The other principal cast members did not move into careers as actors or entertainers, although Mary Greenwood ("Shelly") did star in the "Lorenzo's Songbook" videos, and has had small roles in feature films. He can be heard on the documentary "Lehi's Land of First Inheritance" and on many Books-on-Tape published by Covenant Communications. David Walker ("Elder Green") has continued acting in television, film and on the stage. He mainly works as a voice over artist. Erik Hickenlooper, who as "Jimmy" had the lead role in the Saturday's Warrior video, has established himself as a songwriter. Marvin Payne, as the Dad, is the most recognizable performer in the film, as he is a staple of Utah stage and film. The film incorporates some basic special effects, multiple camera angles, and a musical score superbly engineered by Brian Blosil.Ĭhoreography by Kim Smith Lanham (later Kim Smith Yandow) and the high quality rendering of the original Stewart / de Azevedo songs are highlights of the video version. But it is more than simply a filmed version of the musical. It makes no attempt to present a "naturalistic" presentation. Williams' production is extremely faithful to the staged musical version, even using stage-like scenery. This was filmed at the Utah Film & Video studio in Orem, Utah (formerly Osmond Studios). In 1989 Bob Williams produced and directed a video version of Saturday's Warrior, based on the screenplay adaptation that he and his wife Barbara wrote. If asked to name a Mormon musical (or play), the most common answer members will give is Saturday's Warrior. But most have never even heard of any of the other four plays. Of these five, most Latter-day Saints (at least in the United States) have heard of Saturday's Warrior, and most would probably be able to recognize some of the music from it. Orson Scott Card's 1976 Sunstone essay "Mormon Shakespears : A Study of Contemporary Mormon Theatre", names five "watershed" plays: Martin Kelly's And They Shall Be Gathered, Carol Lynn Pearson's musical The Order Is Love, Card's Stone Tables, Robert Elliott's Fires of the Mind and Douglas Stewart's Saturday's Warrior. Yet after over 25 years since its debut, no Latter-day Saint musical has attained the popularity of Douglas Stewart and Lex de Azevedo's peculiar celebration. It's form and style has been imitated to this day. Yet it was hugely popular, and was soon produced in many places throughout Mormondon. Saturday's Warrior was controversial when it premiered on the California stage in 1973, performed as a college project. Just as Richard Dutcher's film God's Army played the pivotal role in launching a new era of Latter-day Saint filmmaking, Saturday's Warrior became a juncture in the history of Latter-day Saint theater and music, and Latter-day Saint entertainment in general. It's significance is simply a historical fact. Like other pivotal works of literature, Saturday's Warrior is important regardless of its quality, artistry or message. Like these, Saturday's Warrior is undeniably important and influential to the culture that produced it. Related link: Saturday's What Now? A brief Introduction to an LDS Phenomenon - by Rachael SawyerĢ1 March 2002 - The British epic poem Beowulf. Saturday's Warrior (1989) Return to Films by Latter-day Saints