The Work and the Glory (2004)

Recently moved to upstate New York from the comfort of their Vermont homestead, the Benjamin Steed family makes their way into the established social structure of Palmyra. In their attempt ... See full summary »

Director:

Russell Holt

Writers:

Russell Holt, Gerald N. Lund (novel)

Stars:

Sam Hennings, Brenda Strong, Eric Johnson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sam Hennings	...	Benjamin Steed
Brenda Strong	...	Mary Ann Steed
Eric Johnson	...	Joshua Steed
Alexander Carroll	...	Nathan Steed
Tiffany Dupont	...	Lydia McBride
Brighton Hertford	...	Melissa Steed / Narrator
Kimberly Varadi	...	Becca Steed
Colin Ford	...	Matthew Steed
Kathryn Firago	...	Hannah McBride
Jim Grimshaw	...	Josiah McBride
Jonathan Scarfe	...	Joseph Smith
Sarah Darling	...	Emma Smith
Edward Albert	...	Martin Harris
Ryan Wood	...	Hyrum Smith
Jordan Rose Tarter	...	Sophronia Smith

Storyline

Recently moved to upstate New York from the comfort of their Vermont homestead, the Benjamin Steed family makes their way into the established social structure of Palmyra. In their attempt to settle peacefully into the new community, they discover that the help they have hired to clear their land is at the center of a religious controversy - a controversy that threatens to tear the family apart. As two of the Steed brothers contend for the favor of a wealthy merchant's daughter, they find themselves on opposite sides of the religious question. Although the family struggles to smooth the contention, they soon face deeper issues of family loyalty and the pursuit of truth.

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Plot Keywords:

husband wife relationship | rivalry | faith | religious movement | mormon | 

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Taglines:

One Man....A Remarkable Vision; One Family....A Desperate Struggle

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Genres:

Romance | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some mild thematic elements and violence

Details

Official Sites:

Excel Entertainment Group

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 January 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pillar of Light: The Work and the Glory

Filming Locations:

Johnson City, Tennessee, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$251,145 (USA) (26 November 2004)

Gross:

$3,347,439 (USA) (13 May 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Manchester Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The script required composer Sam Cardon to write an original period violin piece that the character of Lydia McBride would play. He anticipated that Tiffany Dupont, who plays Lydia would just act like she was playing for the camera and then they would mix the sound in for the final cut. But by mere chance, Tiffany Dupont majored in violin at the University of Georgia and she ended up playing the piece live for the camera.

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Goofs

Joshua Steed says he is regressing back to an ape but Charles Darwin didn't publish his theory of evolution till 1859. Almost 30 years after the time period in the film.

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Connections

Followed by The Work and the Glory III: A House Divided (2006)

User Reviews

Excellent!

This was very well done and is obvious that a much larger budget was used than what is typically used on an LDS movie. The setting was beautiful and the acting was very good also. The actor that portrayed Joseph Smith left us with a greater sense of the kind of person he may have been and some of the persecution he endured (although I believe it was on a much larger scale than what was shone). The characters that played the part of the Steed family couldn't have been a better cast. I also enjoyed the occasional subtle humor that rounded out the movie. I will definitely add this one to my DVD collection when it is released. Go see it! Now, excuse me while I "go get some more eggs"!