Savage Journey (1983) (TV)

Director:

Tom McGowan

Writer:

Philip Yordan (screenplay)

Release Date:

1983 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Western

Tagline:

They forged a new land in the untamed wilderness - with their heart, their hands, and their faith in god.

Plot Keywords:

Ohio | Indian Chief | Wilderness | Narration | God

Cast

Maurice Grandmaison	...	Brigham Young
Paul Warton	...	First Preacher
John Mason	...	Heber
Stephen Cracroft	...	Phineas
Lou Edwards	...	Second Preacher / Brother Becker
Michael Danvers-Walker	...	Third Preacher
Glade Hill	...	Farmer
Richard Moll	...	Joseph Smith (as Charles Moll)
Robin Russell	...	Mary Ann Angel
Terrence Gehr	...	Samuel Rudley (as Terrance Gehr)
Faith Clift	...	Claire Rudley
Beverly Rowland	...	Reverend's Wife
Kate Hill	...	Emma Smith
Rue Dastrup	...	Missourian
Preston Lloyd	...	Missourian

Runtime:

USA:96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Television Corporation of America

much better than expected

I thought this movie was a pleasant surprise! It doesn't deserve its lowly rating I noted!!! - I assume that's connected to a prevailing dislike for religiousness, too often associated with bigotry & hypocrisy, with good reason!

I have no affiliation to such a church as the Mormons I understand this is centred on! I have also left my own mainstream religion that I intend never to return to!

But what I saw here was an impressive depiction of how hard it can be for a minority that might appear to be a sect to some, to find acceptance in any circumstances! It doesn't matter if someone is a visionary, an inventor, a prophet, or an innocent bystander! Likewise surely for God, whatever you conceive him to be!

Suddenly, you can find yourself in the middle of a storm, having your family threatened or even destroyed, having your property or existence or even letters confiscated, for your trust in God &/or man! While others gossip about you! Or bring on a sea of fireballs in the hands of rednecks, when you are in no position to defend yourselves! It can happen at the hands of a multi-national corporation, something like the slick tobacco or fast-food networks!

I have seen such red-necks & oppressors as portrayed here, as Christians or their adversaries! Equally distasteful! I have seen similar red-necks & oppressors amidst the unbelieving in any form of 'God' they might believe or not believe in! I have witnessed their individual & collective responses without tolerance & with amazing audacity & narrowmindedness!

I didn't know this was about Joseph Smith, only read it on your website later! I'd only vaguely heard of him, & don't even know the difference between the Mormons & the Seventh-day Adventists! But I respect the value of each & countless others from faithful to all manner of visions of God, or their perceptions of such a God, that I have met in churches or temples, to hotels & much beyond! I'm not sorry I watched this movie rated 3.2/10 & would recommend you view it for yourself!

You find both sides of it here! It has drama & action! It is poverty, even desperation! I don't understand why it is judged so poorly, but for the association of many churches to be centred or judged to be based on bigotry & hypocrisy! There's the old-fashioned version of a tels-evangelist (without requests for donations) & a mob of nasty rednecks (who don't like to be challenged in their perceptions) ... so much like the pharisees, while the outcasts & downtrodden were depicted in Jesus' times, variously worthy of condemnation & respect are still to be found!

It's not hard to see how anyone of faith in any belief, on anything from politics to religion, to how the world, could or should be, finding themselves to be a victim here! This deserves a favourable rating! 8/10!