September Dawn (2006)

Director:

Christopher Cain

Writers:

Christopher Cain (written by) and
Carole Whang Schutter (written by)

Release Date:

24 August 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Romance | Western

Tagline:

The untold story of an American tragedy.

Plot:

A love story set during a tense encounter between a wagon train of settlers and a renegade Mormon group.

Plot Keywords:

Mormon | Love | Massacre | Wagon Train | Utah

Awards:

2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Feb. 10

6:05 PM

TMC

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Terence Stamp	...	Brigham Young
Trent Ford	...	Jonathan Samuelson
Krisinda Cain	...	Young Woman
Shaun Johnston	...	Captain Fancher
Franklin E. Levinson	...	Captain Baker
Jon Gries	...	John D. Lee
Lolita Davidovich	...	Nancy Dunlap
Jon Voight	...	Jacob Samuelson
Taylor Handley	...	Micah Samuelson
Daniel Libman	...	Reverend Grant Hudson
Tamara Hope	...	Emily Hudson
Barbara Gates Wilson	...	Martha Hudson
Huntley Ritter	...	Robert Humphries
Dean Cain	...	Joseph Smith
Ron Webber	...	Hyrum Smith

MPAA:

Rated R for violence.

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Australia:MA | Netherlands:16 | Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

Augustina Farms, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Company:

September Dawn

Trivia:

There is evidence that twenty people may have survived the massacre, not including the 17 children that were spared intentionally.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Emily Hudson is a main character in this film. In reality, the Hudsons left the wagon train before it reached Utah.

Soundtrack:

Love Will Still Be There

despite what's being said - a decent film worthy of a viewing.

Having now read most of the reviews, I will add mine - This is not a bad film, despite what many of the reviewers have said. Yes, it is somewhat one dimensional in its portrayal of the various parties involved. Yes, the Mormons are portrayed as the modern equivalent of Muslim terrorists (though back then, from what i have read, this is only a modest stretch). And finally, yes, there is a rather insipid romeo and Juliet theme flowing throughout.

Yes the film has its share of flaws. nevertheless, it is a beautiful film to watch, the characters are all filled with fine actors, and in reality, it is a reasonably accurate film as to the differences between the various groups. That the film's hero (jonathan) had no idea how people outside his lds group think and that the wagon train (illustrated by Emily) had no understanding of the Mormon's culture or paranoia is very believable (as the Mormon's were still a quite new group). Furthermore, like all sects, the members have a very one dimensional view of the world. I felt like this was a well done film on a subject few know much about. Well done. A worthy religious history drama.