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The history of Mormons and movies naturally divides into five distinct chronological periods beginning in 1905 and averaging twenty-four years each, with God’s Army marking the beginning of the fifth. Like the French film critics of the 1950s and 1960s who used "New Wave" to describe filmmakers attempting fundamentally different cinematic works, each "wave" of Mormon film carries with it momentum and personnel from the previous wave but achieves a distinctly new character due to various technical and cultural developments. The characteristics of each wave are indicated here, with further information and lists of key films linked to each wave. |
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| Wave | Characteristics |
| Click on a given wave to see key films for each period. Browse or search all Mormon films here. | |
| First Wave (1905-1929): The Clawson Brothers and the New Frontier |
Silent films divided between sensationalist films exploiting Mormon peculiarities and somewhat propagandistic films made in response to these by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and those sympathetic to it. |
| Second Wave (1929-1953): Home Cinema |
Filmstrips, radio, and the development of a private distribution and exhibition network establish church filmmaking and media as an integral part of Mormon culture. Meanwhile, mainstream depictions of Mormons are softened due to the Production Code. |
| Third Wave (1953-1974): Judge Whitaker and the Classical Era |
The founding of the BYU Motion Picture Studio begins the production of hundreds of titles for multiple purposes and audiences during the classic era of institutional LDS film. Additional independent Mormon films are attempted, including the first student film at Brigham Young University. Depictions of Mormons in mainstream films return to showing them as objects of curiosity. |
| Fourth Wave (1974-2000): The Mass Media Era |
Institutional Mormon film expands dramatically with the advent of video, satellite and TV broadcasts, visitor centers films; non-BYU church entities producing films; and with large format theater productions like Legacy. Depictions of Mormons in mainstream film continue to be caricatures. Large numbers of Mormons are working in the entertainment industry. |
| Fifth Wave (2000-present): The Theatrical Feature Film |
Independent Mormon productions released on 35 mm film in commercial theaters to a paying public establishes a niche Mormon market. Video and DVD distribution of institutional and independent Mormon film expands. Internet and digital film suggest new formats and modes of distribution. Student film prospers, and an LDS Film Festival now coincides with Sundance Film Festival annually. |
Feedback: Gideon Burton@byu.edu