Mormon Literature Database

Notice: The Mormon Literature & Creative Arts database has moved to mormonarts.lib.byu.edu.

God's Army
Produced by Richard Dutcher, Gena Downey (Associate Producer), Paul Downey (Line Producer)
Directed by Richard Dutcher
Screenplay by Richard Dutcher
Production Company: Zion Films
Premiere Date: March 10, 2000
Length: 107 min.


Genre:		Film
Sub Genres:		Missionary Story
Production Type:		Mormon Contributor(s)
Content Types:		Narrative Film Significant Mormon Elements
Distribution Types:		Commercial Theaters

Subjects: LDS missionaries; Los Angeles;

Summary:
A young missionary named Elder Allen begins his mission in Los Angeles under the much older Elder Dalton. As Dalton struggles with his health Allen struggles with his testimony.

From the cover: "Thrust into a world of harsh realities, Brandon Allen (Matthew Brown), with his unrelenting mentor, Marcus Dalton (Richard Dutcher), confronts the challenges of missionary life in Los Angeles, soon realizing that his most important convert may be himself."

Annotations:
See Mormon Film: Key Films of the Fifth Wave

This film, which was enormously successful financially, is often credited with inventing "LDS cinema." On a broad scale this is not true, but it did instigate a new wave in LDS cinema, the theatrical feature fiction film made primarily by Church members and with identifiably LDS content. It was also Dutcher's breakthrough film, after his earlier Girl Crazy and a KBYU film Eliza and I.

Quotes:
Saving the world one soul at a time.

Awards:
2000 Award in Film, The Association for Mormon Letters;
Nominated by the VSDA (Video Software Dealers Association) for a Home Entertainment Award

Additional details at Internet Movie Database
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0238247/

Additional details at ldsvideo.com
http://www.ldsvideo.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=502

Official Website
http://www.godsarmythemovie.com/

View BYU Library catalog record
http://catalog.lib.byu.edu/uhtbin/ckey-search/2869838

View the trailer at ishowstogo.com
http://www.ishowstogo.com/trailers/Gods%20Army.swf

HBLL Call No: DVDMM 366, DVDMM 199, DVD 531
Medium: 35mm color
Cast Members: Mathew A. Brown - Elder Brandon Allen; Richard Dutcher - Elder Marcus Dalton; Jacque Gray - Sister Fronk; DeSean Terry - Elder Banks; Jeffrey Scott Kelly - Elder Mangum; Michael Buster - Elder Kinegar; Luis Robledo - Elder Sandoval; John Pentecost - President Beecroft; Lynne Carr - Sister Beecroft; Kelli Coleman - Sister Monson; Anthony Anselmi - Elder Harmer; Peter Jackson - Elder Downey; Seamus Hurley - Elder Rex; Francine Riber - Connie; Lance Johnson - Brother Rose; Doug Stewart - Benny
Music Composed by: Miriam Cutler
Film Editor: Michael Chaskes
Cinematographer: Ken Glassing
Country: USA
Language: English
Certification: MPAA: PG
Distributor: Excel Entertainment

Novelized As:
God's Army: The Novel by Geoffrey Card

Reviewed In:
A Mormon Mission to L.A. in "God's Army" by Jacqueline Brady
Making Mormon Cinema: Hype or Hope? by Gideon O. Burton
[Review of] God's Army by Richard Dutcher by D. Michael Martindale
[Review of] God's Army by Richard Dutcher by Eric D. Snider
The Real Deal: A review of God's Army, a film written and directed by Richard Dutcher by Eric D. Snider
Call for a New Mormon Cinema: Richard Dutcher and God's Army by Jonathan Walker
[Review of] God's Army
[Review of] God's Army by Jeff Vice
[Review of] God's Army by Scott Foundas
[Review of] God's Army by Lawrence van Gelder
[Review of] God's Army by Brenda Sokolowski
[Review of] God's Army by Marc Savlov
[Review of] God's Army by Jonathan Walker
[Review of] God's Army by Gregory Avery
[Review of] God's Army by Kathleen Craughwell
[Review of] God's Army by Richard Vara

Continued in the sequel:
States of Grace Writer Richard Dutcher,Directed by Richard Dutcher,Film Editor Richard Dutcher,Produced by Richard Dutcher,Music Composed by Ben Carson,Produced by Mark Victor, Jeff Chamberlain, Dan Urness, Emily Pearson, Stin Hansen,Cinematographer Ken Glassing	Film