True? Not nearly! Or as Brigham Young, himself, would have said, "As false as the hinges of Hell!" No Elder Rigby. Even if this character is supposedly based on Sidney Rigdon the story falls considerably short. Rigdon was no where near Utah at any time in his life having left the Church even before the historic days of Nauvoo.
No Brother Parker. No Brother Pike. No Alpheus Young with murderous intentions against a loving father. No Amanda Young. And no Brother Utley either.
But wait, as a western I loved it. Yes, I give it five stars for entertainment value. But don't watch it hoping to look into the cold, dark, historical secrets of Mormon Danism.
Want a more accurate film about the Latter-day Saints and their early history? Pass on this one. Try "Brigham Young" with Dean Jagger.
Most people who wouldn't be able to sit through a history class would, at the same time, enjoy movies like this. (I'm a history buff, but my friends aren't. However, when I had them over for a "movie-night" get together at my house, they really got into the conspiracy murder plot & they loved the action sequences & love story, as well as seeing Coburn & Heston in their roles as real-life historical figures.)
Berenger, as producer & star, knows how to choose a thoughtful subject for a film. This movie, in a historical context, is really about religious faith & the different levels of belief. His character, Miles Utley, is devoted to the Mormon church, which is both his strength AND his weakness, since he kills an innocent man at the beginning, in the name of God. As the film progresses, he uncovers a plot to murder Brigham Young (Charlton Heston, the former "Moses" from "The Ten Commandments!") by subordinates who wish to take over the church, in order to "save" it, according to their own beliefs & purposes.
With today's events & headlines concerning both "The War on Terror" & the Catholic Church abuse scandals (and cover up), this movie's theme is especially poignant today.
Historical dramas serve the same purpose as science-fiction stories. They make the audience think about current issues without preaching. The best ones also manage to entertain the audience in the process. "Avenging Angel" succeeds on all counts. It's a western, a mystery, a thriller, a love story, & an action-drama all rolled into one! It's "a thinking man's" action movie.
Besides purchasing this movie, I also suggest checking out the previously mentioned "Rough Riders", as well as "Buffalo Soldiers", "The Broken Chain", "Geronimo", "Wallace", & "Andersonville" (all from TNT), "The Tuskegee Airmen" & "In Pursuit of Honor" (both from HBO), as well as "Son of The Morning Star" (aired on ABC during it's initial run.) All of these shows prove that tv isn't just "mindless entertainment", as some pompous critics have claimed.
History isn't about dates & cold facts (the way most history classes are taught in high-school.) I agree with most people, in that history taught in that manner is boring! History is about people & the human condition. That's what "Avenging Angel" is about.
