Tag: Mormons

Mormons in Classic Hollywood Films

March 9, 2022March 9, 2022ShawnNo Comments

This post is the fourth historical overview in my series Celebrating 125 Years of Utah and the Movies. For previous posts and reviews of films shot in Utah or by Utahns, visit the series page here.

Dean Jagger waves to the Salt Lake City crowd at the film premiere for 1940’s Brigham Young.…

The Matrimaniac, 1916 - ★★★
Filmed in only three weeks, this barely 45 minute film feels like it was adapted from a Keystone two reeler. Doug’s athleticism, including climbing across telephone wires near the end the film, brings an added dimension to the rather bland story of two lovers eloping.
His Picture in the Papers, 1916 - ★★★
Fairbanks is still trying to figure out his screen image in this, only his third film. There is indeed some fun moments (I especially loved all the vegetarian jokes) but a loose story with too many unnecessary, underdeveloped plot points hamper the films potential to be more than a mildly enjoyable sign of what was […]
Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy, 2021 - ★★★½
Watched on Sunday May 15, 2022.
The Entertainer, 1960 - ★★★½
A spiritual cousin of Chaplins Limelight, Olivier gives a wonderful performance as Archie Rice, an aged music hall performer stubbornly holding on to his life as an entertainer despite his own personal lack of talent and business prowess. Roger Livesey is also great fun and steals any scene he’s in.
Fantasia, 1940 - ★★★★
I’m expecting to have less nightmares watching it as an adult especially since my favorite parts of the film now are perhaps the darkest. And can you really dislike a film that manages to blend classical music, non-narrative storytelling, and ballerina hippos into one?