BRIGHAM YOUNG
US, 1940, 114 minutes, Black and white.
Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell, Dean Jagger, Vincent Price, Brian Donleavy, Jane Darwell, John Carradine, Mary Astor.
Directed by Henry Hathaway.
Typical of the westerns and frontier films made by Twentieth Century Fox around 1940, for example, Jesse James and its sequel and Western Union. It is also reminiscent of the classic Grapes of Wrath made about the same time with its picture of people in poverty, people on the move, pioneers and oppression.
However, the film is somewhat colourless even though basically interesting. The characters are quite well written but do not have verve and vitality. There are interesting sequences of religious persecution in the Midwest, the pioneer trek of the Mormons to Utah and the difficulties in establishing Salt Lake City. The film is interesting in its screenplay - it shows the religious attitudes of the Mormons but shows predominantly their equalising and socialising interests. The picture of the United States with equal rights and equal opportunity is very strong.
Dean Jagger does well in the central role but the film is also a star vehicle for Tyrone Power and Linda Darnell. However, they do not emerge strongly. There are good supporting roles for John Carradine, Jane Darwell and especially for Vincent Price as Joseph Smith. There is a rousing score by Alfred Newman. Direction is by Henry Hathaway, who made many action adventures over several decades including the first colour western The Trail Of The Lonesome Pine and John Wayne's Oscar-winning True Grit. The film is a piece of Americana, patriotism, plea for religious tolerance.
1. Audience interest in the opening up of the west, the Mormons, the Mormons as an American phenomenon? The western background of this film?
2. Black and white photography, outdoor sequences, studio sequences? The visuals of religious persecution, the trek across America, the Rockies and the establishment of Salt Lake City? The rousing musical score and its atmosphere? The contribution of the stars and their popularity at this time?
3. The conventions of the western: the establishment of the situation, crises, the setting out on the trek, the difficulties and hardships, the challenge of the Indians and their friendship, the blizzards, the plagues? The conventional interactions of the characters - leadership, complaints? The importance of the Biblical references and the parallels with The Exodus: Brigham Young as Moses and his continual references, the various plagues undergone, the people complaining, the promised land? How effective was this parallelism?
4. The film as a glimpse of American history? The background of the Mormons and their religious beliefs and affiliations? Joseph Smith and his influence? The Book of Mormon? The place of the Mormons and the antagonism of people, persecution, murder? The insight into the pioneer movement of the Mormons, the move towards California, the settlement in Utah? The difficulties in establishing The settlement and the finale with the picture of Salt Lake City 1940? How historical was the film? A feel for the history of the Mormons?
5. Joseph Smith as founder? Brigham Young's memory as told in the court of Joseph Smith and his work, his vision of equal rights, shared resources, religious belief? Joseph Smith and his attitude towards religious persecution, his change or heart after the violence and taking up arms? The trial for sedition and his self -defence? The violence of his death? A Mormon martyr and hero? Brigham Young by contrast as the ordinary man? his explanation of himself in the court? his eloquent defence of Joseph Smith? His leading the people? His sense of God, of revelation? His intensity and leading the people? His humanity, urging them to heroism? The division about going to California, the plague and starvation, his announcement of his lack of confidence and the birds arriving? Brigham Young as Mormon hero?
6. The subplot with Jonathan and Zena - the deaths at the initial persecution, their place in the pioneer trek, Jonathan and his returning to Council Bluff? Zena and her not being a Mormon, her friendship, love for Jonathan, starvation? The happy ending? Conventional material?
7. The sketching in of the Mormons themselves ? Mary Astor restrained as Brigham Young's wife? John Carradine as the rousing Porter? Brian Donlevy as the seditious Angus, trying to stir trouble, wanting to go to California? Jane Darwell as the heroic Eliza after her being shot? The various personalities and their contribution?
8. The picture of religious persecution, the wolf hunt, the violence of the peace-loving Mormons? Death? Anger and retaliation?
9. The details of the trek - the encounter with the Indians? The decision to stay in Utah? The attraction of California and the gold? The crops, the sharing of food, the famine, the blizzards? The complaints throughout the trek and the settlement? People's fickleness?
10. The final sign of the birds coming to save the day after the people tried to destroy the insects? The transition to modern Utah?
11. Pioneering themes and the American spirit? The religious motivation of the Mormons? Their trust in God? The plea for religious tolerance? The film as a typical piece of American morale boosting and history?
