Saints and Soldiers

Last updated
Saints and Soldiers
Saints and soldiers.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Ryan Little
Screenplay byGeoffrey Panos
Matt Whitaker
Story byGeoffrey Panos
Produced byAdam Abel
Ryan Little
Starring Corbin Allred
Alexander Niver
Kirby Heyborne
Lawrence Bagby
Peter Asle Holden
CinematographyRyan Little
Edited byWynn Hougaard
Music byJason Bateman
Bart Hendrickson
Production
companies
Go Films
Medal of Honor Productions LLC
Distributed by Excel Entertainment Group
Release date
  • August 6, 2004 (2004-08-06)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguagesEnglish
German
Budget$780,000 [1]
Box office$1.3 million [1]

Saints and Soldiers is a 2003 war drama film directed by Ryan Little and produced by Little and Adam Abel. It is loosely based on events that took place after the Malmedy massacre during the Battle of the Bulge. The film stars Corbin Allred, Alexander Niver, Lawrence Bagby, and Peter Asle Holden as four American soldiers trying to return a British airman with vital intelligence to the Allied lines.

Contents

After researching World War II and the Battle of the Bulge, Little began shooting in January 2003 in Utah. Filming lasted 30 days. Little and Abel were able to save money on production by recruiting a group of World War II reenactors who volunteered their services, costumes, and props. Excel Entertainment released the film at festivals to garner publicity before it was released to the public. The movie won numerous Best Picture awards from over 15 film festivals.

Critical reception was generally positive with praise towards the message, story, performances (particularly of Allred and Niver), production values, and action sequences. Though the screenplay, pacing, and ties to Mormonism were criticized by some reviewers, several film scholars argued that despite the Latter Day Saint (LDS)-related themes, the film appeals to a wide audience.

The movie's success, launched its titular film series, including three standalone sequels.

Plot

During the Battle of the Bulge in 1944, the Germans open fire on their American prisoners of war, in what is known as the Malmedy massacre, killing many troops as they try to run away. Medic Steven Gould (Alexander Niver) manages to escape with Corporal Nathan 'Deacon' Greer (Corbin Allred). Gould and Deacon are joined by two other survivors, Shirl Kendrick (Larry Bagby), a member in Gould's division, and Deacon's close friend Sergeant Gordon Gunderson (Peter Asle Holden). The four stumble on RAF pilot Flight Sergeant Oberon Winley (Kirby Heyborne). Winley explains he has important intelligence he has to get back to the Allies and the group decide to try and reach the Allied lines, located some 20 mi (32 km) away. The group fights against German troops, a winter storm, and personal conflict to return Winley to Allied territory. [2]

Cast

Production

Development

Ryan Little's first project was the short film The Last Good War, which won a Student Emmy. Little wanted to produce a World War II themed feature film. [3] In 2002, Little teamed up with producer Adam Abel to create the production company, Go Films. [4] After finding a private investor in California, Little and Abel sought to produce the film on a budget of $780,000. [4] The original title of the film was "Saints and War". [5]

Before the film had a script, the filmmakers scouted filming locations, determining the film's plot based on available locations and props. They researched World War II events and interviewed World War II veterans to develop the story and characters. [4]

Casting

Little and Abel quickly cast Corbin Allred and Kirby Heyborne. However, because Heyborne had roles in many other films related to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), they instructed Heyborne to grow a mustache, dye his hair, use a British accent, and smoke during the movie. Because Heyborne did not smoke, he smoked herbal cigarettes and practiced dragging daily for a few weeks before filming. Additionally, Heyborne did not have access to a dialect coach so he became familiar with British accents by watching other films. Heyborne was concerned that this would make him a target for film critics. [4] To save on costs, Little and Abel used World War II reenactors as actors who volunteered to travel to Utah and bring their World War II prop equipment at their own expense. [4]

Filming

Principal photography took place in early 2003 over 30 days in Utah, Wasatch, and Salt Lake counties in Utah. Camera angles were carefully positioned to avoid showing the Wasatch mountains on camera to create the illusion of being in the Ardennes. [4]

Filming was done in January to use the available snow, but production had to use potato flakes when there was not enough snow. [5] Moreover, a tight filming budget required actors to do their own stunts. Snow and freezing temperatures were challenges to filming, which was worsened by the period clothing costumes. [4]

Historical inaccuracies

Several members of the 101st Airborne Division are depicted as being present at the massacre. In reality, the 101st was held in strategic reserve by SHAEF [6] at this point in time to recover from combat in Operation Market-Garden. [7] The 101st did not reach the front until December 18 (the massacre was on the 17th), and was sent to Bastogne, far to the south of where Kampfgruppe Joachim Peiper operated. [8] Most of the victims were from the 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion. [9] [10]

Distribution

Rating

Saints and Soldiers was originally rated "R" by the MPAA, solely for war violence and related images. [11] The director, writers, and producer wanted a "PG-13". Some criticism has been leveled against the MPAA rating board with regard to their rating independent films more harshly than those of the large studios. (See also "LDS cinema and MPAA ratings".)

While the MPAA never communicated any specific scenes that warranted the rating, Deseret News film critic Chris Hicks speculates that the reason may be due to two scenes, one in which depicts Nazis executing prisoners of war and another that shows a closeup of a leg wound. [12] Producers made edits to receive the PG-13 for commercial distribution, and was officially granted such on March 30, 2004. [4] [5]

Release

The first screening took place at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to an audience of U.S. Naval officers and their spouses. [5] The film opened at film festivals nationwide. [13]

Saints and Soldiers represents the first LDS film produced after 2000 to be exhibited in film festivals before general release to gain publicity. [14] [15] It was the highest-grossing film released by Excel Entertainment, an entertainment section which targets an LDS audience. [16] [17] It grossed over $1 million. [18]

Critical reception

The reaction to Saints and Soldiers was generally positive. The Washington Times called the film, "one of the sharpest and most compelling entries of the early 'Mormon cinema' era". [19] The New York Times wrote that the film's, "impressive cast of largely unknown actors...[and] meticulously researched film tells its story with quiet conviction". [20] However, Variety insisted that the script had "letdowns", including anachronisms in the dialogue and other story incongruities, yet they commended the production value considering the film's low budget. [21]

The Seattle Times added that "the film is intended as a propaganda piece for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but the messages are very subtle, and the movie does have a place in the new WWII genre", and is "appropriate for mainstream audiences". [22] Furthermore, scholar Travis T. Anderson, affirmed that films made by LDS filmmakers such as Saints and Soldiers and Napoleon Dynamite can still develop "widespread attention" or "critical acclaim". He continued by stating that neither appeals to an exclusively LDS audience nor alienates non-LDS audiences. [23] Moreover, scholar Terryl Givens argued that Saints and Soldiers can be interpreted specifically or universally. Givens claimed that the screenwriting created a film that is authentically Mormon yet reaches to a myriad of audiences. [24] Although ties to Mormonism in the film have been criticized by some, Gideon O. Burton called the film, "among the most-praised films of the Fifth Wave [of Mormon cinema] to date". [14]

Home media

Saints and Soldiers was released on video and DVD in May 2005. [25]

Legacy

Saints and Soldiers won the 2004 Jury Award for Best Feature at the Stony Brook Film Festival. Furthermore, the film won the award for best picture at 13 other film festivals. [4] The film was nominated for Best First Feature at the 20th Film Independent Spirit Awards in 2004, losing to Garden State . [26]

Sequel

A standalone sequel titled Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed , was released on August 17, 2012. [27]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malmedy massacre</span> 1944 German war crime

The Malmedy massacre was a German war crime committed by soldiers of the Waffen-SS on 17 December 1944 at the Baugnez crossroads near the city of Malmedy, Belgium, during the Battle of the Bulge. Soldiers of Kampfgruppe Peiper summarily killed eighty-four U.S. Army prisoners of war (POWs) who had surrendered after a brief battle. The Waffen-SS soldiers had grouped the U.S. POWs in a farmer's field, where they used machine guns to shoot and kill the grouped POWs; the prisoners of war who survived the gunfire of the massacre were killed with a coup de grâce gunshot to the head.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mountain Meadows Massacre</span> 1857 massacre of California-bound emigrants by Nauvoo Legion militiamen

The Mountain Meadows Massacre was a series of attacks during the Utah War that resulted in the mass murder of at least 120 members of the Baker–Fancher emigrant wagon train. The massacre occurred in the southern Utah Territory at Mountain Meadows, and was perpetrated by settlers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints involved with the Utah Territorial Militia who recruited and were aided by some Southern Paiute Native Americans. The wagon train, made up mostly of families from Arkansas, was bound for California, traveling on the Old Spanish Trail that passed through the Territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mormon cinema</span> Films with themes surrounding Mormonism

Mormon cinema usually refers to films with themes relevant to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The term has also been used to refer to films that do not necessarily reflect Mormon themes but have been made by Mormon filmmakers. Films within the realm of Mormon cinema may be distinguished from institutional films produced by the LDS Church, such as Legacy and Testaments, which are made for instructional or proselyting purposes and are non-commercial. Mormon cinema is produced mainly for the purposes of entertainment and potential financial success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deseret Book Company</span> American publishing company

Deseret Book is an American publishing company headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, that also operates a chain of bookstores throughout the western United States. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Deseret Management Corporation (DMC), the holding company for business firms owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Deseret Book is a for-profit corporation registered in Utah. Deseret Book publishes under four imprints with media ranging from works explaining LDS theology and doctrine, LDS-related fiction, electronic resources, and sound recordings such as The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square albums.

This is a timeline of major events in Mormonism in the 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jedediah M. Grant</span> American Mormon leader

Jedediah Morgan Grant was a leader and an apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was member of the First Council of the Seventy from 1845 to 1854 and served in the First Presidency under church president Brigham Young from 1854 to 1856. He is known for his fiery speeches during the Reformation of 1856, earning the nickname "Brigham's Sledgehammer". Grant is the father of Heber J. Grant, who later served as President of the Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apostolic United Brethren</span> Polygamous Mormon fundamentalist church

The Apostolic United Brethren (AUB) is a Mormon fundamentalist group that practices polygamy. The AUB has had a temple in Mexico, since at least the 1990s, an endowment house in Utah since the early 1980s and several other locations of worship to accommodate their members in the US States of Wyoming, Arizona, and Montana.

Corbin Michael Allred is an American actor. He starred in the 2003 award-winning motion picture Saints and Soldiers and the 1997–1998 television series Teen Angel.

The Chenogne massacre was a war crime committed by members of the 11th Armored Division, an American combat unit, near Chenogne, Belgium, on January 1, 1945, during the Battle of the Bulge.

Kirby Heyborne is an American actor, musician, singer, songwriter, narrator and comedian. He is known for his work in films centered around the culture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Heyborne has also worked extensively as an audiobook narrator, narrating more than 300 books. He has won two Odyssey Awards and an Audie Award for Middle Grade Title. In 2015, Booklist named him a Voice of Choice narrator.

Mormons have experienced significant instances of violence throughout their history as a religious group. In the early history of the United States, violence was used as a form of control. Mormons faced persecution and forceful expulsion from several locations. They were driven from Ohio to Missouri, and from Missouri to Illinois. Eventually, they settled in the Utah Territory. These migrations were often accompanied by acts of violence, including massacres, home burnings, and pillaging.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mexico</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has had a presence in Mexico since 1874. Mexico has the largest body of LDS Church members outside of the United States. Membership grew nearly 15% between 2011 and 2021. In the 2010 Mexican census, 314,932 individuals self-identified most closely to the LDS Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Boyé</span> British actor and singer (born 1970)

Alex Boyé is a British-American singer, dancer, and actor. He was named the "2017 Rising Artist of the Year" in a contest sponsored by Pepsi and Hard Rock Cafe.

<i>Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed</i> 2012 American film

Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed is a 2012 war drama film directed by Ryan Little and produced by Little and Adam Abel. It is the second installment in the Saints and Soldiers film series, and is based on events that took place during the invasion of Southern France in World War II. The film stars Corbin Allred, David Nibley, and Jasen Wade. The film was shot in Utah, on a tight budget, saving money by using volunteer World War II reenactors as some of the actors and extras. The film received mixed reviews; many critics found the film mediocre, yet still praised the performances and cinematography.

<i>The Saratov Approach</i> 2013 American dramatic thriller film

The Saratov Approach is a 2013 American dramatic thriller film written and directed by Garrett Batty. It depicts the 1998 kidnapping of two missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Saratov, Russia. It began a limited release on October 9, 2013, solely in Utah. Subsequently, the film was released throughout the Mormon Corridor. On January 10, 2014, the film began an expanded limited release throughout the United States.

This is a bibliography of works on the Latter Day Saint movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melissa Leilani Larson</span> American playwright

Melissa Leilani Larson is an American writer and playwright based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Mormon literature critic Michael Austin described her as "one of the true rising stars of Mormon literature." Producer Jeremy Long described her as the "best playwright in Utah." Her plays commonly feature women in leading roles, and some center around the faith of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Garrett Batty is an American film director, writer, and producer known for his film The Saratov Approach. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University and a native of Park City, Utah. He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his films are part of Mormon cinema, but with a more general audience. He has written, directed, and produced four full-length films, including Freetown (2015) and Out of Liberty (2019), and will begin work on a fifth in 2020. For Freetown, he was awarded the 2015 Ghana Movie Award for Best Screenplay alongside Melissa Leilani Larson.

The Saints and Soldiers film series consists of American war dramas, based loosely on true events. The plot overall explores various battles of World War II through the use of historical fiction, and uses an overarching message that people with unjustified predispositions over someone else can work together to overcome insurmountable odds; as well as the reality that they can learn to appreciate each other. Directed by Ryan Little from a concept he developed while in college, the movies depict the power of virtue, decency, and humanity of men, during the evils of war. Starring an ensemble cast, each installment is standalone in storytelling, but all set within historical reality.

References

  1. 1 2 "Boxofficemojo.com". Boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved 2012-03-21.
  2. Saints and Soldiers (2003) - IMDb , retrieved 2019-04-24
  3. Eash, Candy (February 2014). "Ryan Little". Mormon Artist. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Clark, Cody (August 6, 2004). "Worldwide release of 'Saints and Soldiers' is culmination of uphill battle for local filmmakers". Daily Herald. Herald Communications. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Toone, Trent (August 14, 2014). "Actors, filmmakers celebrate Saints and Soldiers franchise with round table discussion". Deseret News. Deseret News Publishing Company. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  6. Cole, Hugh M. (1965). The Ardennes: Battle of the Bulge. Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History, United States Army. p. 305. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  7. Carter, Ian. "The Story of Operation 'Market Garden' in Photos". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  8. Merriam, Robert E. (2017). Dark December: The Full Account of the Battle of the Bulge. Los Angeles, CA: Enhanced Media Publishing. pp. 104, 127. ISBN   9781387175321.
  9. Morelock, Jerry D. (2015). Generals of the Bulge: Leadership in the U.S. Army's Greatest Battle. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. p. 356. ISBN   9780811711999.
  10. "Massacre at Malmedy: War Crimes Trial". Jewish Virtual Library. American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  11. Wadley, Carma (5 February 2004). "R rating stuns 'Saints' makers: They promise to pursue a PG-13 for WWII drama". Deseret News. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  12. Hicks, Chris (2013). Has Hollywood Lost Its Mind?. Workman Publishing. ISBN   9781938301209.
  13. Turan, Kenneth (October 15, 2004). "Faith is under fire in a well-made 'Saints'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  14. 1 2 Burton, Gideon O. (2007). "The Fifth Wave: Cultural and Commercial Viability (2000-Present)". BYU Studies Quarterly. 46 (2): 140–141. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  15. Wollheim, Peter (2006). "Latter-Day Screens: A History of Mormons and the Movies". Afterimage. 33 (6): 28. ProQuest   212086102.
  16. Healey, Jake (October 13, 2015). "9 religious-themed Netflix selections for Sunday". The Daily Universe. Brigham Young University. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  17. "Excel Entertainment Group: Corporate Bio". Ldsfilm.com. Retrieved 2012-03-21.
  18. Samuelsen, Eric (April 1, 2007). "Finding an Audience, Paying the Bills: Competing Business Models in Mormon Cinema". BYU Studies Quarterly. 46 (2): 225. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  19. Terry, Josh (August 14, 2014). "New 'Saints and Soldiers' spotlights WWII tank battles, racial conflicts". The Washington Times. The Washington Times LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  20. Stevens, Dana (October 15, 2004). "Asking Familiar Questions on the Battlefield". The New York Times. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  21. Eisner, Ken (November 24, 2003). "Saints and Soldiers". Variety. Variety Media, LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  22. Fry, Ted (March 29, 2005). ""Saints and Soldiers" tells the story of Mormon hero in WWII". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  23. Anderson, Travis T. (2009). "Artistry and Aesthetics in Contemporary Mormon and Iranian Film". Brigham Young University Studies. 48 (2): 113, 124–125. JSTOR   43044698.
  24. Givens, Terryl L. (2007). ""There is Room for Both": Mormon Cinema and the Paradoxes of Mormon Culture". BYU Studies Quarterly. 46 (2): 15–16. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  25. "Saints and Soldiers". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  26. "Film Independent's Spirit Awards". University of Delaware. University of Delaware. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  27. Clyde, John (August 17, 2012). "'Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed' falls short of original but still delivers". KSL. KSL Broadcasting. Retrieved April 11, 2019.