The Saints on Celluleid: The Makine af the Movie @@ElriahamYaung 33

JAMES V. D'ARC

Twentieth Century-Fox has been The idea for Brigham Young origi- described as the film studio with a nated not with the film producer passion for America's past. And himself but with popular novelist the American epic that induced film Louis Bromfield. Selected to be on producer Darryl F. Zanuck to spend a panel of judges for the 1938-39 more than $2,500,000 was the story Harper Prize Contest, Bromfield of the Mormons. Under his hand thumbed through a thick unwieldy that story became the motion manuscript while on a trip west. picture Brigham Young, which in Owing to contest rules, the later years he fondly called manuscript was unsigned and Brom- "my favorite film."l field was unaware hours later that By 1940, Zanuck had brought the he had finished reading an epic infant Twentieth Century-Fox studio story of the Mormons, Children of from obscurity at its founding in God, bv fellow novelist Vardis 1935 to prominence as one of the Fisher. 5 Having worked previously top film studios boasting the com- with Zanuck, a close friend, on the mercially successful stars Alice Faye, screenplay for The Rains Came Don Ameche, Henry Fonda, and (1939) the excited Bromfield called Zanuck's own discovery, Tyrone the cigar-smoking mogul at his Power. But Zanuck did not build home and persuaded him to pur- his studio on stars-M-G-M had chase the screen rights to the still them-but on successful stories. unsigned manuscript. "Star power is valueless no matter In adding Brigham Young to his how big the personalities," he said, successful screen biographies, "unless the subject matter in the Stanley and Livingston, Alexander story stands the test."2 Graham Bell, and Jesse James, 11 FILM AND HISTORY

Zanuck sent Bromfield on an eight- attributes of a subculture itself, the month fact-finding mission through- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day out the intermountain west gather- Saints had fought the same kind of ing information from Mormon battle against stereotyping by the pioneer descendants and the rest of society as had Blacks, Jews, Mormon Church archives in Salt Italians, and other groups less readily Lake City. A look through Brom- integrated into the mainstream of field's research files, still in the American culture. The religious zeal Story Research Department at Fox, and aggressiveness demonstrated by reveals hundreds of pages of ser- the Latter-day Saints together with mons, speeches, excerpts from their clanish but successful adminis- pioneer diaries, photographs, and tration of economic and political correspondence with Mormon affairs raised the suspicions of their leaders and historians dealing with already inquisitive neighbors. early Church history. Polygamy, mystic revelations to So taken was Bromfield by his modern prophets, golden bibles and research that he had enough material scheming missionaries adding con- for two motion pictures and was tinually to their harem of wives either unable or unwilling to cut it constituted the bulk of what the down. At this point, the able Fox world ever heard of the Mormons in scriptwriter Lamar Trotti was called the nineteenth and early twentieth in to fashion Bromfield's mountain centuries. So often had this imagery of material into a dramatic screen- appeared in the expose literature of play. But even Trotti had his prob- the day that it was no surprise when lems. Early drafts of the final script these stereotypes, particularly of are weighted down by sermons, polygamy, were utilized early in the dramatic emphasis on Church doc- development of motion pictures. trine, and intricacies of Mormon These impressions, advanced .in history which would have made it more than a score of films from interesting for Mormons but not 1905 to 1936, made an indelible for the general public. What did impression on society as only the finally emerge was not necessarily cinema can. One Danish film, A a biography of Brigham Young, but Victim of the Mormons (1911), a story of the Mormon founding, tells the story of a ydung Mormon the murder of Joseph Smith, the missionary in Copenhagen who difficult trek west to the Salt Lake lures the fiancee of a close friend Valley, and the challenges en- to elope with him to Utah. There, countered there. with the abandoned lover in pursuit, "We must never have the feeling the missionary keeps the heroine locked in his basement after her that these people are fanatics," "baptism" in the Salt Lake Temple. Zanuck later impressed on his associate producer Kenneth Mac- Shortly, however, (the film is only gowan. "We must treat their faith three reels in length) she is rescued with respect and omit anything that by her one-and-only. This film would make them look ridiculous."4 received such a broad viewing and Yet, "fanatic" had often been the was so detrimental to the Mormon precise word used in describing the image that Utah Governor William relatively new American sect. Spry fought a long- eventually victorious- struggle against Gradually having acquired the further showings.5 12 BRIGHAM YOUNG

Five years later in 1917 the film associate producer Kenneth Mac- A Mormon Maid was released gowan, and other Fox production nationally. The innocent-daughter- officials maintained close contact catching-the-eye-of-powerful-Mor- with Church authorities. Wanting mon-leader formula was again full cooperation and offical sanction treated but at greater length than from the Mormon heirarchy, Zanuck ever before. In its five reels (approxi- found both in Church President mately sixty-five minutes), one en- Heber J. Grant. The Church in the counters Celestial Marriage, Blood late 1930s was desperately in need Atonement and the sinister dealings of something to improve its overall of the Avenging Angels or Danites. public image. The distorted view A Mormon Maid, produced in the the world held of the Mormons was United States, enjoyed wide cover- a matter of pressing concern to the age and popularity, much to the dis- Mormon prophet, and the aging but tress of Mormon Church officials. businesslike Grant emphasized better public relations with the tradition- During the 1930s, however, por- ally skeptical world outside of Utah. trayals of Mormons in feature films President Grant took particular wete sparse as the new Hays and interest in seeing that Brigham later Breen regulatory codes in- Young was produced without any cluded severe restrictions against major difficulty from the Church. the treatment of polygamy on the "This film will be a friendmaker," screen, to the disappointment of he remarked.7 During the shooting producers at virtually every major stages, eighty-year-old George D. studio. The enthusiastic public Pyper, Church Sunday School reception to Vardis Fisher's Chil- president and historical advisor for dren of God suggested to both the the film, paid such attention to worlds of literature and film that detail and accuracy that the Fox there was much interest in the drama crew became very frustrated. Wisely of the Mormon story. Winning the juxtaposing the Church's goals with coveted Harper Prize, Fisher's saga those of the studio, President Grant of the Mormon Church began in told Fox executives, "Don't pay too New York with the founding prophet much attention to that brother. Joseph Smith, through the Brigham We've got to have box office in Young period and concluded with this picture."8 the death of John Taylor, the last Mormon leader prior to the 1890 Although very pragmatic in his Manifesto ending the practice of support for the project, the Mormon polygamy. While substantial empha- leader was still concerned with sis was still given to ~luralmarriage, historical and theological accuracy. Fisher, once a Mormon himself, "I hope we shall not appear to you stressed that the Latter-day Saints to be over anxious," said Grant in a were endowed with the virtues of letter to Macgowan," and we have stability, industry, and common no disposition to be oversensitive, sense. but we are tremendously concerned that this picture shall be a true ' Hollywood and Vie Meets picture, and, while we are not, any Temple Square of us, playwrights, or dramatists, 1 From the early idea and research or Movie technicians, we can ap- stages all the way up through preciate the war which must con- production and final editing, Zanuck, stantly go on in one preparing a FILM AND HISTORY picture, between the highly dra- book violated a Mormon taboo that matic and the sober fact."9 a believer (which Fisher once was) The balance between the "highly write from the perspective of an dramatic" aimed at by Zanuck and outsider. the "sober fact1' desired by Grant Apostle John A. Widtsoe-who was recalled by Vincent Price- served as chief critical liaison with chosen by Zanuck out of 25 actors the studio-wrote in a letter to to portray Joseph Smith- in a Kenneth Macgowan that Fisher's letter written thirty-two years later sense of history could scarcely be to this writer. "He [Grant] wrote "held to be genuine either directly me several interesting letters," or indirectly in the face of accepted remembers Price. "He felt that the historical proof to the contrary. picture might have been about The mixture of facts and fancy, of Joseph Smith instead of Brigham sober knowledge and imagination, but of course realized that the great of attempts at fairness and accept- appeal to the public (and of course ance of exploded myth, leaves with to the producers) was the difficult the reader a complete misunder- trek and the miracle of the gulls, standing of motives, events and etc.''lO accomplishments. . . . Fisher's Gearing the film to the public re- picture of Brigham Young is a quired a believable treatment of the caricature, nothing more, and the Mormon story. While Brigham picture of Joseph Smith is not much Young conveyed much of the better. . . . It would be a pity to Church's beliefs, the primary em- have Fisher's point of view reflected phasis given by director Henry in any motion picture or elsewhere Hathaway was towards more real for that matter."l2 and concrete ends. "Henry Hatha- To avoid friction, producer Zanuck way," said Price, "avoided any not only secured all screen rights to 'religious' feeling and made it a the book should any of the material believable story of strong men and be duplicated, but heavily publicized women fighting for their faith. He the film to be "based on the story was particularly vehement on this by Louis Bromfield." But in spite of score with the part of Joseph. There his extensive personal research, it was to be no hint of the standard is evident that Bromfield was im- Christ image-rather, he felt Joseph pressed by Fisher's more romantic was the interpreter of God's word account inasmuch as many of the and as such should not wear a lines from Children of God wind up halo."ll as dialogue in the film. Although Vardis Fisher's work was not well A major point of controversy and received by his former brethren, eventual compromise between the it must be admitted that he is movie studio and the Church con- responsible for much of the favor- cerned the source material from able change in image that ultimately which the film came. Although resulted from the making of Children of God was well received Brigham Young. by the gentile world, at caused considerable hostility among the saints. Besides taking certain The Stars liberties with historical fact for During the formative stages of the the s.ake of novelistic flair, Fisher's screenplay, Zanuck embarked on a 14 BRIGHAM YOUNG

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Jzeris shown here on the Carthage jail set with LDS general authority George D. Pyper w served as technical adviser to the studio during filming. talent hunt for his Brigham Young that Zanuck viewed the thirty- that closely rivaled David 0. minute screen test of his 46th con- Selznick's search for Scarlett testant and found the solution to O'Hara in Gone With The Wind. his demanding requirement in a Popular actors Laurence Olivier, strapping six-foot-two stage actor Don Ameche, and Spencer Tracy from Indiana, Dean Jagger. Thirty- were considered but were gradually three-year-old Jagger had been a eliminated. Olivier was too English, veteran of the stage since the mid- Ameche (also considered for Joseph 1920s and would have been by then Smith) too well known, and Spencer a three-time loser in films had he Tracy's established Catholic Priest not been chosen for the title role image would have made him appear in Brigham Young. Lured from the ludicrous in Mormon trappings as chautauqua circuits to Hollywood the polygamous frontier prophet. in the late twenties, Jagger endured Sticking to his tenet that stories a string of minor movie roles until were stronger than stars, Zanuck 1936, when he returned to New York decided that he needed the combi- determined never to be humiliated nation of a lead who could carry a by the movies again. major role against lead stars Tyrone Up in lights on Broadway as Jesse Power and Linda Darnell, have the James in the Missouri Legend pro- necessary magnetic charisma, and vided the success that Jagger hoped at the same time be relatively un- for and gave him little reason to known to the moviegoing public. accept an offer to test yet again It was while vacationing in Idaho for a Hollywood film; but he was 15 0 FILM AND HISTORY

Joseph Smith (Vincent Price) is tried in Carthage as Heber C. Kiball and Hynm Smith (both seated) look on. nevertheless impressed that the beautiful sixteen-year-old leading invitation came from Darryl F. lady Linda Darnell as Zina Webb, Zanuck himself and that the part the "outsider." Supporting players would be a major role. Brigham included Jane Darwell, who received Young brought Jagger to Hollywood an Academy Award that same year -and stardom- to stay. for Grapes of Wrath, character actor On seeing Jagger in action, George John Carradine as Porter Rockwell, Pyper was amazed by the simi- Brian Donlevy as Angus Duncan, larities between Jagger and the and talented Mary Astor as Mary real Brigham Young: Ann Young, Brigham's "favorite" wife. The film's lone Indian, Big There are resemblances in the Elk, was played by Chief Big Tree, facial features and in the voice. and the only Mormon in the pro- When I watched Mr. Jagger plead- duction, Moroni Olsen, an experi- ing in a courtroom scene, I thought I was listening again to enced actor who portrayed Willard Brigham Young. I was 17 when Richards, was also retained by the President Young died, but I had studio as a technical advisor. known him for years, and his voice and his looks are as firmly The Making of an Epic implanted in my memory as Action director Henry Hathawa y though it were only yesterday. was assigned to direct, but probably Mr. Jagger even adopted some of because of Zanuck's per onal ap- President Young's mannerisms proach to film making 2writers did and his walk.13 not write scripts for directors; they Regardless of the prominence given wrote them for Darryl14-he I to Jagger and Price as key figures later mused that "I made Brigham in the story, top billing went to Young because they asked me to. . . . Fox's two leading box office sen- It was a very difficult picture to sations, Tyrone Power as Jonathan make.'"5 Such complications inci- Kent, the Mormon scout, and his dent to the filming of Zanuck's BRIGHAM YOUNG

multi-million-dollar effort put such joke. We had to go right into the a strain on Hathaway that Mary spots where they were worst, with Astor later recalled that he was brooms and sacks, beating at them "a director with a bad temper who in the tall grain. Two days of this drove his people unmercifully ." 16 were all any of us could have taken. I It was nauseating to walk through The physical aspects of making them piled to a foot deep in some h Brigham Young were, by today's places, and the stench was awful."ls standards, awesome. The allocated Certainly the Hollywood stars must budget of $2,500,000 was spent have gained a new respect for their largely on elaborate sets and ex- pioneer counterparts from this and tensive shooting-over eighty per- other experiences encountered while cent of the film-on location. An in production of the film. eighteen-week shooting schedule involving a cast and crew of five The Plat hundred people traveled nearly 2,000 miles to six major locations In its final version, the Lamar Trotti in Utah, California, and Nevada. screenplay opens in Carthage, Outdoor sets included Nauvoo, Illinois, hotbed of anti-Mormon Illinois (complete with Temple), activity. A sign posted in the news- constructed on the vast backlot paper office reads "WOLF HUNT. at Fox studios for $50,000; Fort 7 O'CLOCK. COME ONE, COME Bridger and Council Bluffs built ALL. THE HUNTING IS FINE!" at Big Bear Lake in California's The object of such predatory af- San Bernardino Mountains at fections, we discover, is the $40,000 (used in only ten minutes Mormons. A mob raids the Kent of the film); a six-foot deep, two- residence near Nauvoo where the city-block long sheet of ice replica fathers of both Jonathan Kent and of the frozen Mississippi River cost- visiting non-Mormon Zina Webb ing $25,000; the spectacular Salt are beaten to death, their homes Lake Valley set consisting of fifty- burned because they refused to five log cabins built on a twenty- spit on the Book of Mormon. acre tract near Lone Pine, California, Aided by a bellicose Porter Rock- totaling $85,000; and a mile-long well, Joseph Smith pames the train of covered wagons costing suggestion by Apostle Angus Dun- $300 each. 17- can to compromise with the mobbers' demands. Joseph decides that "we're The demands for realism required through turning the other cheek" that real crickets be used in the and alerts the Saints to arm them- seagull sequence. Responding to a selves with guns. wire from the Chamber of Com- merce, the crew flew up to Elko, Finally Smith is hauled into court Nevada, where a blanket of crickets on trumped-up charges and is six miles long and a mile wide was prosecuted by a rabble-rousing swarming the countryside. "The lawyer who obviously has the entire first few hours of the morning were town on his side. Brigham Young, full of practical jokes," recalled coming to the jury box from the Astor, "with squeals from the girls courtroom audience, delivers an when somebody would put a cricket impassioned five-minute speech down the neck of a dress. But in a against religious intolerance and very short time, none of it was a recounts his meeting Joseph Smith. 17 FILM AND HISTORY

The entire courtroom is visibly Young is about to tell his people taken aback by this eloquent defense of his weakness when the sky is but with many of the mobbers in blackened with seagulls, sent by the jury, Smith is quickly pro- Divine Providence. Mary Ann nounced guilty. Before leaving the assures Brigham that the Lord "was courtroom, Smith charges Young speaking to you all the time" as with leadership over his flock, they gaze on the hungry birds reminding him that "only the Lord devouring the crickets. God of Israel can whip us and I The scene dissolves to a modem don't think he's in cahoots with day view of Salt Lake City and the the local sheriff." Seagull Monument on Temple That night while being held for Square as Young narrates gratitude sentencing, Smith is murdered by to "the symbol of God's benevo- the mob, thus leaving the Church lence- the seagull." in Young's hands. Duncan, still preaching compromise, contends Box Office against Young for the presidency. Knowing, as Hathaway did, that However, events force Brigham realism as well as sensationalism Young to make the fateful decision brings people to the box office, to leave Nauvoo. Shown now to be the Fox publicity department di- in league with the mobbers himself, rected their promotional campaign Duncan finds out that the ruffians towards the more susceptible intend to run him out of town elements of the film in both their as well. posters and other media-oriented ?'he Mormons are then chased by material. To the easterners, where the mob, crossing the frozen the religion was founded, the name Mississippi River in the dead of Brigham Young carried with it a night. In moments of despondency- much different, more theological, and in the film Brigham has them connotation than it did to people with clockwork regularity -Young in the west, where Young's pioneer- is reassured of his leadership ability ing efforts took place. Consequently, by his wife, Mary Ann. studio publicity campaigns in the East emphasized the epic pioneer At Salt Lake, following a dramatic elements of the film (the title was hilltop announcement that "this is changed to Brigham Young- the place," trying conditions con- Frontiersman) and billed it as "The vince Young's followers that the Great American Motion Picture." Salt Lake Valley is anything but the place. Even Jonathan and Zina Commercial success also demanded (not married but somehow "living romance, hence box office attrac- together") begin to question their tions Power and Darnell. Zanuck's leader's inspiration. story conferences were punctuated with remarks like, "The romance As Brigham Young, weary of his in this story is particularly im- colony's predicament, is at the portant from a commercial stand- height of self-doubt the crickets point1119 and "The romance must attack. After beating them with be strengthened."20 As it turned every implement imaginable, the out, Brigham's sermonizing- so forlorn Saints led by Duncan de- much a part of earlier drafts-was nounce Young as a fallen prophet. deleted and Young was given a BRIGHAM YOUNG

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I6 FILM AND HISTORY endorse it with all my heart and the premiere of one film. have no suggestions. This is one of At the Salt Lake Municipal Airport the greatest days of my life. I can't on the Friday afternoon of the say any more than 'God premiere, over 5,000 spectators Bless Youl."u greeted the two chartered planes Utah's Governor Henry H. Blood bearing Twentieth Century-Fox and Salt Lake City Mayor Ab notables including the lead stars, Jenkins declared the 23rd as Fox president Sidney Kent and "Brigham Young Day" complete Zanuck himself. When asked if he with parade, window display com- had seen a reception like this before, petition amongst the downtown Zanuck responded, "Not quite, not merchants, and special advertising quite."24 Nearly 100,000 well- campaigns based on the pioneer wishers jammed the parade route of theme. The Centre, Salt Lake's the stars down State and largest and most elaborate motion Main streets. picture theatre, was chosen as the Later that afternoon a special premiere showcase for Brigham invitational luncheon was held for Young. It was thought that the the dignitaries and stars at Brigham Centre's capacity would be ample Young's own Lion House hosted for enthusiastic Salt Lake City by the First Presidency. Afterwards, crowds. Yet by the premiere night, the movie company was given a a total of seven theatres had com- tour of numerous local Church pletely sold out to nearly 9,000 history sites. people at the then high ticket price of $1.10. Such unprecedented re- All was in readiness for the premiere sponse to a film premiere set ~II festivities as both Salt Lake radio industry record for the number of stations provided live coverage of theatres used simultaneously for the event. The Deseret News and

Production shot at Lone Pie, California, as the high Sierras are used to simulate the Wasatch range in Utah. The workers in the lower left are carrying the Director's and the Script Girl's chairs to the site of filming. Notice the reflectors. the microphone boom, and the partly ob- scured studio vehicles. BRIGHAM YOUNG

Salt Lake Tribune published a special The Salt Lake Tribune opined supplement to their regular editions similarly that Brigham Young was a devoted entirely to the film with picture of "transcendent merit with a photographs and background in- fidelity to facts and details" and formation about its production. cautioned with reference to polyga- my that "there is nothing calculated The entire Salt Lake City police to reopen old wounds, nothing likely force was called in anticipation of to revive rancor."27 While the Salt the huge evening crowds. While Lake City premiere was a predict- no major incidents occurred it was able success, Brigham Young met estimated that Salt Lake's population with only moderate acceptance at of 150,000 swelled to nearly a the New York premiere on Septem- quarter-of-a-million that night as ber 20.28 Fox executives had ex- visitors came from surrounding panded the film's title to Brigham states. Young-Frontiersman for the Dean Jagger, Mary Astor, Tyrone generally effete East prior to its Power and Linda Darnell literally showing there. This, wrote Mary ran to five of the seven premiere Astor, "was to steer the audience theatres to appear briefly on stage from thinking it had religion as its before the screening of Brigham theme. . . ."29 Even so, the film Young. "It was a tired Hollywood could not balance its box office party that landed at the Union Air receipts with the uniformly high Terminal in Burbank Saturday critical praise. morning . . .", reported Variety.25 Subsequent to the premiere and local reviews, national magazines The Reviews hailed Brigham Young as a motion Delighted with the overwhelming picture triumph, many of whom success of the Salt Lake premiere, ranked it as socially significant as Fox executives nevertheless knew Zanuck's earlier hit Grapes of Wrath. that the record attendance was due "Where in Brigham Young," wrote chiefly to curiosity. They were Life, "Darryl Zanuck caught the concerned about the later reactions spirit of these intrepid builders of of the viewers to their expensive a new world, his $2,500,000 was production. not wasted."30 Newsweek acclaimed it as "one of the year's outstanding The Deseret Netus praised the film films.l131 Rare1y found reviewing a , but pointed out the major criticism motion picture, the University of I voiced by Church members. "The Southern California's Sociology and I Brigham Young of the picture lacks Social Research commented that the faith and knowledge the real "the arrival at Council Bluffs and Brigham had, who never doubted the welcome given one group of ' his leadership nor its divine di- harried people by another group of rection. It therefore to the Church harried human beings- are a relief members comes as a shock," they from the frequent film display of 1 add, "when Brigham doubts." It is Indians as scalpers and barbarians. a balanced and just treatment, they The picture has historical value," conclude, "so much so that Church they conclude, "for it shows how members will readily overlook the human beings are willing to struggle infelicities that appear and that they and to endure hardshiv in order to I only are likely to see."26 obtain freedom of conscience for FILM AND HISTORY themselves and their posterity."32 too vacillating in the screen portrait. He may have had some doubt of High Drama vs Sober Fact his ability as the perfect leader. In spite of the prevailing harmony But he felt called to aid his people, in the media over Brigham Young, first in saving their lives and then Mormon viewers were divided on in finding a peaceful haven for the issue and fell into one of two settlement." This great-grandson of basic idealogical camps: Brigham Young, however, concluded that overall, "it's a sympathetic 1. A moderate group who generally and entertaining film, if not an admitted that while Brigham Young epic."33 took liberties with history, the film was a reasonablv accurate Even Morris R. Werner, whose presentation of the Mormon story Brigham Young (New York: Har- that elicited sympathy for the court, Brace & Co., 1925) was and Mormons when persecuted and ad- is still considered by secular scholars miration when thev were faced with to be the best biography of Young, and overcame diffccult obstacles ioined in the controversv and in their trek west and arrival in seemed to speak for maAy in the the Salt Lake Valley. conservative or "purist" camp. "Personally, I found the 'Brigham 2. A more conservative group who Young' of Darryl Zanuck an excel- were decidedly more vehement in lent vignette of history," Werner their stand than the moderates. said, "but I am also purist about These individuals reacted strongly history. I don't think anybody ought to what they claimed was the con- to take liberties with Clio-the tinual weakness attributed to woman I love-for purposes of Brigham Young, who according to fiction, propaganda or box office."34 Mormon Church teachings as a He pointed out that it took nearly prophet should have been portrayed two years to evacuate the Mormons enjoying more in the way of from Nauvoo, not in one night as revelations from God. Had this devicted in the film. Nor did everv- emphasis been made in the film, one cross the frozen Mississippi they say, it would have lent more River -only the small advance party. strength and assurance to Brigham's Rather, the majority ferried across otherwise doubting posture in the to Sugar Creek on barges. Further- film. They contended also that more, Brigham Young had studied further distortions appeared as many extensively the accounts of travelers obvious and important historical and explorers like John Fremont events were either modified in the who had visited the area of the film or ignored altogether. Great Basin of the Rocky Mountains What feelings were undoubtedly and because of this research Brin- voiced by many Latter-day Saints ham Young led his people to that regarding this latter view finally general area, which is in sharp con- reached the press. In an article trast to the screen portrayal of under the byline "S.F. Descendant Young as an aimless wanderer. Also, Resents 'Vacillating' Hero", Truman the lust for gold and the desire to Young, northern California lawyer, go to California for that reason, descendant of Brigham Young and a used as a political lever to divide Mormon, complained that "Brigham the Church by Angus Duncan, was Young is characterized as altogether two years ahead of its time as BRIGHAM YOUNG shown in the film. Gold was not body, the Council of Twelve discovered in such large amounts Apostles. However, the dispute as to precipitate a rush until 1849- over Joseph Smith's successor was ironically by a detachment of these (and still is) the principal point same Mormon pioneers. In the final of disagreement between numerous scenes of the film depicting the religious groups who claim Smith coming of the seagulls, Zanuck as their founding prophet. makes two errors of fact, says the Following the murder of Smith that conservative group. First it was night and during the remainder of

Studio-prepared publicity still showing Jaggerand his wives. Only two (those to his immediate left and right) were featured in the film. Said Time magazine, "Only the publicity department gave him his M1 share." wrong to picture an attempt by the story, Brigham, outwardly force- Brigham to confess his weakness fuI and decisive with his people, is and deception to his people because inwardly tormented by doubt. In secondly, he was not even in Salt "going to the Lord" one night in Lake when the seagull incident deciding whether to lead his people occurred, but hundreds of miles away from Nauvoo, Brigham prays, "Of in Council Bluffs, Iowa.35 course, I'm not the one you've Beyond these inaccuracies, the picked to run the Church and that's conservatives' principal bone of why you won't talk to me, why I don't mind. Why don't you talk contention was the problem of . . . to me? Why? Why?"36 succession, the transmission of the authority to lead the Church after By the end of the film, Brigham's the death of Joseph Smith. LDS credibility is restored, for as the historians asserted Brigham Young's seagulls descend on the crops and right to the presidency owing to devour the crickets, Mary Ann con- his seniority in the Church's ruling fidently assures Brigham, "He was 23 FILM AND HISTORY speaking to you all the tirne."37 honor should go to Zanuck for dis- While both fervent Church members covering and starring a relatively and knowledgable academicians re- obscure actor in a major motion acted against the movie's interpre- picture. tation of Brigham Young's historical character. liberal arts scholars and "Brigham Young" and the Mormons many, but not all, top Church Mormons worldwide, delighted at authorities held a more moderate the Hollywood-financed publicity position. Those who were members but unsure of its meaning, waited and non-members of the Church to hear from their prophet in the connected in some degree with the Church's upcoming October General dramatic or entertainment industry Conference. In his keynote address, tended in general to allow for the Grant spoke to both opinion groups dramatic license where historical in an attempt to smooth the rough authenticity was modified. It was edges of dissension and unite his generally felt that in order to com- people behind Zanuck's multi-million press fifteen years of history with dollar effort: which the non-Mormon audience was largely unfamiliar into two I have heard some little criticism hours of screen time, some alteration of it, but we cannot expect the people who do not know that of history must be made to tighten Brigham Young was in very deed the pace and include scenes which the representative of God upon emphasize necessary character traits this earth who do not know of and plot elements that would result his wonderful character, to tell in an interesting yet cohesive the story as we would tell it. screenplay. President Grant then encouraged "Brigham Young'' Church members listening to his and Film Innovation address, which was later reprinted From a purely artistic viewpoint, in the Church's official publication, many of the ideas and techniques the Improvement Era,J9 to view incorporated into Brigham Young the film in terms of the traditional were both highly sophisticated and presentation of the Church image: innovative for that period of film It is a very marvelous and won- history. For the first time, a hereto- derful thing, considering how fore unknown actor was given top- people generally have treated us star treatment (Jagger appeared in and what they thought of us. Of more scenes in Brigham Young than course, there are many things that did Vivien Leigh in Gone With The are not strictly correct, and that Wind)38 and as a result he success- is announced in the picture itself. It is of course a picture and we fully camed the burden of the film, could not hope that they would even outdistancing billed leads make a picture at their expense, Power and Darnell. running into a couple of million Strangely enough, it is not Zanuck dollars, to be just as we would who traditionally has been given like it.40 credit for the movie's innovation of The Mormon leader's conference starring unknowns, but a man more address more or less closed the often associated with innovation, issue among the Saints at that time. Orson Welles. And yet with as many But with time and an increasingly credits as Mr. Welles deserves, due favorable public image, the Mormon BRIGHAM YOUNG

MORMONS CHEER PREMIERE OF 20TH'S 'BRIGHAM YOUNG' 100.000 Welcome Hollywood Stars Salt Lake City. -T w o chartered Brenda Joyce. Mary Astor and emcee could not recall. The stars, seated Unrted Airloners dropped from the sky Ken Murray. atop open cars, made their way down here Friday noan and turned on one Following a series of brief speeches State Street and up Main amid count- of the most br~lliantHollywood pre- at the airport by Utah's Governor less floats, bands and more than 200 m i e re blttzkliegs for 20th - Fox's Blood and Mayor Ab Jenk~nsof this state police. Each star-car was pro- "Br~gham Young" that ever h~tany city, who introduced the stars, the tected against autograph seekers by town, anywhere. guests twk off for the city proper. a four-man motorcycle escort. State and local dignitaries, leaders where the streets and building win- When the parade ended at the Utah of the Mormon church. 15 bands, a dows were iammed with wlde-eyed hotel, where the contingent from Hol- squad of army pursuit planes and well welcomers. The buildings themselves lywwd was quartered, it twk 20 over 100.000 people roared a blasting were holcday-garbed in flags, bunting police to form a battering ram so that welcome to Zanuck and his coterie of and pictures of the great pioneer, the stars could get through to their picture stars, which included Tyrone Brigham Young. rwms, where cops were kept stationed Power. Linda Darnell. Dean Iagger. The mile-long procession circled the outside each dwr. The hotel lobby Gregory Ratoff. Cesar Romero. Nancy city in lavish parade, the like of which was a constant bedlam, requiring Kelly. Jane Withers. Jean Rogers. the oldest residents of the community heavy policing from the time of arrival

Church today has no longer needed Obviously the Church's perceptions to look to Hollywood for assistance of what is most important have in image-making in quite the same shifted with changing needs. Un- way or degree as in President fortunately, the good which was Grant's era when the need was much accomplished by the film has been more pronounced and appreciated. lost to the awareness of most LDS It is interesting to contrast the viewers in the shuffle of time. feelings of President Grant about Brigham Young with those of The New Image Spencer W. Kimball, current leader The significance of Brigham Young of the Mormon Church, who in a in providing the first positive non- recently published book makes partisan look at the Mormon story brief reference to the film in con- has seldom been recognized. One nection with a character analysis had only to consider the difference of Brigham Young: between the common character: The motion picture Brigham izations of Mormons in films such Young pictured President Young as A Victim of the Mormons and wondering if he were called of A Mormon Maid and the dignity God. The picture showed him accorded them in Brigham Young vacillating, unsure, and question- to realize that a monumental change ing his calling. In the climax of had taken place. Ironically, the the play he is shown wavering, rather sensationalistic publicity ready to admit he had not been ins ired, that he had lied to them campaign for the film helped change anjmisled them. . . . But there the image of the Mormon even more was nothing vacillating or weak effectively from perverted religious about Brigham Young. He knew he fanatic to virile striving pioneer. was God's leader. . . .41 The influence which making the The tone of these comments is film had upon Hollywood is in- decidedly different from President dicative of the effect which the film Grant's remarks although the stated had upon the nation as a whole. facts are essentially the same. This, his first noteworthy role in 25 FILM AND HISTORY motion pictures, left its mark on HERE WAS Price. "I greatly enjoyed the part of Joseph Smith," he said some thirty years later-a time span dur- ing which many actors forget what films they have appeared in. "I read a great deal about him and with the help of the late Heber Grant kept on finding more material on the subject after the film was I He had 27 wires.. .and 47 children! released. I have always had the ut- I most admiration for the Mormon Church which I'm sure stems from historical events as if they were my fascination with Joseph Smith- something important happening to what an extraordinary man!"42 real people and not just another Louis Bromfield likewise became background for another boy-meets- fascinated with Brigham Young be- girl romance."45 cause of his research for the film In 1948, the National Council for and later stated enthusiastically Social Studies edited portions of that "He was one of the six or Brigham Young into a thirty-minute seven greatest men America ever film entitled Driven Westward produced. He should have been designed for use in secondary President of this nation.It43. Even schools. Its purpose, as declared more unusual than Price's and in the teacher's guide, was to provide Bromfield's infatuation with the a "stirring visualization of the con- early Mormon leaders is the even- tribution made by a minority group tual conversion of Dean Jagger to to our national development, and Mormonism over thirty-two years demonstrates the necessity for re- later.44 specting the right of such groups."46 To the millions of non-Mormons To modern viewers, Brigham Young who saw it, the film became what appears somewhat dated and melo- Heber J. Grant hoped it would be, dramatic and as has been illustrated, a friendmaker. Brigham Young, the Mormon Church has largely to them, was seen in this screen outgrown its need for it; yet when portrait as a courageous and human produced, Brigham Young gave to leader who, while beset by natural the world for the first time on a self doubt, rose successfully to each mass scale a fitting and sensitive challenge of circumstance. introduction to the Latter-day Saint Since 1940, Brigham Young has heritage-"a believable story of been forgotten at film festivals men and women fighting for their and seminars, but has nevertheless faith.l147 been viewed over the years with 1. Richard Paul quoting Zanuck in a letter considerable praise, not only for its to Dennis Rowley, Curator of Archives & championing of religious (with the Manuscripts, Brigham Young Uni- attendant implication of racial) versity, 25 March 1976. freedom but as one critic recently 2. Me1 Gussow, p. 90. noted, it "proves that when 3. Vardis Fisher, Children of God (New producers put their minds to it, York: Harper & Bros., 1939), 13th ed. they can make pictures that show For views probing Fisher's historical BRIGHAM YOUNG

accuracy see Joseph M. Flora, "V&S 17. "Statistics Tell the Story of Vast Cost Fiher and the Mormons," Dialogue: A Involved in Producing Picture Brigham Journal of Monnon Thought, 4, n.3, Young," Salt Lake Tribune, 23 August (Autumn 1969); and David Davis, 1940, p. 35. "Children of God: An Historian's 18. Mary Astor*My Story, p. 228. Evaluation," WesfemHumenities Review (Winter 1953-a), pp. 49-56. 19. Kenneth Macgowan, Brigkm Young, Conkreme With Mr. Zanudc- (on final a Kenneth Macgowan, Brigkm Young, script of 16 October 1939),20 October Conference With Mr. Zanuck (on new 1939, p. 1. Unpublished typewritten treatment of 26 July 1939) 3 August 1939. minutes of story conference. p. 2. Unpublished typewdtten minutes of story conference. 20. Kenneth Macgowan, Brigham Yowg, Csnference With Mr. Zanudr (on first 5. See Richard Alan Nelson, "A History continuity draft of 30 Septmber 19391, Screen of Latter-day Saint Portrayals in 5 October 1939, p. 1. Unpublighed type- the Anti-Morrnon Fim Era, 1905-1936" written minutes of story conference. unpublished masters thesis, Brigham Young University, 1975 ,pp. 25-46, 21. "The New Pictures: Brigham Young- F~ontimman."Time (7 October 1940). 6. May Ma"Ewnts in Monnon Pioneer- p. 63. ing of Salt Lake WilI Be Chronicled in HoII+ Production," Deseret Neras, 22. Advertisement in unidentified New York 26 December 1936, p. 3. The film, pro- newspaper contained in Dean Jagger duced by E. B' Durr, was to have begun Papers, MSS 60, Brigham Young Uni- filming early in 1937 but never material- versity, Harold B. Lee Librat).. ized. Ms Mann reported that 'Wetro- 23. "High L.D.S. Offi& Preview Brigham Goldwyn-Mayer, Paramount and Uni- Young; SaJ$ Eake Tnie,14 August versal have toyed with the idea" of a 194Q, p. 8. 1-d film on the Mormon story and that wen "Cecil B. DeMille has 24. "Sdt LLaers Jam Streets To See Stars: long been interested in the subjeci . . . Even Zanuck Has Not Seen Such A but the present need is for concentrated Premiere," Deseret News, 23 August action.'' 1940, p. 1. 7. "Film Epic Thrills Audiexms," Deer& 25. "Huge 'thigham' Pmm Enthuses Zanuck News, 23 August 1940, p. 6. Party," Daily Variety, 26 August 1940, p. 6. 6. Thomas BPady, ''Pmfits w. Prestige," New York Times, 28 July 1940, Section 9, 26. Editorial, Deseret News, tQ August p. 3. 1940, p. 4. 9. Heber J. Grant in lam to Kenneth Mac- 27. Editorial, Salt Lake Ttibune, 23 August gowan. 30 August 1939. 1940, p. 10. 10. Vincmt Price in letter to JamesWArc, 28. Brigham Young's greatest commercial 17 Febrmq 1972. success, other thgn in Salt Lake City, was seen in San Frandsco where it mt- sold every other fllm in the ma. How- 12. John A. Widtsoe in letta to Kenneth ever, the film was cansidered less than Macgowan, 7 September 1939. desirable to rwidents of Carthage, I&mL, who boycotted showings there. 13. '2ie Make-up Needed For Star of They had pet3tioned Twentieth Cdtu~y- Picture Brigham Young," blr kke Fox to delete the unfavor&le C& Tribune, 23 August 1940, p. 30. scenes but Kenneth Macgawan replied 14. Mel Gussow, p. 131. that &igharn Young was not intended to be a reflectian on Carthage: 15. Rui Nogueira, "Henry Hathaway Inter- madern view," Focus on Film, (No. 7,l97l), p. 16. "The toreward to the film dearly shews that the heis 1846. Eveq town un- 16. Mary Astor, My Story (New York: Dell daubredly has a few skeletans in its Publishing Co., 19601, p. 221. Additional closet and Carthage shouldn't be unduly information on Hathaway's interesting, sensitive!' (DesmtNetus, 22 August if uneven, career may be found in Kings- 1940, p. 11.) ley Canham, The Holiywood Profession- & (New York: A. S. Barnes, 1973) 29. Mary Astor, A Life on Filtri (New York: 1: 139-198. Dell Publishing Co., 19721, p. 147. FILM AND HISTORY

30. "Movie of the Week: Brigham Young," 44. See James V. D'Arc, "Dean Jagger: From Life, (23 September 1940), p. 59. 'Prophet1to Convert," Daily Universe 19 31. "The Drama of a Migration: Brigham (Brigham Young University), November Young Depicts Search of Mormons for 1973, pp. 7-8. Freedom," Newsweek, (23 September 45. John Hovard Reid, "The Best Second 1940), p. 151. Fiddle," Films &Filming, Et 2 32. "Social Photoplay," Sociology and (November 1972), p. 15. Social Research, (November-December 46. Teacher Guide to the Classroom Motion 1940), p. 198. Picture Driven Westward adapted from 33. Fred Johnson, "A Mormon Eyes 'Brigham Brigham Young (20th Century-Fox) Young': S. F. Descendant Resents distributed by Teaching Film Custodians, 'Vacillating' Hero," San Francisco Inc., 25 West 43rd Street, New York, Bulletin, 9 October 1940. New York 10016. 47. 34. Morris R. Werner, "Brigham Young Vincent Price in letter to James D'Arc, Seen As Screen Material," New York 17 February 1972. Herald Tribune, 15 September 1940, Section VI. 35. See B. H. Roberts, A Comprehensive History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 6 vols. (Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University, 1965) and Joseph Fielding Smith, Essentials in Church History (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1966), 21st ed. 36. Ibid., p. 47. In a lengthy letter to Mac- gowan, John A Widtsoe criticized as in- accurate the use of "going to God" to mean prayer and colloquilisms such as "ain't" attributed to Brigham Young (letter to Macgowan, 13 November 1939). 37. Lamar Trotti from the story by Louis Bromfield, Brigham Young (Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp.: unpublished continuity & dialogue taken from the screen, 26 August 1940), R/12, p. 13. 38. Weston Nordgren, "Btigham Young", Improvement Era (September 1940), p. 533. Jagger appeared in 262 out of the total of 314 scenes. 39. Editor's Page, Improvement Em, (November 1940), p. 654. 40. Heber J. Grant, "Gratitude for Faith of People," One Hundred and Eleventh Semi-Annual Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1940), p. 96. 41. Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes The Miracle (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book co., 1975), p. 29. 42. Vincent Price in a letter to James D'Arc, 17 February 1972. 43. "Bromfield Applauds Brigham Young," Deseret News, 23 August 1940, p. 20. 1977 MORMON HISTOR' CALENDAR The 1977 Mormon History Calendar is both personal and professional. It expresses your heritage, one easily shared and appreciated via this calendar. A beautifully designed setting for valuable old George Edward Anderson and John F. Bennett photographs. There is nothing else like it. Not at this price.

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