Based on the story of the famous Mormon leader, it follows Brigham Young and his challenge to transport his people across the Rocky mountains to settle in Salt Lake City. The plot focuses on two fictitious characters, Jonathan Kent and Zina Webb and the hardships they have to face along the way.
Production
Glorious matte-painted Rocky Mountains that aged like fine cheese
Acting
Dean Jagger's eerily calm prophet energy vs Tyrone Power's smolder
Director
Henry Hathaway
Tyrone Power
Jonathan Kent
Linda Darnell
Zina Webb - The Outsider
Dean Jagger
Brigham Young
Brian Donlevy
Angus Duncan
Jane Darwell
Eliza Kent
John Carradine
Porter Rockwell
Mary Astor
Mary Ann Young
Vincent Price
Joseph Smith
Jean Rogers
Clara Young
Ann E. Todd
Mary Kent
Willard Robertson
Heber Kimball
Moroni Olsen
Doc Richards
Marc Lawrence
Prosecutor
Stanley Andrews
Hyrum Smith
Frank M. Thomas
Hubert Crum
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints cooperated extensively with production, providing historical consultants — then promptly distanced themselves from the final film's melodrama.
This was 20th Century Fox's attempt to recreate their 1939 'Drums Along the Mohawk' success, trading Revolutionary War settlers for Mormon pioneers with suspiciously identical narrative beats.
US
