You are here:

Brigham Young

Name: Brigham Young
Director: Henry Hathaway
Released: 1940
Duration: 114 min

Representation Score

0.6/10

Minimal

1940

Director

Henry Hathaway

Runtime

114 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Brigham Young is a classic historical epic that reinforces traditional social and religious structures. It serves as a celebratory account of communal cohesion and religious perseverance during Western expansion. The film operates within a conservative framework, emphasizing patriarchal authority and the strength of religious institutions. It prioritizes the virtues of the settler community over diverse representations. Ultimately, the narrative avoids challenging established hierarchies, focusing instead on historical heroism and rugged individualism typical of 1940s studio storytelling.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Brigham Young have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film follows a strictly heterosexual and cisgender structure, with no representation of LGBTQ+ identities or critiques of traditional romantic relationships.

How does Brigham Young portray gender?

Limited

Gender roles adhere to traditional hierarchies. Women like Zina Webb exhibit resilience but their influence remains tied to domestic duties and communal survival.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Brigham Young?

Limited

The cast is primarily composed of white, Euro-American settlers. Indigenous populations are shown only as part of the environment, lacking individual character development.

How does Brigham Young represent religion and culture?

Minimal

The story emphasizes religious exceptionalism and the Latter Day Saint movement, celebrating communal discipline and the sanctity of the family unit.

Does Brigham Young include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no depiction of physical, neurodivergent, or mental health conditions. Characters are defined by the physical demands of frontier survival.

Present on Screen

Shows female characters like Zina Webb demonstrating resilience during environmental hardships.
Offers a focused historical account of the Latter Day Saint movement and its pioneers.

Limited or Absent

Indigenous populations lack ability to act and serve only as background context.
Reinforces rigid patriarchal hierarchies and traditional gender roles.
Provides no representation of disabilities or neurodivergent identities.
Maintains a Euro-American-centric view of the frontier.

Official Synopsis

Based on the story of the famous Mormon leader, it follows Brigham Young and his challenge to transport his people across the Rocky mountains to settle in Salt Lake City. The plot focuses on two fictitious characters, Jonathan Kent and Zina Webb and the hardships they have to face along the way.

How are these scores produced? →