Brigham Young (film)

Brigham Young (film)
Brigham Young (also known as Brigham Young – Frontiersman) is a 1940 American biographical western film starring Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell and Dean Jagger that describes Young's succession to the presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after founder Joseph Smith was assassinated in 1844. The supporting cast features Brian Donlevy, Jane Darwell, John Carradine, Mary Astor, Vincent Price and Tully Marshall.
Plot
The story begins in frontier-town Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1844. It follows the main body of the church as they are forced to leave Illinois, choosing to settle temporarily in Nebraska and then to travel by wagon train to the Great Basin. Much of the story's plot revolves around two of the group, Jonathan Kent and Zina Webb.
Cast
Tyrone Power as Jonathan Kent
Linda Darnell as Zina Webb – The Outsider
Dean Jagger as Brigham Young
Brian Donlevy as Angus Duncan
Jane Darwell as Eliza Kent
John Carradine as Porter Rockwell
Mary Astor as Mary Ann Young
Vincent Price as Joseph Smith
Jean Rogers as Clara Young
Ann E. Todd as Mary Kent
Willard Robertson as Heber Kimball
Moroni Olsen as Doc Richards
Marc Lawrence as Prosecutor
Stanley Andrews as Hyrum Smith
Dickie Jones as Henry Kent
Selmer Jackson as Caleb Kent
Arthur Aylesworth as Jim Bridger
Chief John Big Tree as Big Elk
Claire Du Brey as Emma Smith
Tully Marshall as Judge
Dick Rich as 1st Mob Leader
Edwin Maxwell as 2nd Mob Leader
George Melford as John Taylor
Russell Simpson as U.S. Army Major
Tom London as Raider (uncredited)
Charles Middleton as Mob Member (uncredited)
Production
Parts of the film were shot in Lone Pine, California, in the plains west of Parowan Gap, and in Utah Lake for the seagull scenes. The Salt Lake City sequences were filmed in California, while the trek across Nebraska and Wyoming was shot in southern Utah.
Reception
Michael and Henry Medved included Brigham Young in their 1984 book describing film financial failures, The Hollywood Hall of Shame, stating "Twentieth Century-Fox tried to emphasize its star power and to downplay the religious elements (eventually re-titling it Brigham Young, Frontiersman), but the picture still failed, even in Utah."
See also
List of American films of 1940
George D. Pyper
References
External links
Brigham Young Souvenir Program Reprint. MSS SC 388; 20th Century Western and Mormon Manuscripts; L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University.
1940 films
1940 romantic drama films
1940 Western (genre) films
1940s biographical films
20th Century Fox films
American Western (genre) films
American biographical films
American black-and-white films
American romantic drama films
Biographical films about politicians
Young, Brigham
Cultural depictions of Brigham Young
Cultural depictions of Joseph Smith
1940s English-language films
Films about Mormonism
Films about the California Gold Rush
Films directed by Henry Hathaway
Films produced by Darryl F. Zanuck
Films scored by Alfred Newman
Films set in 1844
Films set in Illinois
Films set in Iowa
Films set in Utah
Films set in the 1840s
Films set in the 19th century
Films shot in California
Films shot in Los Angeles
Films shot in Utah
Films with screenplays by Lamar Trotti
1940s American films