Child Bride of Short Creek (TV 1981)

Partially based on the true events surrounding a rural religious cult in the American Midwest, and how the members' children suffered for their parents' fanaticism.

Director:

Robert Michael Lewis

Writers:

Joyce Eliason, Michael Fessier Jr. (story)

Stars:

Diane Lane, Christopher Atkins, Conrad Bain

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Diane Lane	...	Jessica Rae Jacobs
Christopher Atkins	...	Isaac King
Conrad Bain	...	Frank King
Kiel Martin	...	Bob Kalish
Helen Hunt	...	Naomi
Warren Vanders	...	Jay Jacobs
Joan Shawlee	...	Isaac's mother
Dee Wallace	...	Mary Jacobs (as Dee Wallace-Stone)
Alan Nash	...	Sheriff
Heidi Bohay	...	Lola
Babetta Dick	...	Judy
Robert E. Hartenberger	...	Attorney General

Storyline

Dramatization of the lives of the people of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, collectively known as "Short Creek," a community made up of members of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints, a Mormon separatist group practicing child marriage and polygamy.

---

Plot Keywords:

polygamy | arizona | utah | colorado city arizona | hildale utah | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 December 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

La jeune mariée de Short Creek

Filming Locations:

Utah, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Schiller-Monash Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min 120 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed East of Hurricane, Utah, at an abandoned, (State designated park), 1900 ghost-town sight which had been flooded out. A river flows adjacent to the abandoned town. A few relic buildings remain standing, including a Church, a few houses, and a few farm or barn buildings. A "movie constructed set-house" was built for the film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". This set piece remains located at the corner of the town's main street crossroad. Upon inspection, one can spot the framed "wild away" walls constructed for the camera to film inside the set-house interior. This house was built and used for Butch Cassidy's hideout, with the front dirt street used for the bicycle riding scene. Short Creek production repaired the town buildings, re-painting exterior buildings, to emphasize dilapidated conditions. Additional picket fences were placed around the houses for a lived in atmosphere. Additional shacks, and leaning shelters were built to fill out the town spaces. The construction coordinator (Jerry Esposito) and the Production Designer scouted-shopped the Hurricane township for out-houses that local Property owners would part with. Offering $25 to $50 dollars, Esposito was able to snag three wood out-house buildings. The "hero" outhouse was purchased from the Hurricain "DeMille" family - whose descendants were related to Cecil B. DeMille. Threafter, this hero outhouse was nicknamed "the DeMille Outhouse"...

---

Connections

Referenced in Many Wives: Vows of Silence (2000)

User Reviews

Excellent movie!

The first time I saw this movie I was really impressed. I loved the plot and I loved the way the story was told. I made me think of a religious dictator telling his followers how to live their lives. There were times when I was mad and times when I would cry. I loved this movie. It's worth watching again and again.