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September Dawn

Play trailer Poster for September Dawn R Released Jun 22, 2007 1h 50m History Drama Western Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
17% Tomatometer 54 Reviews 49% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
In 1857 Capt. Alexander Fancher leads a wagon train of settlers across Utah to California. The Mormons eye the pioneers with suspicion when they stop in Mountain Meadows and demand that Fancher and his followers leave. Bishop Jacob Samuelson (Jon Voight) allows the travelers to stay for two weeks, and sends his son Jonathan (Trent Ford) to spy on them. What Jonathan does not know is that his father has dire plans for the innocent travelers, including the woman (Tamara Hope) Jonathan loves.
September Dawn

What to Know

Critics Consensus

With its jarring editing, dull love story, and silly dialogue, September Dawn turns a horrific historical event into a banal movie.

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Critics Reviews

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J. R. Jones Chicago Reader The villainous turns by Jon Voight (as a hard-hearted Mormon bishop) and Terence Stamp (as a bloodthirsty Brigham Young) would have been more fun if they weren't part of such a clumsy campaign to lay this tragedy at the church's doorstep. Dec 3, 2007 Full Review Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle Muddled, sloppy, and obfuscating. Rated: 1/5 Aug 31, 2007 Full Review Mark Olsen Los Angeles Times The workmanlike craftsmanship of Cain's filmmaking almost (but never quite) smooths over the ham-fisted way he conceives the story. Rated: 2.5/5 Aug 30, 2007 Full Review David Lamble Bay Area Reporter Cain and Schutter concoct a faux star-crossed young lovers tale to personalize the mayhem. May 26, 2020 Full Review Janos Gereben Entertainment Insiders Predictable, obvious, often silly. Rated: 0.5/4 Nov 8, 2007 Full Review Matthew Sorrento Film Threat Drama may benefit from attention to history, but history doesn't always make for good drama. Rated: 1/5 Oct 16, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member 141011: Movies like this always make me wonder what the truth really is. Tragic story of which the producers obviously had a position. Not sure what the true story is, but always saddened by films featuring human hate. It's ok but can't give it more than three. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Looks like a high school project and thinks like a junior high school project. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member This movie portrays Mormons as if they were a biker gang on the streets of L.A. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Quality film that all should see. Disturbing bit of history. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Audience Member Underrated. 13%! It may not be great, but it is quite good and reasonably accurate (aside from the fictional romance). Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Audience Member I'm pleased that this dark chapter of the Mormon Church, and of westward expansion has been addressed in film, but it's a shame that the result is so sappy and ham-handed. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews
September Dawn

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1857 Capt. Alexander Fancher leads a wagon train of settlers across Utah to California. The Mormons eye the pioneers with suspicion when they stop in Mountain Meadows and demand that Fancher and his followers leave. Bishop Jacob Samuelson (Jon Voight) allows the travelers to stay for two weeks, and sends his son Jonathan (Trent Ford) to spy on them. What Jonathan does not know is that his father has dire plans for the innocent travelers, including the woman (Tamara Hope) Jonathan loves.
Director
Christopher Cain
Producer
Scott Duthie, Christopher Cain, Kevin Matossian
Screenwriter
Christopher Cain, Carole Whang Schutter
Production Co
Voice Pictures Inc., September Dawn LLC
Rating
R (Violence)
Genre
History, Drama, Western
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 22, 2007, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Jan 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.1M
Runtime
1h 50m