Brigham Young

Description

When the founder of the Mormons, Joseph Smith, is murdered, Brigham Young takes over and leads his people west to Utah to secape persecution.

Customer Reviews:

Even Atheist Can Enjoy.......2007-05-05

Okay, Im an atheist. A fire breathing Objectivist. And I loved this movie. Its so well done that a tiny bit of me converts, I swear to god, at least for the duration of the flick. Explains a lot about what I like about Mormons!

Its also a great adventurous tale of pioneering in the olden days when men were men.... The special effects are quite good. Tyrone Power, great as always, and the the woman who plays Zina is hard to forget and very convincing. But maybe I just go in for this sort of somewhat cheesy American individualist against the elements, Oregon Trail, thing.

Terrific for late night drinking and rainy afternoons and to inspire that long lost American Pioneer in you. I'm serious!

Enjoy.

tyrone powell as brigham young.......2007-01-12

the story is a testimony to the latter day saints and the flight to salt lake city utah. how they struggled , but persued on to their goal
A+++++

Definitely worth watching, but not all true to the facts.......2006-03-18

Considering that this movie was made in 1939 and 1940 it is an amazing achievement. The special effects are quite impressive for the time: The birds-eye view of the wagons leaving Nauvoo with the temple in center screen, Crossing the Missouri frozen river, Nauvoo homes and temple burning in the background across the river, all of the wagons and oxen crossing plains, rivers, climbing mountains, etc. But especially the near-final scene of the locusts and the seagulls (which were mostly all real).

Dean Jagger does a remarkable job as Brigham Young. He resembles him closely and even has a similar voice, according to a crew-member who was hired for coaching because he knew Brigham personally, and was around 16 when Brigham died in 1877 (50 years before filming this picture). Interesting trivia note: Dean Jagger was not LDS when he made this film but later married a Mormon woman and subsequently joined the church.

Vincent Price respected Joseph Smith greatly and had great reverence and admiration for him while playing the role of the prophet. His screentime is minimal but he does a fine job (in spite of being 10 years older than the man he was portraying).

The LDS first presidency approved the script, even though it veered from the truth on many points. They did this because they agreed that it helped make the picture more dramatic and exciting. Personally, I would prefer historical accuracy over romance or excitement, but that's how it was back then. Successful movies had a sort of recipe, and they wanted this one to follow that recipe as close as it could.

But all-in-all it paints an accurate picture of America in the 1840's and 50's and the trek of the early Mormon pioneers.

I recommend it, but if you can, watch the excellent commentary afterwards. It clears up fact from fiction and is very enlightening.

Film: 3 stars
DVD extras: 4 stars
Weighted average score: 4 stars

go read the book of mormon.......2005-12-27

i am mormon and im sorry Jmark2001 but i feel i know more about my church and how it was formed than u do. we are righteous people. WE have high morals which are not seen in many other people theses days. I am not saying we are perfect or that everyone in the church is righeous but just that what we teach is morally right. if you knew history correctlly you would know these murders you speak of have never been proven to have been committed by mornmons, but it has been proven many many mormons {im sorry i should say lds(latter day saints) since that is what we are really called not mormons} were killed and yes it was "just because they were mormons" if u still dont believe me i invite all of you to go get a book of mormon which u can get form any member,one of the churchs, or a missionary for free many even the website but i am not sure (www.lds.org) and read it. you are also invited to go to the church of jesus christ of latter day staints and investigate the church.you might like it if not you will still get a since of the sprit in the church and a respect for the teachings

Highly romanticized treatment.......2005-12-17

Well, you won't learn anything historical from this movie but it is entertaining Hollywood fare. The reason the Mormons were run out of nearly every town was not because they were "just Mormons" but because they made themselves a law unto themselves and did everything from counterfeit money to luring young, underaged girls into polygamous marriages (and a lifetime of slavery), to building up vast arsenals of weapons, and threatening everyone who disagreed with them (they later murdered a large number of people in the Mountain Meadows Massacre). Brigham Young ran Salt Lake City like a slave state and public whippings and jihad type murders were common. BTW, the film never mentions that Joseph Smith wanted his son to be the next president of the church, not Young. The real story of Salt Lake is a gruesome story of religious fanaticism (to exclude outsiders, the church even tried to invent its own alphabet - the Deseret alphabet), blood and violence, and undemocratic autocracy/theocracy. If you are looking for Tyrone Power, his appearance here is brief.

Average customer rating:

Wonderful, but to short.
TERMINALLY CUTE FAMILY FILM

Miracle Dogs Too
Starring: Janine Turner , Patrick Muldoon , Dustin Hunter Evans , Lesley Ann Warren , and Jaleel White
Director: Richard Gabai
Manufacturer: Mti Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000E3LGRY
Release Date: 2006-03-07

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful, but to short........2007-05-15

The movie was very very good, but I wish it was longer. I also wish that it could ALL be true!

TERMINALLY CUTE FAMILY FILM.......2006-05-12

This ultrasweet sequel to MIRACLE DOGS brings us two spaniels who have the miraculous ability to heal, and how they stumbled into a young boy's life. Adults may find it saccharine-heavy, but it is a good film for the family to enjoy together. A good cast consisting of Charles Durning, Janine Turner, Patrick Muldoon and an over the top Lesley Ann Warren bring some life to the pedestrian script, and all in all, should be entertaining as family viewing.

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God Makers (DVD)

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Features:

Format: DVD-R
Region: Mutli-regional
Language: English
Studio: Jeremiah Films
Time Running: 60 minutes

ASIN: B000T9JL7K

Product Description

This fast paced and hard-hitting documentary reveals heart-breaking accounts of families and lives destroyed by the Mormon church. It includes interviews with Mormon leaders and depicts accurate dramatizations of occult Mormon temple rituals that even most Mormons have never seen... secrets so guarded that those who protect the rituals risk death!

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Mormon Dilemma (DVD)

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Format: DVD-R
Region: Mutli-regional
Language: English
Studio: Jeremiah Films
Time Running: 60 minutes

ASIN: B000T9MVI6

Product Description

Ted and Carrie Lindsey, active Mormons, discover that the film "The Godmakers" is being shown in their own hometown. To make matters worse, their good friend and neighbor, Jim Stamper, is an active member of the Christian church where the film is to be shown. The Lindseys confront Jim as they try to deal with their frustration and anger over this display of attack against their faith. The confrontation ends in an evening of dialogue and discovery for both the Lindseys and Jim Stamper. This drama is a compassionate and informative dramatic presentation designed to help bring a Mormon to Christ as well as to contrasts Mormon beliefs with the teachings of the Bible proving, once for all, that Mormonism is not Christian. This excellent tool teaches you how to share the true gospel with Mormons.

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Secret World of Mormonism

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Format: DVD-R
Region: Mutli-regional
Language: English
DVD Release Date: 2004
Time Running: 45 minutes

ASIN: B000T9MYDS

Product Description

The Mormon Church, also known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is one of the fastest growing religions in America. Its leaders and missionaries claim that it is the best of all Christian denominations. In fact, three quarters of the hundreds of thousands of annual converts to Mormonism come from Christian backgrounds. But what do Mormons really believe? Are their doctrines compatible with Christianity? This eye-opening video investigation reveals the truth behind Mormonism, from its inception during the 1800's to its growth today into one of the largest and most powerful business corporations in the world. You will learn about founder Joseph Smith's first vision; the church's history and practice of polygamy; the secret temple rituals; and what one must do in order to gain entrance into the celestial kingdom. If you are a member of the Mormon Church, or have friends or loved ones who are, this vitally important video is "must viewing" for all who wish to know the truth about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Three LDS Film Classics on DVD - Fourth Witness - The Mary Whitmer Story

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Three LDS Film Classics on DVD - Fourth Witness - The Mary Whitmer Story

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Latter Day Saints early days of the Restoration
ISBN 1-59156-417-4

ASIN: B000ODU1ZM

Product Description

Also included are Eliza and I, Richard Dutcher's moving student film about Eliza R. Snow, beloved pioneer poet and leader of the women's Relief Society; and Woman, The Pioneer, a unique and colorful tribute to the indomitable spirity of pioneer women. Approx. 105 minutes.

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1984 Brigham Young vs. Michigan
Starring: 1984 Holiday Bowl-Brigham Young Vs Michigan
Manufacturer: Vintage Sports Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007XBMHA
Release Date: 2005-02-28

Average customer rating:

Brigham Young biography--dull
A look at the life of Mormon leader Brigham Young

Brigham Young: Architect Of Faith

Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000E37308
Release Date: 1995-10-02

Description

He led his people from persecution to a new Zion in the American West. He stood against those who opposed him with the strength afforded by his unshakable faith in God. Hit the pioneer trail with one of the most compelling figures in American history. Brigham Young earned the name "the American Moses" for leading his people to a new home in Utah, far from the prejudice and intolerance of Missouri and Illinois. Once there, he directed the creation of a thriving city out of this harsh, Western wasteland and wielded absolute authority for thirty years. BIOGRAPHY explores the remarkable life of this famed pioneer from his childhood in New England to his stands against the federal government. Mormon historians tell how he took control over the church after the assassination of founder Joseph Smith, and reveal the details of his personal life he had 25 wives and over 50 children! Join BIOGRAPHY for the saga of Brigham Young, a story of perseverance, courage, and resolute faith in God.

Customer Reviews:

Brigham Young biography--dull.......2007-09-04

Brigham Young 50 minutes.

This video is a volume in the Biography series. Given that, it is simply an exposé of Brigham Young's life and is neither sympathetic nor unsympathetic. The usual and expected stuff is there: his early life and conversion to Mormonism, the trek to Utah, the Mountain Meadows Massacre, and, of course, polygamy.

This video is lacking in several ways. I never get the sense of the greatness of the man. After all, he took over a church whose leader had just been murdered and whose members were being driven west. The facts are impressive: Brigham Young led an early party of 400 wagons with 1200 people to Utah, 16 days after his 1000 mile trek to Utah, he returned to Winter Quarters to organize another group; and so on. In all, he supervised the immigration of 120,000 people to Utah, 80,000 from Europe; he founded 350 Mormon settlements, ranging throughout the West. The towns were laid out in stupendous fashion. The Mormons were simply some of the most successful settlers in the West and that is due in large part to the vision, hard work, and leadership of Brigham Young. With a less able leader at the helm, the Mormon experiment in the West would have failed and they would have been a sad footnote in our history books. He was a great, truly great, leader of the first order. However, I never get the sense of the greatness of the man. The presentation just seems tired and formulaic. Even the host has a ho-hum attitude. The Biography formula has worn thin. Perhaps I was jaded by my recent viewing of the excellent and in-depth video on Joseph Smith. At least, the producers could have interviewed several Mormon leaders. Then we could have felt something for the man. As it is, he comes across as a dull figure, and it shouldn't be that way.

A look at the life of Mormon leader Brigham Young.......2006-02-19

Brigham Young did not found the Mormon Church, but he was primarily responsible for the prosperity of that particular religious community, overseeing the persecuted religious group's westward migration to Salt Lake City and governing the religious community for over three decades. His life was far less colorful than that of the prophet he chose to follow as a youth, the controversial Joseph Smith. It is difficult to discuss the life of Brigham Young without getting into the beliefs of the Mormon religion, but this video provides a good introduction to Joseph Smith's contributions to history and his excellent leadership skills. It does not delve into the origins of the church Joseph Smith founded, but it does follow the growing community of Mormons as they moved west in search of true freedom to practice their peculiar faith. A thriving Mormon community was prone to grow like Topsy and to keep itself isolated, so non-Mormon neighbors naturally tended to distrust the members of these religious communities as they arrived in numbers large enough to potentially dominate local governments. When Joseph Smith came out and sanctioned polygamy as an important religious practice, Mormons really became unwelcome wherever they went. With the leadership of the church in prison, Brigham Young oversaw the migration of the people to their chosen land out west; then, when Joseph Smith was killed, Young eventually succeeded him as the leader - but not the prophet - of the church.

I really don't find Young's life that exciting, and this video did little to help me understanding a form of religion I find perplexing and self-contradictory. Young was reportedly troubled when Joseph Smith promoted polygamy to an article of faith, yet he seemed to get over those early misgivings; by the time he died, he had taken 55 wives and had 57 children. After Utah was brought into the Union as a territory, the legal dispute over polygamy led to an actual war of sorts, with Young eventually giving in and letting the government put a stop to the Mormon practice. Before the conflict was settled, however, a large group of immigrants traveling through Utah were massacred by Mormon men who talked the innocent group of civilians into giving up their weapons for safe passage and then cold-bloodedly shot the now-defenseless men, women, and children. Young may not have condoned the action, but he took his sweet time doing anything about it, and that leaves a pretty ugly scar on the history of an otherwise unusual but less than fascinating man.

Charlie Rose with Kim Clark (July 29, 2005)

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Charlie Rose with Kim Clark (July 29, 2005)

Manufacturer: "Charlie Rose, Inc."
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

An hour with Kim Clark, outgoing Dean of Harvard Business School. He talks about his life, his experience at Harvard, and looks ahead to his position as President of BYU-Idaho.

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Hancock County
Starring: Stephanie Foster Breinholt, R. Jeremy Selim, Bob Nelson, Marvin Payne, J. Scott Bronson and Robert Gibbs Anna Mckeown
Director: Tim Threlfall
Manufacturer: Brigham Young University
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000BGQSEU

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