The Work and the Glory II: American Zion (2005)

Director:

Sterling Van Wagenen

Writers:

Gerald N. Lund (novel)
Matt Whitaker (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 October 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Every Dream Has A Price

Plot:

In November of 1833, the state of Missouri turned a blind eye as hundreds of its peaceful inhabitants...

Plot Keywords:

Latter Day Saints | First Amendment | Missouri | Mormon | Sequel

Cast

Sam Hennings	...	Benjamin Steed
Brenda Strong	...	Mary Ann Steed
Eric Johnson	...	Joshua Steed
Alexander Carroll	...	Nathan Steed
Brighton Hertford	...	Melissa Steed
Kimberly Varadi	...	Becca Steed
Colin Ford	...	Matthew Steed
Sarah Bastian	...	Lydia Steed (as Sera Bastian)
Emily Podleski	...	Jessica Roundy
Jim Grimshaw	...	Josiah McBride
Jonathan Scarfe	...	Joseph Smith
Melanie Hawkins	...	Emma Smith
Frank Ashmore	...	Martin Harris
Curtis Andersen	...	Carl Rogers
Jeff Ham	...	Obadiah Cornwell
Giulia Pagano	...	Mother Smith
Raphael Sbarge	...	Parley Pratt
Mike Pniewski	...	Wilson Everett
Matthew Carlton	...	George Simpson
Michael Bowen	...	Robert Johnson
Caitlin Bradbury	...	Mary Partridge
David Dwyer	...	William Phelps
R.D. Call	...	Boggs
Milton Bagby	...	Caleb, farmer
Danny Nelson	...	Reverend Samuel Bogart
Andrew Bowen	...	Brigham Young
Haynes Brooke	...	Edward Partridge
Nakotah Larance	...	Pidgeon
Russ Comegys	...	Ruffian
John Henry Scott	...	Deputy Frank
Adam Heffernan	...	Deputy Smiley
Don Henderson Baker	...	Ezra Booth
Annie Abbott	...	Edith Gates
Wilbur Fitzgerald	...	Magistrate
Mark Scarboro	...	Newell K. Whitney
Mary Tanner Bailey	...	Elsa Johnson
Stephen Michael Ayers	...	Father Smith (as Stephen Ayers)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nic Cornett	...	Man with Rifle / Man on Horse (uncredited)
William J. Mode	...	Himself - Militiaman / Tavern Patron / Citizen (uncredited)

Directed by
Sterling Van Wagenen

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Gerald N. Lund		novel "Like A Fire is Burning"
Matt Whitaker		screenplay

Produced by
Jeff T. Miller	....	co-producer
Larry H. Miller	....	executive producer
Scott Swofford	....	producer

Original Music by
Sam Cardon

Cinematography by
Reed Smoot

Film Editing by
Stephen L. Johnson

Casting by
Rene Haynes

Production Design by
Christopher R. DeMuri

Art Direction by
Les Boothe

Costume Design by
Cathren Warner

Makeup Department
Gloria Belz	....	makeup artist
Sandy Jo Johnston	....	makeup artist
Edwin Matsu	....	makeup artist
Tena Parker-Liddiard	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Rick Gordon	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Cody Harbaugh	....	second second assistant director
Eric S. Johnston	....	second assistant director (as Eric Johnston)
J. Scott Smiley	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Brent Astrope	....	construction coordinator
George Harding III	....	set dresser
Matt Harris	....	art department coordinator
Janet S. Havranek	....	art department buyer
Steve Kaiser	....	assistant property master
Kee Miller	....	draftsman
Kelly Anne Ross	....	art buyer (as Kelly Ross)
Richard Salinas	....	scenic artist
Bartholomew Singer	....	on-set greens
E. Parker Webb	....	stand-by greens

Special Effects by
Chad Hokama	....	special effects assistant

Visual Effects by
Daphne Apellanes-Ackerson	....	compositor: Matte World Digital
Can Chang	....	matchmove artist: Matte World Digital
Can Chang	....	rotoscope artist: Matte World Digital
Glenn Cotter	....	CG artist: Matte World Digital
Jaymie Lam	....	roto/paint artist: Matte World Digital
Timothy Mueller	....	digital compositor: Matte World Digital
Todd R. Smith	....	lead compositor: Matte World Digital

Stunts
Jeff Chumas	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Allen Dial	....	electrician
Mitch Stelling	....	grip
Brian Sullivan	....	scenic cinematographer

Casting Department
Joanne Brooks	....	casting assistant
Kim McCray	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jacqueline Newell	....	costume supervisor
Amber Williams	....	on-set costumer

Editorial Department
Chantelle Squires	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Scott Johnson	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Eric Solmonson	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Tyler Atkinson	....	set production assistant
Suzanne Bingham	....	script supervisor
Ray Colley	....	wrangler
Kent Daniels	....	production assistant
Alan Oakes	....	location manager
David Payne	....	assistant to director
Ryan Pederson	....	production assistant
Fenton Quinn	....	head wrangler
Brooke Redmon	....	assistant production coordinator

Production Companies

• Vineyard Productions

Distributors

• KOAN (2006) (Non-USA) (all media)
• Paramount Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Vineyard Distribution (2005) (USA) (theatrical)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some violence.

Runtime:

USA:100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Singapore:PG | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Johnson City, Tennessee, USA

Company:

Vineyard Productions

Trivia:

The first LDS film to receive a major theatrical release on its opening weekend (not just limited to Salt Lake City and then expanding wider if it does well)

Quotes:

Joshua Steed: Marry me.
Jessica Roundy: Fine.

Movie Connections:

Follows The Work and the Glory (2004)

Austin Movie Show review...

Author Gerald N. Lund wrote a series of novels about the founding and expansion of Mormon Church entitled "Like a Fire is Burning." The Work and the Glory: American Zion is the second part in what will be a trilogy of films based on Lund's novels. American Zion is the Empire Strikes Back of the Mormon Church, if you will. But in all seriousness, religion or no religion (and I'm personally of no religious persuasion), it's a well-done, well-made, superbly-acted film that's a lot better than a majority of the crap that comes out of Hollywood these days.

The prologue briefly discusses everything that happened in the previous film, so even if you didn't see The Work and the Glory (Part 1), you can still jump into this movie and more or less figure out what's going on. In Part 1, the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith (played by a brooding-but-gorgeous Jonathan Scarfe… am I going to hell for calling a prophet hot?) forms the Church of Latter Day Saints. In American Zion (Part 2) we witness their brutal history of oppression and learn why the Mormons kept migrating west. Everywhere they went, they were attacked, threatened, and forcefully removed. It's gut wrenching to watch. Men are whipped or covered in boiling tar, while women and children are sent on death marches through the snow. The early Mormons experienced a fate similar to the Native Americans and the Jews.

Look, I'm not Mormon, but this is a great movie. Every character is believable and the story really does suck you in. After seeing the first two films, I'm now totally invested in this story. And it ends on such a cliffhanger that I honestly can't wait to see the next film – The Work and the Glory: A House Divided. This is top-quality historical drama, and any movie lover can enjoy it, not matter what their religion.