Brigham Young (also known as Brigham Young – Frontiersman) is a 1940 American biographical historical drama 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, Jean Rogers and Ann Todd.
Plot In frontier-town Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1844, the main body of the church are forced to leave Illinois, choosing to settle temporarily in Nebraska. They then travel by wagon train to the Great Basin.
Cast
+Uncredited (in order of appearance)Lee Shumwaymember of anti-Smith mob Charles Middletonmember of anti-Smith mobWilliam Haadeskeptic at Mormon trialBlackie Whitefordcourtroom spectatorMurdock MacQuarriecourtroom spectatorCharles Haltonprosecutor at Mormon trialEddy Wallerman announcing discovery of goldPaul E. Burnsman discussing gold rushFrank Shannonman discussing gold rushEdmund Eltonman reacting to excitement regarding gold rushHerbert Heywoodman joking about California gold rushDavid KirklandMormon elderFrank Millsagitator in newspaper officeCliff ClarkMormon disputing Brigham YoungBob KortmanMormon disputing Brigham YoungHank WordenMormon supporting Brigham YoungJody Gilbertheavyset woman caught in current during river crossingTom Londonmember of raiding group attacking Mormons
Cast notes Ninth-billed Jean Rogers played Dale Arden in the 1936 serial Flash Gordon and its 1938 follow-up Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars. Her co-stars in the two serials, Charles Middleton, who played Ming the Merciless and Frank Shannon, who played Dr. Zarkov, have uncredited bit parts in this film.
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 Harry 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."Medved & Medved, The Hollywood Hall of Shame (1984), p. 205
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.