Trapped by the Mormons (1922)

Director:

H.B. Parkinson

Writers:

Winifred Graham (novel)
Frank Miller (writer)

Genre:

Drama | Crime

Plot:

Mormons capture women for their wives in this silent anti-Mormon propaganda film featuring the original organ music. |

Plot Keywords:

Mormon | Propaganda | Religion | Bigamy | Kidnapping

Cast

Evelyn Brent	...	Nora Prescott
Louis Willoughby	...	Isoldi Keene
Ward McAllister	...	Elder Kayler
Olaf Hytten	...	Elder Marz
Olive Sloane	...	Sadie Keane
George Wynn	...	Jim Foster
Cecil Morton York	...	Mr. Prescott

Also Known As:

The Mormon Peril (UK) (reissue title)

Runtime:

USA:97 min

Country:

UK

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Company:

Master Films

Movie Connections:

Remade as Trapped by the Mormons (2005)

Genius in its awfulness

This is, without question, my Favorite Bad Movie. I first saw it about 20 years ago as a college midnight movie, and it stayed with me. I finally found it on tape at and actually bought it, which is something I rarely do. However, this film is so memorably and ineptly hilarious, I had to get it.

It's a silent British film which is to Mormonism as "Reefer Madness" is to marijuana usage. The plot -- what there is of it -- is of a Mormon polygamist luring small-town English girls to forced marriages, upon which they are sent off to Salt Lake City. Needless to say, the heroine, played by Evelyn Brent, is saved by her poor, wheelchair-bound father and her dashing sailor boyfriend.

This film is best experienced with the soundtrack turned off and about 42 beers, with a group of friends who are all able to come up with alternative voiceovers. If it had been science fiction, this would have been a prime MST3k flick. Trust me; it's worth every penny of the $9.99 plus shipping you'll pay for it.