Mormon cinema

thumb|250px|Still from The Life of Nephi (1915)Mormon cinema usually refers to films with themes relevant to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The term has also been used to refer to films that do not necessarily reflect Mormon themes but have been made by Mormon filmmakers. Films within the realm of Mormon cinema may be distinguished from institutional films produced by the LDS Church, such as Legacy and Testaments, which are made for instructional or proselyting purposes and are non-commercial. Mormon cinema is produced mainly for the purposes of entertainment and potential financial success.

Though Latter-day Saints have been involved in the film industry in various ways since the early 20th century, independent Mormon cinema is a relatively new phenomenon. Many scholars and filmmakers accredit Richard Dutcher's 2000 film God's Army with ushering in the modern Mormon cinema movement. Following the commercial success of Dutcher's film, Mormon producers and directors began to market distinctly Mormon movies to LDS audiences, especially those living in the Mormon Corridor. This began with a wave of Mormon comedy movies, such as The Singles Ward (2002) and The R.M. (2003), that focused on the more comedic aspects of the culture surrounding the religion. Films within the Mormon cinema subgenre typically rely heavily on LDS themes and are marketed mostly toward Latter-day Saints, though there has been an effort to "cross over" into more general topics and appeal to a wider audience. Generally, Latter-day Saints produce and direct the films. Over the years, Mormon cinema has explored a variety of production methods: widespread commercial release, single-theatre release, and direct-to-DVD release.

Defining "Mormon cinema"

There is debate surrounding what should and should not be classified as "Mormon cinema." For example, Don Bluth's animated films, such as The Land Before Time (1988) and Anastasia (1997), carry some themes and undertones that coincide with the director's religion but lack overtly LDS characteristics. The church produced institutional films shortly after the industry was born. Independently, however, Latter-day Saints were somewhat hesitant to adopt filmmaking as a method of storytelling. Subsequently, the 1920s saw a boom in theater construction in Utah and the number of Mormon moviegoers. By the 1930s and 40s, movies had become key component of Latter-day Saint life. The LDS church worked with LDS and non-LDS directors alike to create films that painted the history of Utah and Mormonism in a more positive light, but "harsh depictions" of Mormons—such as those in A Victim of the Mormons (1911), A Mormon Maid (1917), and Trapped by the Mormons (1922)—overshadowed those church-produced films—such as One Hundred Years of Mormonism (1913) and The Life of Nephi (1915)—in the market.

One Hundred Years was considered a large-scale production for its time; it was 90 minutes long and involved "a cast of over a thousand, an elaborate reconstruction of sections of [the city of] Nauvoo, and four concurrently running cameras". It told in detail the story of the LDS Church, beginning with the birth of its founder, Joseph Smith,

alt=a large indoor space with exposed rafters and lights overhead. Cameras, microphones, and other filmmaking technology lines the floors|thumb|BYU MPS sound stage, ca. 1950s

The range of years from 1973 to 2000 has been called the "Mass Media Era" in Mormon cinema. The films produced during this time mostly fit into that category; they were products of the church itself, not of its members independently. However, a growing number of Latter-day Saints began to work in the entertainment industry. The film, which was produced on a budget of $300,000, grossed upwards of $2.5 million at the box office. God's Army was unique for the time in that it combined a number of unfamiliar factors: an LDS director, an LDS subject matter, a theatrical distribution, and a marketing campaign that targeted Mormon moviegoers. It earned Dutcher the title of "the father of modern Latter-day Saint cinema."

Mormon comedies

Observing the financial success of God's Army, Kurt Hale and Dave Hunter founded Halestorm Entertainment in 2001 and focused the new company's efforts on making and distributing Mormon movies. Halestorm began releasing slapstick comedies with Mormon-centric humor in the early 2000s, including titles such as The R.M. (2003), The Home Teachers (2004), Baptists at Our Barbecue (2004), Sons of Provo (2004), and Mobsters and Mormons (2005). and Zion Films have spearheaded the production and distribution of Mormon cinema. This was true of satirical comedies The Singles Ward (2002), The R.M., and The Home Teachers. focuses on a subgroup of Mormon culture: young adults in Utah Valley searching for future spouses. In a discussion of these comedies, screenwriter and director Randy Astle writes that "many of the jokes and references [are] incomprehensible for Church members as close as Idaho, let alone India." Director Richard Dutcher and reviewers Sean P. Means and Thomas Baggaley responded to the early 2000s' wave of Mormon films by expressing concern over the way the subgenre was headed. They worried about directors and production companies relying too heavily on Mormon-centric humor and the newness of Mormon cinema instead of producing quality films with worthwhile plotlines. However, by 2006, Halestorm discovered that the enthusiasm for Mormon-centric movies had died down. So, Halestorm pivoted by rebranding a part of itself as "Stone Five Studios" and releasing its next comedy, Church Ball (2006), with less references to religion and Mormon culture. Richard Dutcher released a follow-up to God's Army, States of Grace, in 2005, but some Mormon moviegoers disapproved of the film for its "not altogether positive depiction of Mormons."

Efforts at mass appeal and growth

LDS film directors have been attempting to appeal to a national audience since the early 2000s. The 2003 crossover film Pride & Prejudice: A Latter-day Comedy, for example, avoided direct references to Mormonism. Its director, Andrew Black, sought to focus on other elements of the story, with Mormon culture as "just a backdrop." Professor Travis T. Anderson argues that LDS films revolving around universal human themes—such as "challenges, struggles, desire, and day-to-day experiences"—with just a splash of religious undertones achieve success in the movie market despite the Mormon cultural aspects they carry, which can seem strange to general audiences. He cites The Other Side of Heaven (2001), Saints and Soldiers (2003), Napoleon Dynamite (2004), and New York Doll (2005) as examples of such "critical and financial success stories in Mormon cinema." Saints and Soldiers gained recognition at multiple small film festivals; and the 2001 murder mystery Brigham City, while not praised by audiences, received critical acclaim. The documentary New York Doll tells the story of a member of a rock band—who also happens to be Mormon—and the reconciliation of his two worlds. It demonstrates the commonly held goal of Mormon filmmakers to bridge the gap between how Mormons are perceived and the concept of the typical American.

Some Mormon films were marketed differently to the larger market than they were to their niche audience. The national release DVD cover of Brigham City, for example, featured "much more implied violence" than the cover released to the Mormon Corridor. Most of the family-oriented films marketed to Mormon audiences never made it to theaters, but went right to DVD distribution through large and small e-commerce websites, such as Amazon and LDSVideoStore.com. As of 2009, there were 4,591 entries of film or television shows in the Mormon Literature and Creative Arts Database. and Freetown (2015) told the story of African missionaries escaping the First Liberian Civil War. On the subject of film, author Heather Bigley writes: "As American members [of the LDS Church] begin to think of themselves as part of a world-wide organization, efforts at self-definition abound." There have also been recent releases in the vein of LDS Church history, such as The Fighting Preacher (2019) and Out of Liberty (2019). The Mormon films released since 2005 have mainly been small, independent features. They are, however, arguably of a higher artistic quality than their predecessors,

The LDS Film Festival is still held annually in Orem, Utah, The subgenre has become an important part of cultural expression for Latter-day Saints. R-ratings are rare among Mormon-made films;

The Best Two Years (2003) – An LDS missionary's experience in the Netherlands, based on the play The Best Two Years of My Life.
Saints and Soldiers (2004) – A World War II movie that has muted LDS overtones and significant mainstream appeal.
Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed (2012) – sequel
Saints and Soldiers: The Void (2014) – sequel
The Work and The Glory (2005) – Based on Gerald Lund's LDS and historical fiction series The Work and the Glory.
The Work and The Glory II: American Zion (2005) – sequel
The Errand of Angels (2008) – The experiences of a female LDS missionary from Idaho serving in Austria.
Emma Smith: My Story (2008) – The story of Joseph Smith's wife, Emma. Based upon the true story of her life.
Forever Strong (2008) – Will rugby reunite a broken family?
17 Miracles (2011) – The story of numerous miracles that occur to the Willie Handcart Company. The main character is Levi Savage who joins and supports the company despite serious misgivings about their unpreparedness and late start.
Ephraim's Rescue (2013) – The story of Ephraim Hanks who was one of the first rescuers to leave Salt Lake City to help save the stranded Willie and Martin handcart companies.
The Saratov Approach (2013) – Based on the true story of two missionaries kidnapped and held for ransom while serving LDS missions in Russia in 1998.
Freetown (2015) – based on the true story of a group of native Liberian missionaries traveling from Monrovia, Liberia to Freetown, Sierra Leone during a time of civil war in 1990.
The Cokeville Miracle (2015) – based on the true story of the Cokeville Elementary School hostage crisis and the miraculous spiritual experiences that happened there.
Spirit of the Game (2016) – based on the true story of the Mormon Yankees, an American basketball team which played in exhibition games before the 1956 Summer Olympics.
The Fighting Preacher (2019) – The story of Willard and Rebecca Bean who are sent to settle in Palmyra, New York to establish a LDS church presence and buy the Hill Cumorah. They are initially shunned by the local townspeople, but over the years gradually gain their deep respect and love.
Out of Liberty (2019) – the individuals surrounding Joseph Smith's captivity in Liberty Jail in 1839.

Romance

Saturday's Warrior (1989) – popular release among Latter-day Saints of the De Azevedo and Stewart musical, directed by Bob Williams. De Azevedo released a remake of the movie in 2016.
Out of Step (2002) – a young dance student leaves Utah for schooling in New York City. She falls in love with two different men and must choose between them.
Pride and Prejudice: A Latter-Day Comedy (2003) – a modern adaptation of the Jane Austen novel Pride and Prejudice, set in Provo, Utah.

Comedy

Several comedies, mostly produced by Dave Hunter, have also been released. Because the humor of these films often relies on specifically Utah-centric Latter Day Saint culture, they tend to have a smaller audience than the other LDS subgenres, even among Mormon viewers.

The Singles Ward (2002) – The title refers to an LDS congregation (ward) composed only of single adults. A comedy with romantic aspects.
The R.M. (2003) – About the experiences of a returned missionary.
The Best Two Years (2003) – LDS missionaries' experiences in the Netherlands, based on the play The Best Two Years of My Life.
The Work and the Story (2003) – A mockumentary about LDS cinema when Richard Dutcher (fictionally) disappears. Written, produced and directed by Nathan Smith Jones; co-produced by Miriam Smith.
The Home Teachers (2004) – Slapstick comedy about polar opposite home teachers that "fulfill" their responsibility on the last day of the month. "Home teaching" is the LDS practice of a home teaching companionship – a holder of the Melchizedek Priesthood and a 14-year-old teacher or older – visiting and teaching families in their ward each month.
Baptists at Our Barbecue (2004) – Longfellow – consistently called "Longwinded" by the inhabitants – is a small town that is religiously divided equally between Baptists and Mormons. A newcomer becomes the tie-breaker. Rather than tilt the scales he decides to bridge the religious divide by organizing an all-faiths barbecue. Based on a novel by Robert Farrell Smith.
Sons of Provo (2004) – Mockumentary about an LDS boy band named Everclean.
Mobsters and Mormons (2005) – After testifying against his mob boss, Carmine "The Beans" Zindelli Pasquale and his family are put in the Witness Protection Program in "Happy Valley", Utah, resulting in significant culture clash.
Church Ball (2006) – In the last year of a basketball league, a church team does not want to place last again. The storyline juxtaposes the desire to win at all costs with the expectation of sportsmanlike conduct in church sports.
Believe (2007) – A mockumentary about multi-level marketing.
Inspired Guns (2014) – Two Mormon missionaries begin teaching two members in the mafia in a case of mistaken identity.
Once I Was a Beehive (2015) – A non-LDS girl attends Young Woman's camp.
Trek: The Movie (2018) — a group of LDS teens participate in a reenactment of the handcart pioneers.

Fantasy/adventure

The Legend of Johnny Lingo (2003) – follow on to the classic short film.
Passage to Zarahemla (2007) – A time-travel adventure set in the rural area of Leeds, Utah wherein characters from modern times interact with Nephites and Gadianton robbers (tribes and groups mentioned in the Book of Mormon).
17 Miracles (2011) – Based on accounts of the pioneers of the Willie and Martin handcart companies struggling to survive to head to the Great Salt Lake Valley while a multitude of miracles occur.

Documentary

American Mormon (2005) – A small film crew drove across the United States interviewing people about their perceptions of Mormons.
New York Doll (2005) – A recovering alcoholic and recently converted Mormon, Arthur "Killer" Kane, of the rock band The New York Dolls, is given a chance at reuniting with his band after 30 years.
American Mormon in Europe (2006) – Interviews with people in Europe about their perceptions of Mormons, and interviews with European church members.
Trouble In Zion (2009) – A tragic piece of American religious history is brought to life through the spoken word, folk music, and the vibrant pages of a comic book.
8: The Mormon Proposition (2010) – "A scorching indictment of the Mormon Church's historic involvement in the promotion & passage of California's Proposition 8 and the Mormon religion's secretive, decades-long campaign against LGBT human rights."
Meet the Mormons (2014) – A documentary examining the very diverse lives of six devout members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (actually an official church production, but included here because it was shown in theaters).
Believer (2018) – Documentary of Imagine Dragons' lead singer, the loveloud music festival, and Latter-day Saint queer folk.

Television

Bonanza (1959–1973) – Season 8, Episode 4: "The Pursued" (1966).
The Joseph Smith Papers (2008–2009) – Documentary television series which documented the creation of, and work involved in, Joseph Smith Papers Project.
History of the Saints (2010) – Documentary television series which focuses on the history of the Latter-day Saints after the death of Joseph Smith, including their exodus to Utah.
Hell on Wheels (2011–2016) – Western television series which focuses on the building of the Transcontinental Railroad.
Under the Banner of Heaven (2022) – American true crime drama television miniseries created by Dustin Lance Black based on the nonfiction book of the same name by Jon Krakauer.

Box office

{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Studio

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Actors

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Director

! scope="col" | Budget

! scope="col" | Gross

| Best Two Years, TheThe Best Two Years

| 2003

| Halestorm Entertainment

| K.C. Clyde, Kirby Heyborne, David Nibley, Cameron Hopkin, Scott Christopher, Michael Flynn

| Scott S. Anderson

| $400,000

| $1,163,450

| The Book of Mormon Movie, Vol. 1: The JourneyThe Book of Mormon Movie, Vol. 1: The Journey

| 2003

| Halestorm Entertainment

| Noah Danby, Kirby Heyborne, Jacque Gray, Bryce Chamberlain, Jan Gardner, Ron Frederickson

| Gary Rogers

| $1,500,000

| $1,680,020

| Brigham City

| 2001

| Zion Films

| Richard Dutcher, Matthew A. Brown, Wilford Brimley, Carrie Morgan, Jongiorgi Enos, Tayva Patch

| Richard Dutcher

| $900,000

| $852,206

| Charly

| 2002

| Jeremy Hoop, Randy King, Heather Beers

| Adam Thomas Anderegg

| $950,000

| $813,685

| Forever Strong

| 2008

| Lonesome Highway Productions

| Sean Faris, Gary Cole, Penn Badgley, Arielle Kebbel, Sean Astin, Neal McDonough, Olesya Rulin

| Ryan Little

| $719,556

| God's Army

| 2000

| Zion Films

| Matthew A. Brown, Richard Dutcher, Jacque Gray, DeSean Terry, Michael Buster, Luis Robledo, Jeff Kelly, John Pentecost, Lynne Carr

| Richard Dutcher

| $300,000

| $2,637,726

| Inspired Guns

| 2014

| Pitch White Entertainment

| David Lassetter, Shona Kay, Dashieli Wolf, Jarrod Phillips, Rick Macy, Charan Prabhakar, Christian Busath, Alix Maria Taulbee

| Adam White

| $175,000

| Other Side of Heaven, TheThe Other Side of Heaven

| 2001

| Walt Disney Pictures

| Christopher Gorham, Anne Hathaway

| Mitch Davis

| $7,000,000

| $4,720,371

| R.M., TheThe R.M.

| 2003

| Halestorm Entertainment

| Kirby Heyborne, Daryn Tufts, Will Swenson, Britani Bateman, Tracy Ann Evans, Merrill Dodge, Michael Birkeland, Maren Ord, Gary Crowton

| Kurt Hale

| $500,000

| $1,111,615

| Saints and Soldiers

| 2003

| Excel Entertainment Group

| Corbin Allred, Alexander Niver, Kirby Heyborne, Lawrence Bagby, Peter Aste Holden

| Ryan Little

| $780,000

| $1,310,470

| Saturday's Warrior

| 1989

| Fieldbrook Entertainment

| Erik Hickenlooper, Cori Jacobsen, Davison Cheney, Bart Hickenlooper

| Bob Williams

| Singles Ward, TheThe Singles Ward

| 2002

| Halestorm Entertainment

| Will Swenson, Connie Young, Kirby Heyborne, Daryn Tufts, Michael Birkeland, Lincoln Hoppe

| Kurt Hale

| $500,000

| $1,250,798

| Work and the Glory, TheThe Work and the Glory

| 2004

| Excel Entertainment Group

| Sam Hennings, Brenda Strong, Eric Johnson, Alexander Carroll, Tiffany Dupont, Jonathan Scarfe

| Russell Holt

| $7.5 million

| $3,347,647

| Meet the Mormons, TheMeet the Mormons

| 2014

| Excel Entertainment Group & Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

| Jermaine Sullivan, Ken Niumatalolo, Carolina Muñoz Marin, Bishnu Adhukari, Gail Halvorsen, Dawn Armstrong, Jenna Kim Jones

| Blair Treu

| $5,883,132 (all proceeds donated to the American Red Cross)

Notes

External links

LDS cinema at LDSFilm.com
LDS Film Festival at LDSFilmFestival.org

Defining "Mormon cinema"

Mormon comedies

Efforts at mass appeal and growth

Romance

Comedy

Fantasy/adventure

Documentary

Television

Box office

See also

Notes

Further reading

External links