you may want to know up front that i be not a mormon and unlike a good number of those who have already review this film . i mention this so you will understand that the way i look at the film may differ greatly from those in the faith . for some and be critical of the film might be see a be critical of the faith and that be not my intention . so and my review be that of an outsider try to look inside and learn more about who this man and his people be . well and after see the film and i doubt if i have learn much at all . since i have be a history teacher and i have a good basic understand about young as well a joseph smith as well a the teaching of the church . but anyone wanting to see this film to really learn anything will probably be disappoint because the film seem so gosh darn nice too nice and too unrealistic in it portrayal . plus and you learn practically nothing about the church beliefs other than they be nice people and work hard and some have many wife ( and this latter part be only barely hint at in the film ) . instead and the people be almost cartoon like in their simplistic portrayal . joseph smith and brigham young and their follower be angelic and the non mormon be all devil and brian donlevy ( play exactly the same sort of role edward g. robinson later play in the ten commandment ) be the trouble maker who claim to be a mormon but just come along so the film can have a bad guy . it all so very simple . too simple . almost like an indoctrination film or infomercial . brigham young especially be a very complex man with many good point ( an excellent organizer and visionary ) as well a bad ( do not even get me start on his view about black within the church or intermarriage ) . to portray him in such vague term be just plain silly . it also a lot like how gandhi be portray in the film with ben kingsley only the fact that lead to his be almost super human be emphasize . heck and now that i think about that and this be the trouble with most religious film they often come off a one dimensional and trite and bland . let have a full and more complete film of these men one that will stick to fact and not emotional appeal . now if you can ignore the fact that you would not learn very much about the faith or it second leader and the film be enjoyable enough . it obvious someone at 20th century fox really care about the film and a they have a wonderful cast of both premier actor ( tyrone power ) and up and come actor ( linda darnell and jane darwell and vincent price ) and wonderful character actor ( dean jagger and john carradine and brian donlevy ) . the film also have wonderful location shooting and lot of gloss . it just do not have a lot to tell u other than they be all swell . plus and there be plenty of factual error and a few just plain dumb scene . a few of the mistake include young take over the helm immediately after the death of joseph smith ( it be three year later ) and no mention of the various mormon denomination and splinter group and talk of gold in california even though it be 1847 and gold wouldn not be discover until 1948 and as well a no specific mention of polygamy or smith many wife . just plain dumb scene include carradine pull out a gun and wave it about in the courtroom scene and no one seem to care even though it be a very hostile audience . don not you think at least the judge would tell him to put it away and stop threaten people with it . one final comment . do not and i repeat and do not watch this film when it show on american movie classic ( a one great station that have sink a lot in recent year ) . while i be critical of the film because of it simplistic message and i be horrify with the complete disrespect the station have for the church and it tradition . what i mean be this . the film be punctuate with ad for penis enlargement formula as well a ton of pop ups ( some advertising a show that feature the sexy cast ) . talk about disrespectful and gross and i would be just a offend if they do this for any other religious film . by do this and they not only insult the faith but marginalize their market after all and who be into hear about these thing and the life of brigham young . be this a movie and in this form and that you can show to your kid or recommend to others .