend Nala), Nathan Lane (Timon the Meerkat), Ernie Sabella (Pumbaa the Warthog), Robert Guillaume (voicing Rafiki), Rowan Atkinson (Zazu), Whoopi Goldberg (Shenzi), Jonathan Taylor Thomas (Young Simba) and Cheech Marin (Banzai). The vocal performances throughout are strong, pleasing and distinctive.

The 2003 DVD Special Edition is a real collector’s item and contains audio commentaries, deleted scenes, two new music videos, documentaries and exciting games.

It is the basis of the long-running Broadway and London hit stage show. It opened on Broadway in November 1997 and at the Lyceum Theatre in London in 1999.

The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride and The Lion King III followed in 1998 and 2004.

Longtime partners Elton John and David Furnish got married on Sunday 21 December 2014. ‘For this legislation to come through is joyous, and we should celebrate it,’ Elton said.

Two-time Emmy winner Robert Guillaume died on 24 October 2017, aged 89, after battling prostate cancer. He was best known for the TV shows Benson and Soap, as well as playing Dr Bennett Senior in Big Fish (2003) and voicing Rafiki in The Lion King and its sequels.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1620

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