The Book of Mormon Movie, Volume 1: The Journey (2003)

The story of Lehi and his wife Sariah and their four sons: Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi. Lehi leaves Jerusalem because he prophesied unto the people concerning the destruction of Jerusalem... See full summary »

Director:

Gary Rogers

Writers:

Craig Clyde (screenplay), Gary Rogers

Stars:

Noah Danby, Jacque Gray, Bryce Chamberlain

Cast

Credited cast:
Noah Danby	...	Nephi
Jacque Gray	...	Nephi's Wife
Bryce Chamberlain	...	Lehi
Jan Broberg	...	Sariah (as Jan Gardner)
Ron Frederickson	...	Ishmael
Kirby Heyborne	...	Sam
Todd Davis	...	Zoram
Michael Flynn	...	Laban
Richard J. Clifford	...	Lucan
Bruce Newbold	...	Moroni
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Eden Benson	...	Nephi's Sister 2
Jeremy Cooper	...	Ishmael's Son 3
Melanie Deters	...	Zoram's Wife
Cragun Foulger	...	Lemuel
Jessica Giauque	...	Lemuel's Wife

Storyline

The story of Lehi and his wife Sariah and their four sons: Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi. Lehi leaves Jerusalem because he prophesied unto the people concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, and they sought his life. He journeys into the wilderness with his family. He sends Nephi and his brethren back to Jerusalem after the brass plates and the family of Ishmael. The sons and daughters of Lehi marry the sons and daughters of Ishmael. They take their families and continue into the wilderness. Ishmael dies in the wilderness. They come to the sea. Nephi's brethren rebel against him. He confounds them, and builds a ship. They cross the sea to the promised land in the Americas. Lehi dies in the promised land. Nephi's brethren rebel against him again. Nephi departs again into the wilderness.

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Plot Keywords:

journey | latter day saints | mormon | mormonism | prophet | 

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Taglines:

2600 years ago, one family began a remarkable journey and set the course for a latter-day faith. This is their story.

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Genres:

Adventure

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for a scene of violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 January 2004 (Germany)

Filming Locations:

Goblin Valley State Park - Highway 24, Green River, Utah, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$56,021 (USA) (3 October 2003)

Gross:

$1,098,224 (USA) (28 November 2003)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first day of filming was ruined by rain. Rain was forecast for the next ten days, so they altered the schedule to begin filming the tent scenes inside a neighbor's barn. The second day of filming was clear and weather did not significantly hinder filming again.

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Goofs

The costumes - an odd hodge-podge of modern Middle Eastern and ancient Aztec apparently patterned after the highly fanciful paintings of Arnold Friberg, bear no resemblance whatsoever to Jewish attire of the day.

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Quotes

Lehi: Do you promise to love and honor each other in accordance with the commandments of God?
Sam's Wife: He does.

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Connections

Referenced in The Singles 2nd Ward (2007)

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Soundtracks

"Forever We'll Be"
Performed by Jessica Giauque
Music and Lyrics by Jessica Giauque, Joseph Marshall, Tom Hopkins
Vocals by Emily Giauque, Lexi Giauque, Zack Wilson, Jaremy Hill

User Reviews

Chloroform on celluloid

I endured the Book of Mormon film at the Englewood last night. To paraphrase Mark Twain's assessment of the book as "choloroform in print," I'd rate this work as chloroform on celluloid.

Despite an opening title disclaimer from the LDS church, there were plenty of telltale embellishments of a Mormon production -- pretty, clean, crisp costumes, straight white teeth, Eurocentric looking actors, God as booming bass male voice, etc. I wasn't familiar with any of the actors, but movie lead Nephi was portrayed by a buff looking Greg Brady guy, an amalgam of Barry Williams and Lou Ferrigno. Laman was delightfully sinister. Lemuel had the voice of Chris Elliott which distracted me. Lehi was disgraceful and looked to be an understudy from the Olive Branch players. I was secretly relieved when the old patriarch died, but his deathbed scene was of predictable unpleasant duration.

Considerable Jerusalem intrigue as prelude to the Nephites blowing town, much not depicted in the opening of First Nephi, but I suppose it helped set the scene. Over an hour into the film and we'd yet to depart the book of First Nephi so I was getting pretty apprehensive about the epic running length. But this film, the first in a projected series, only deals with the first two books in the Book of Mormon.

Suitable for the kinderlach. Violent apex is some blood spattering on Nephi. Sexual situations limited to some provocative dancing by the Nephite women. Some pretty fetching halter tops on the sea voyage over.

The darkness of the bad brothers at this film's conclusion portrayed more tastefully than what I'd feared might be coming. They hadn't morphed into African-Americans, but rather had just taken on a browner hue, replete with savage makeup and behavior wailing around the campfire. A refreshing Joseph Smith portrayal to bookend the film, not the beautiful blonde boy we're often treated to in LDS depictions, but a more homely and believable farm boy. Angel Moroni in sore need of recasting. I know who the South Park producers used as their template now when they depicted this angel as a white Native-American.

I attended at the recommendation of an aged church Seventy who beamed about Hollywood production values. I questioned this initially upon watching the film, but then reminded myself that Saturday morning live-action series of my youth like Shazam, Mighty Isis, and the Banana Splits feature Danger Island were likely conceived in Hollywood. So sure, Hollywood production values. Actually there was one unique shot of Laman escaping the clutches of Laban in a long, uninterrupted run down stairs. Flying too fast for a Steadicam. So speedy it had to be mounted on a vehicle of some sort, but quite smooth.

Likely the best Book of Mormon film out there, but the competition's not too stiff. I wish someone with Mel Gibson money, although not his zest for sadism, would turn their film-making efforts to Joseph Smith's literary masterpiece. It might enhance understanding between mainstream Christians and the latter-day Saint tradition churches that sprung up in the 19th century. This film struck me as too boring an initiation ritual into the Book of Mormon, so leave your Goyim buddies at home.

Dirk Ellingson Independence, MO