The Book of Mormon Movie, Vol. 1: The Journey
Encyclopedia
The Book of Mormon Movie, Volume 1: The Journey is a movie version of the first two books in the Book of Mormon
. Gary Rogers directed the movie from a screenplay written by himself and Craig Clyde
. The movie had a limited theatrical release on September 12, 2003.
The theatrical release was rated PG-13 and contained an image of Nephi with blood splatter on his face after beheading Laban
. This image was removed from the scene, and the film received a PG rating for the DVD release. The movie was widely panned by Mormon and non-Mormon critics.
and his wife Sariah and their four sons: Laman, Lemuel, Sam
, and Nephi
. Lehi leaves Jerusalem after having prophesied concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and people wanted to kill him. He journeys into the wilderness with his family. He sends Nephi and his brothers back to Jerusalem after the brass plates and the family of Ishmael. The sons and daughters of Lehi marry the sons and daughters of Ishmael. They take their families and continue into the wilderness. Ishmael dies in the wilderness. They come to the sea. Nephi's brothers rebel against him. He confounds them, and builds a ship. They cross the sea to the promised land in the Americas. Lehi dies in the promised land. Nephi's brethren rebel against him again. Nephi departs again into the wilderness.
1956 version of The Ten Commandments
. He envisioned The Book of Mormon as one long historical epic. His plan is to make nine movies that cover the entire scripture of the book.
The movie was produced for only $2 million. The film ended up making $1,672,730 in the USA. The movie's running time length was two hours, and it was revealed on the DVD commentary that the first cut of the film was 2 hours 40 minutes long.
Noah Danby
was cast as Nephi
because of his strong resemblance to the art of Arnold Friberg. He had never read the Book of Mormon
before making this film. Each day of filming began with a word of prayer.
The desert scenes were filmed in Utah
in the spring, and it was actually very cold. The "great and spacious building" was a five-foot miniature. The boat does not appear in the theatrical version of the scene in which the family arrives in the promised land. It was digitally added to that scene for the DVD version.
The costume designer used Mormon
art and illustrations to guide her selections.
's review of the Book of Mormon
itself).
.
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
. Gary Rogers directed the movie from a screenplay written by himself and Craig Clyde
Craig Clyde
Craig Clyde is an American actor, screenplay writer, and film director. He lives in Salt Lake City and is the father of K.C. Clyde. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints....
. The movie had a limited theatrical release on September 12, 2003.
The theatrical release was rated PG-13 and contained an image of Nephi with blood splatter on his face after beheading Laban
Laban
Laban may refer to:* Laban , a character in the Book of Genesis.* Laban , a character in The Book of Mormon.* Laban , a 1980s Eurodance duo....
. This image was removed from the scene, and the film received a PG rating for the DVD release. The movie was widely panned by Mormon and non-Mormon critics.
Plot
In the year 600 B.C. in the land of Jerusalem; it is the story of LehiLehi (Book of Mormon prophet)
According to the Book of Mormon, Lehi was a prophet who lived in Jerusalem during the reign of king Zedekiah . Lehi was an Israelite of the Tribe of Manasseh, and father to Nephi, another prominent prophet in the Book of Mormon...
and his wife Sariah and their four sons: Laman, Lemuel, Sam
Sam (Book of Mormon)
In the Book of Mormon, Sam was the third son of Lehi, and elder brother to the prophet Nephi. Early in the Book of Mormon narrative, Nephi confided in Sam. Lehi saw Sam in his vision of the tree of life, noting that he ate the precious fruit, symbolizing the righteousness of Sam, and that he...
, and Nephi
Nephi
According to the Book of Mormon, Nephi was the son of Lehi, a prophet, founder of the Nephite people, and author of the first two books of the Book of Mormon, First and Second Nephi.- Early life :Nephi was the fourth of six sons of Lehi and Sariah...
. Lehi leaves Jerusalem after having prophesied concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and people wanted to kill him. He journeys into the wilderness with his family. He sends Nephi and his brothers back to Jerusalem after the brass plates and the family of Ishmael. The sons and daughters of Lehi marry the sons and daughters of Ishmael. They take their families and continue into the wilderness. Ishmael dies in the wilderness. They come to the sea. Nephi's brothers rebel against him. He confounds them, and builds a ship. They cross the sea to the promised land in the Americas. Lehi dies in the promised land. Nephi's brethren rebel against him again. Nephi departs again into the wilderness.
Behind-the-scenes
Gary Rogers' inspiration was the Cecil B. DeMilleCecil B. DeMille
Cecil Blount DeMille was an American film director and Academy Award-winning film producer in both silent and sound films. He was renowned for the flamboyance and showmanship of his movies...
1956 version of The Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments (1956 film)
The Ten Commandments is a 1956 American epic film that dramatized the biblical story of the Exodus, in which the Hebrew-born Moses, an adopted Egyptian prince, becomes the deliverer of the Hebrew slaves. The film, released by Paramount Pictures in VistaVision on October 5, 1956, was directed by...
. He envisioned The Book of Mormon as one long historical epic. His plan is to make nine movies that cover the entire scripture of the book.
The movie was produced for only $2 million. The film ended up making $1,672,730 in the USA. The movie's running time length was two hours, and it was revealed on the DVD commentary that the first cut of the film was 2 hours 40 minutes long.
Noah Danby
Noah Danby
Noah Dalton Danby is a Canadian film and television actor. He is best known for portraying Connor King on the series Painkiller Jane.-Life:...
was cast as Nephi
Nephi
According to the Book of Mormon, Nephi was the son of Lehi, a prophet, founder of the Nephite people, and author of the first two books of the Book of Mormon, First and Second Nephi.- Early life :Nephi was the fourth of six sons of Lehi and Sariah...
because of his strong resemblance to the art of Arnold Friberg. He had never read the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
before making this film. Each day of filming began with a word of prayer.
The desert scenes were filmed in Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
in the spring, and it was actually very cold. The "great and spacious building" was a five-foot miniature. The boat does not appear in the theatrical version of the scene in which the family arrives in the promised land. It was digitally added to that scene for the DVD version.
The costume designer used Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
art and illustrations to guide her selections.
Critical Reception
The movie was widely panned by Mormon and non-Mormon critics with one reviewer calling it "chloroform on film" (a subtle reference to Mark TwainMark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
's review of the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
itself).
Sequel
The next installment, entitled The Book of Mormon Movie, Volume II: Zarahemla, is currently in development hellDevelopment hell
In the jargon of the media-industry, "development hell" is a period during which a film or other project is trapped in development...
.