Trapped by the Mormons

The 1922 silent film "Trapped by the Mormons" is a classic example of the kind of fear surrounding the infant Mormon Church. The above authentic advertisement depicts a six-armed, devilish looking Mormon man gripping unsuspecting women in each hand. The flames in the background give the poster a fiery, hellish tone. Above the title are a series of newspapers with dramatic headlines such as "Slave Women of Utah" and "Clear Out the Mormons." As stated above this illustration was actually used in the 1922 promotion of the film and demonstrates actual fears of the time.

The movie is set in London, England where Isoldi Keene, a Mormon missionary, uses his hypnotic powers and charm to lure young Nora Prescott into his church, after which he plans to marry her as a polygamous wife and whisk her away to isolated Utah where she will have no chance of escape. Her family and former boyfriend do everything they can to save her from the grips of the Mormons and the inevitable fate that awaits her if she is taken to Utah. I'll leave my summary at that rather than spoil the ending.

In many ways I think a silent film requires more acting skills as well as creativity with the camera. Well, maybe not more skill, but a different kind of skill. For instance, the actors have to be much more dramatic in showing their emotions than movies with sound. When writing descriptively you are encouraged to "show don't tell" when describing a situation, and a silent film forces the actors to show how they feel. Also, it would have been much easier to show Isoldi's hypnotic powers in a film today than it was in 1922. Play some soothing music and thrown in a couple spellbinding words from Isoldi and the viewer knows exactly what's going on. However, without such luxuries in this film the cameraman showed creativity by zooming in on Isoldi's eyes while also showing Nora in a blank stare and subsequently doing whatever Isoldi desires.

When it comes to accuracy about the LDS faith this film misses the mark. It is based on the fictional novel by Winifred Graham entitled "Love Story of a Mormon." This novel and many others like it were written by authors who had clearly never visited Utah or had much contact with Mormon people. This is evidenced by statements made in the movie such as the idea that Mormons take women up to the top of the temple and then throw them off into the Great Salt Lake. A simple look at geography is sufficient evidence that this is not possible.

However I do believe that the filmmakers were able to capture actual, real fears people had about the Mormons and their practices. At the time the movie was made the LDS Church had renounced its practice of plural marriage, yet it was still the practice that Mormons were best known for (and perhaps most feared for). The idea that unsuspecting young women were duped into following Mormon missionaries back to Utah where they were forced to live in polygamy was a real fear for many. Another religious group that was suffering some suspicion at this time was the Catholic church. Many believed Catholics would disregard the law in order to be loyal to the Pope. This was a fear extended to the Mormons. The connection between Catholics and Mormons was often made in the movie, such as the scene where Isoldi and his fellow missionaries are preparing to baptize 3 young women. The missionaries are wearing garments that clearly resemble the priestly robes of the Catholic faith.

In conclusion, I believe that "Trapped by the Mormons" successfully captured many fears of the day regarding the Mormon faith. I think the movie was simply a result of the fear of the unknown that is still prevalent in Mormon/non-Mormon relations today. Although at the time the movie was made it was meant to be a serious showing of the peculiarities and cunningness of the Mormons, today it is seen as comedic. It is so clearly over the top that it is unintentionally funny.


(Nora Prescott)


(Mormon missionaries outside the movies' premier in England)

Meghan's rating: This is a must see for any Latter-day Saint ready for a good laugh about early perceptions of their religion.