Brigham Young (1940)

30% of users liked it
(991 ratings)

Inspired by the true story of the leader of the Mormon Church, this film features Dean Jagger in the title role. The members of the Church of Latter Day Saints are subjected to religious persecution by the people of Nauvoo, Illinois, where they've settled; so under the leadership of Brigham Young,… More Inspired by the true story of the leader of the Mormon Church, this film features Dean Jagger in the title role. The members of the Church of Latter Day Saints are subjected to religious persecution by the people of Nauvoo, Illinois, where they've settled; so under the leadership of Brigham Young, the Mormons head west, facing tremendous adversity along the way. However, a gravely ill Young has a prophetic dream in which he sees what he believes is his people's promised land, where they will be allowed to live and worship as they see fit. Soon they discover the land Young saw in his dream -- Salt Lake City, Utah. Young and his followers settle there, but their hardship does not end soon. The first winter in Utah is cruel, and while the spring brings the promises of a bountiful planting season, soon a plague of locusts appears, threatening to devour the crops the settlers have just planted. A huge flock of seagulls arrives to save the day by consuming the insects. Tyrone Power and Linda Darnell play a pair of settlers who fall in love in the course of the journey. Brigham Young downplays the more controversial aspects of the Mormon church (particularly polygamy) in favor of portraying Young as a trail-blazing man of the land; in some markets, the film was shown as Brigham Young, Frontiersman. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 52 min.
Directed By: Henry Hathaway
Written By: Lamar Trotti
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Sep 20, 1940 Wide
On DVD: Jul 15, 2003

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Dunderheaded junk about the beginnings of Mormonism.
AJ V

I heard Vincent Price was in this movie, so I wanted to see it, but (this isn't a spoiler) he dies in the beginning of the movie! I was so disappointed. Then, this movie seems to be an advertisement for the Mormon church or something, but without telling of their more radical… More
I heard Vincent Price was in this movie, so I wanted to see it, but (this isn't a spoiler) he dies in the beginning of the movie! I was so disappointed. Then, this movie seems to be an advertisement for the Mormon church or something, but without telling of their more radical beliefs. This movie just skims the surface, and it doesn't even do a good job of that.

Cast

            Tyrone Power as Jonathan Kent

            Linda Darnell as Zina Webb

            Dean Jagger as Brigham Young

            Brian Donlevy as Angus Duncan

            Jane Darwell as Eliza Kent

            John Carradine as Port 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 I as Prosecutor

            Stanley Andrews as Hyrum Smith

            Fuzzy Knight as Pete

            Dick Jones as Henry Kent

            Selmar Jackson as Caleb Kent

            Frederick Burton as Mr. Webb

            Russell Simpson as Major

            Arthur Ayleswofth as Jim Bridger

            Davison Clark as Johnson

            Claire Du Brey as Emma Smith

            Tully Marshall as Judge

            Dick Rich as Mob Leader

            Ralph Dunn as Jury Foreman

            Edwin Maxwell as Leader

            Edmund MacDonald as Elder

            George Melford as John Taylor

            Chief John Big Tree as Big Elk

            Charles Halton as Prosecutor

            Frank LaRue as Sheriff

            Charles B. Middleton
            
            Philip Morris as Henchman

            Lee Shumway as Henchman

            Frank M. Thomas as Hubert Crum

            Cecil Weston as Woman

            Blackie Whiteford as Court Spectator

            Hank Worden
            
See full cast