Film Review: Brigham Young-Frontiersman (dir. H. Hathaway, 1940 [Special Edition DVD 2003])

First, let me say that I can see why members of the church have generally looked disfavorably on this film, despite (1) the fact that it presents Mormons in a much more flattering, even all-American, light, compared to how it treats non-Mormons (bigoted persecutors of the church, without cause in the film) and (2) its heroic take on the life of Brigham Young (played by Dean Jagger). The first problem is that Brigham Young is not portrayed as a prophet, which members of the church will not agree with. (Indeed, Brigham is shown in one scene lying about having had a revelation.) The second problem is that heroic take is historically inaccurate in so many ways that anyone with a faint familiarity with church history will have trouble watching it. Just a few examples: (1) Joseph Smith (here played, quite ably, by Vincent Price) was never actually tried and convicted of treason (against the state of Illinois!), as in the film. That the Prophet Joseph had a revolver in his cell at the Carthage jail is also omitted from this version. (2) The departure from Nauvoo was not spontaneous, as in the film, but relatively well-planned. The first groups to leave Nauvoo did not depart across the frozen Mississippi (although later groups did), driven by an angry, torch-carrying mob. (3) Brigham knew about the Great Salt Lake valley prior to departure; so when he said, famously, "This is the place," he wasn't making some desperate assertion to keep his flock from running off to the California gold rush--which, btw, happened at least a year after the events depicted in the film. (4) Brigham's main rival to leadership of the church after the death of the Prophet was Sidney Rigdon, not some character named "Angus Duncan." And Brigham was on a mission in the East when the prophet was killed, so I guess he didn't make that stirring speech at the Prophet's treason trial--which, btw, never happened. More importantly, this Brigham Young is not the able administrator of history, the planner of the trek west. Indeed, this trek west appears to be unplanned in every particular.

OK, but what "historical" Hollywood picture from 1940 doesn't play fast-and-loose with the facts?

The interesting angle here is what I like to call the Mormon New Deal. As some of you may know from your studies in early Mormon history, the church was at one time a communistic or at least socialistic venture not unlike other communistic religious communities of the early nineteenth century (e.g., the Shakers, the Oneida Community). Joseph Smith called this "the United Order," in which each member of the church signed all his property over to the church, which then managed and distributed things from the bishop's storehouse. (Some of the fundamentalist sects still practice this.)

This film, made in 1940, mind you, emphasizes the socialistic elements of Mormonism. Here's some dialogue, from the first meeting of Brigham Young and the Prophet (remember, whose lines were delivered by Vincent Price):

B.Y.: This plan . . . you call the United Order. What's that?

J.S.: It's not my plan. It's the Lord's. . . . . the law of nature . . . like that anthill over there, with everybody doing his share of the work and [receiving] his share of the profits. A place where eerybody will have eerything he can eat and use. there'll be great storehouses to keep food and things for the sick, the widows, the old folks and the poor. You see, under a brotherhood plan like that, it'll be impossible for any one man to pile up a lot of goods, or have power over his neighbors. That'll mean there'll be no social distinctions, no caste, no special privileges . . . .

B.Y.: That sounds all right . . . .

Imagine making a film about the early history of the church today--and emphasizing the United Order! Even church films today give the United Order wide berth, given the church's current politics. (Remember, Utah is the most Republican state in the Union by several measures.)

The main plot follows a young Mormon, played by Tyrone Power, through the travails of the church. It starts with persecution in Nauvoo and ends with the miracle of the seagulls, which is largely presented as a miracle. "Ma Joad" Jane Darwell plays Tyrone Powers's mother--in a film made the same year as The Grapes of Wrath. There's a romantic subplot, speeches about religious freedom, and some excellent set pieces. In terms of the last: The flight from Nauoo, across the frozen Mississippi, with the city burning in the background--none of that actually happened, but as with all great film-making, when you see it, you think, "That's how it should have looked."

The only figure from actual church history who plays any role at all, other than Jospech and Brigham, is Porter Rockwell, a rather controversial figure in historical terms (did he attempt to assassinate Illinois governor Ford or not?), but here portrayed (by John Carradine!) as a gun-toting frontier guide. I guess the other historical figures, including future church presidents like John Taylor, really didn't add to the plot? Hiram gets one line.

Not a film for everybody. But an entertaining piece of pre-war film-making, especially for my readers interested in Mormon history.