Saturday's Warrior
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| Saturday's Warrior | |
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| Directed by | Bob Williams |
| Produced by | Bob Williams Gary Lewis |
| Written by | Douglas Stewart |
| Starring | Eric Hickenlooper Cori Jacobsen Davison Cheney Bart Hickenlooper |
| Music by | Lex de Azevedo |
| Distributed by | Fieldbrook Entertainment |
| Release date(s) | 1989 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Saturday's Warrior is a popular LDS musical written by Douglas Stewart and Lex de Azevedo. It was first performed in California in 1973 as a college project.[1]
In 1989, Bob Williams made a video version of the musical, keeping it true to the original play, and setting it on a stage as opposed to giving the movie a more naturalistic look. It is the first LDS film that was not made or sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Brigham Young University.[2]
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[edit] Plot Synopsis
While waiting to be born in the pre-existence, a family of seven promises each other that they will always be there for each other ("Pullin' Together"). The youngest, Emily, is afraid when her turn to be born comes around, their parents will be tired of having kids, and she won't be born into their family. The oldest, Jimmy, promises Emily he will personally see to it she will be born into their family. Julie, the second-oldest daughter, and Todd, another spirit in the pre-existence, promise each other that, while on earth, they will somehow find each other and get married ("Circle of Our Love").
However, finding themselves on earth, living a mortal life, no one remembers the promises they made before they were born. Julie finds herself desperately in love with Wally Kestler, who is now leaving to serve a two-year mission. Julie promises she'll wait for him ("Will I Wait For You?"). Jimmy, because of the influence of the other teenagers he is often in the company of, is upset when he learns his parents are going to have another baby (Emily). Jimmy is a typical confused teenager, influenced by peer pressure and rebellious against his parents. Pam, Jimmy's twin sister, who has medical problems and can't walk, talks to Jimmy and tries to help him sort things out ("Line Upon Line"). Jimmy is still confused and leaves home to live with his friends. But when Jimmy gets a phone call from his family telling him Pam has died, he begins some serious personal reflection ("Brace Me Up"). He decides to return to his family.
Meanwhile, Julie gets engaged to another man (named Peter), and writes a "Dear John letter" to Wally while he's still on his mission ("He's Just a Friend/Dear John"). Wally is devastated, but his companion, Elder Green, convinces him to "shape up" and keep preaching the gospel. Though the two companions have not had much success proselytizing, they find Todd, who has been searching for answers ("Paper Dream"). Julie decides she does want to marry Peter after all, but when Wally comes home from his mission, he brings Todd with him, and Julie realizes he's the man she's been searching for all her life ("Feelings of Forever").
At the climax of the movie, Emily is born, and the main title song, "Saturday's Warrior", is played as a finale.
[edit] Musical Numbers
Musical Numbers, as included in the Original Play Soundtrack:[3]
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[edit] Reception
Although Saturday's Warrior is considered a classic in the Mormon community,[citation needed] especially in the Jell-O Belt, it is not well-known in the rest of the world. The theme of Saturday's Warrior is one that resounds with many Latter-day Saints - that everyone is a literal child of God, and in remembering this, they will be better able to hold on to their morals and beliefs as they are increasingly criticized and ridiculed especially now, in what is called "the last days" (hence the title, Saturday's Warrior - Saturday being the last day of the week, and this being the last days.) It also emphasizes the belief though their morals may seem restrictive, Mormons believe these morals actually give them more freedom.
