Brigham Young **** (1940, Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell, Brian Donlevy, Dean Jagger, Jane Darwell, Vincent Price, John Carradine, Mary Astor) – Classic Movie Review 8473

Director Henry Hathaway’s 1940 historical adventure saga of pioneering Mormons and the founding of Salt Lake City stars Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell and Brian Donlevy, with Dean Jagger on good form as Brigham Young, the Mormons’ early 19th-century leader, taking the wagons West across the Rocky mountains to Utah after they were persecuted in their original land in Illinois.

An angry mob in Illinois kill Mormon leader Joseph Smith in 1844 and the Mormons choose Brigham Young as their new leader, following him to the Utah promised land. Two of his followers, Jonathan Kent (Tyrone Power) and Zina Webb (Linda Darnell), are among those facing hardships along the way.

Though unfortunately shot by Arthur Miller in black and white, this 20th Century Fox Western has plenty of big-scale sweep and visual splendour, and a tremendous cast of real actors, though the nominal stars are Power and Darnell, contract artists imported by the studio to the project to give it romance and a needed box-office boost. But their dull acting proves the weak link in the movie.

Among those also in the notable cast are Jane Darwell, Vincent Price, John Carradine, Mary Astor, Moroni Olsen, Jean Rogers, Charles Halton, Ann E Todd, Willard Robertson, Stanley Andrews, Marc Lawrence, Frank M Thomas, Fuzzy Knight, Dickie Jones, Russell Simpson, Arthur Aylesworth, Tully Marshall, Ralph Dunn, Frederick Burton, Selmer Jackson, Frank LaRue, Dick Rich, Charles Middleton and Lee Shamway.

Brigham Young: ‘I’m not looking for an easy religion. I’m looking for one I can bring my family up decent in.’

Brigham Young [Brigham Young – Frontiersman], is directed by Henry Hathaway, runs 114 minutes, is made and released by 20th Century Fox, is written by Lamar Trotti (screenplay) and Louis Bromfield, is shot in black and white by Arthur C Miller, is produced by Darryl F Zanuck (producer) and Kenneth Macgowan (associate producer) and is scored by Alfred Newman, with Art Direction by William S. Darling and Maurice Ransford.

The film was premiered at Salt Lake City, and then at Idaho Falls, opening at the Paramount Theatre (now the Colonial Theater) on 29 August 1940.

[Spoiler alert] Joseph Smith (played by Vincent Price) is seen unarmed when he is shot and killed but he was actually armed with a pistol.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8473

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