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

User Rating:

5.7/10   

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:

Missouri | Mormon | Second Part | Sequel | Latter Day Saints

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
Ken Johnson	....	key hair
Sandy Jo Johnston	....	makeup artist
Edwin Matsu	....	makeup artist
Tena Parker	....	key hair stylist (as Tena Parker-Liddiard)

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
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
Ted Hinckley	....	music scoring supervisor
Scott Johnson	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Scott Doleto	....	driver
Brett Miller	....	transportation coordinator
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

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

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some violence.

Runtime:

USA:100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Johnson City, Tennessee, USA

Company:

Vineyard Productions

Trivia:

Shot back-to-back with The Work and the Glory III: A House Divided (2006)

Quotes:

Nathan Steed: At our wedding, you told us something.
Joseph Smith: I believe I told you to kiss the girl.

Movie Connections:

Follows The Work and the Glory (2004)

Bravo

This second installment of the series based on the "Work and the Glory" books far exceeds the first effort. The music, cinematography, story line, acting and general "feel" of the movie are all great. I have not read the underlying novels, so I have no idea how or if the story details in the movie mirror the books, but I can say this: this movie is moving, inspiring, and dramatically (though slightly fictionally, since the main family is fictional) portrays a slice of true American history.

I do not believe the movie is preachy, at least not about Mormonism. I think most Americans (and others), who take for granted such notions as a free press and upright civil authorities who can be trusted to uphold the law, will easily recognize how different such things were back then.

Mormon history buffs will be a bit disappointed that some of the details were glossed over or left out. My only complaint is that, in an attempt to make this movie appeal to non-Mormon audiences, some of the more dramatic mythic stories from Joseph Smith's time, though alluded to in the movie, are not satisfyingly portrayed.

Not for young children, this movie gets a 9 from me; just a bit more coherence in the story line and some other such movie "polish" would have garnered a 10.

Bravo to all involved! And thanks for a family-friendly, beautiful, moral story that all who see can connect to.