Savage Journey (1983) Director: Tom McGowan Studio: Doty-Dayton Productions Starring: Richard Moll (Brigham Young), Maurice Grandmaison (Joseph Smith), Charlene Adair, Shawn Southwick Release Date: 1983 Runtime: 95 minutes Format: Color | Stereo | Sound | Live Action Country: United States Language: English Genres: Historical Drama | Biography | Religious | Western | Frontier --- Summary: Savage Journey dramatizes the epic migration of the early Latter-day Saints (Mormons) from persecution in the East to eventual refuge in the Salt Lake Valley. Focusing on the lives of church founders Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, the film blends historical re-enactment with faith-driven narrative to tell a story of resilience, revelation, and religious conviction. Beginning with Smith’s vision and the founding of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the film explores the violence and opposition that led to his martyrdom—and Brigham Young’s rise as a prophet and pioneer. As the Saints make their grueling westward trek across the American frontier, the film portrays not just a physical journey, but a spiritual one, underscoring themes of destiny, leadership, and sacrifice. --- Background: Produced during a wave of Mormon-themed cinema in the 1980s, Savage Journey was intended as both an inspirational film and a historical record for LDS audiences. With its earnest performances and modest budget, it was distributed largely through church-related channels and family-oriented video distributors. The film walks a line between religious reverence and dramatic storytelling, offering a faith-affirming perspective rather than a critical historical lens. Richard Moll—later famous for his comedic role on Night Court—takes a serious turn as Brigham Young, portraying the leader with gravitas and stoicism. The film reflects the LDS Church’s narrative of perseverance and divine mission, emphasizing trials such as the expulsion from Nauvoo, the trek across icy plains, and the establishment of Zion in the Utah desert. --- Trivia: Richard Moll’s portrayal of Brigham Young came just before his breakout role as “Bull” on Night Court. The film’s title, Savage Journey, refers metaphorically to the hardships of the Mormon pioneers—though some viewers find the title misleading or overly dramatic. This film is frequently shown or circulated among LDS communities but remains relatively unknown in mainstream historical film discussions. The production used Utah and surrounding western landscapes to represent the pioneer trail, providing authenticity to the visual atmosphere. While focusing on faith, the film also depicts internal doubts and conflicts within the early Church leadership. Savage Journey is occasionally paired with other LDS historical dramas such as Legacy (1990) or The Work and the Glory series in religious educational settings. --- Hashtags: #SavageJourney #LDSCinema #BrighamYoung #JosephSmith #MormonHistory #ReligiousFilm #1983Movies #FaithBasedFilm #PioneerStory #FrontierDrama #AmericanReligiousHistory #HistoricalBiography #UtahFilm #ChurchOfJesusChrist #MormonPioneers #WestwardExpansion #UndergroundCinema #RichardMoll #ReligiousDrama #ChristianFilmHistory