Cinematic Representation: September Dawn

In the movie September Dawn, 2007, the story of the Mountain Meadows Massacre is told. But with many historically based movies there is some play on the storyline in order to make the movie more compelling to its viewers. For example the movie added a love story between a local Mormon bishop’s son and a young woman of the Baker–Fancher party. But the biggest difference was the inclusion of Brigham Young, played by Terence Stamp, into the events of the Mountain Meadows Massacre.

Historians have long since hypothesized that Brigham Young had some role in the planning or at least approval of the events of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. In the movie it is Brigham Young that orders the Paiute Indians to massacre the Baker–Fancher party. But according to historical records there is no such evidence that supports this. It is only speculation that Brigham Young was the true person responsible for the massacre.

One key point that the movie does illustrate is that of the events of the massacre itself. The traveling gentiles were attacked by the Indians originally as in the movie. Then John D Lee, played by Jon Gries, rides over to the entrenched Baker–Fancher party and offers to help them. But only under the condition that he leads them away to a safe area and that the Baker–Fancher party gives up all its weapons. But as they are led away, they are ambushed by the Mormon militia that was dressed up as Indians. John D Lee then orders the militia to kill anyone that is old enough to talk.  This aspect is very in line with the true events that took place.

Overall the movie portrayed the story of the Mountain Meadows Massacre as a gruesome event. Its visual illustration of the massacre itself with the cut throats and children being killed showed the gravity of the massacre. Although there is no evidence of Brigham Young knowing anything about the massacre exists, it is logically hypothesized that he did. Overall this movie gave a mostly true picture into the Mountain Meadows Massacre.

References

1.       Brooks, Juanita. The Mountain Meadows Massacre. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1963.

2.       Denton, Sally. American Massacre: The Tragedy at Mountain Meadows, September 1857. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2003.

3.       John D Lee (John Gries)." Digital image. IMDb. September 2007. Accessed April 22, 2013. http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3990000384/tt0473700.

4.       "September Dawn Movie Poster." Digital image. DVDs Release Dates. 2007. Accessed April 22, 2013. http://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/poster/4692/September-Dawn-movie-poster.html.

5.       Setember Dawn. Directed by Christopher Caine. Performed by John Voit, John Gries, Trent Ford, Terrance Stump,. 2007. DVD.

6.       Walker, Ronald W., Richard E. Turley, and Glen M. Leonard. Massacre at Mountain Meadows. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008.