Saturday's Warrior

Saturday's Warrior
Directed by	Bob Williams
Produced by	Bob Williams Gary Lewis
Written by	Douglas Stewart
Starring	Erik Hickenlooper Cori Jacobsen Davison Cheney Bart Hickenlooper
Music by	Lex de Azevedo
Distributed by	Fieldbrook Entertainment
Release dates	1989
Country	United States
Language	English

Saturday's Warrior is a Mormon-themed musical written by Douglas Stewart and Lex de Azevedo. The musical tells the story of a group of children that are born into a Mormon family after making various promises in the premortal life. Two of the children, Jimmy and Julie, encounter personal struggles that help them rediscover and fulfill their foreordained missions in life. Although an explicit time frame is not given in the dialogue, certain contextual clues (in particular, a song that references the Zero population growth movement) suggest that the story takes place in the late 1960s or early 1970s. The musical explores the Mormon doctrines of premortal life, foreordination, and eternal marriage. It depicts abortion and birth control as being contrary to the divine plan of salvation.

Saturday's Warrior was first performed in California in 1973 as a college project.^[1] In 1989, Bob Williams made a video version of the musical, setting it on a stage as opposed to giving the movie a more naturalistic look. It is among the first popular LDS films to not be made or sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Brigham Young University.^[1] A sequel, The White Star, debuted in 2007.^[2]

Plot synopsis

While waiting to be born in the pre-existence, a family of eight children promise 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 Tod, 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 is a typical confused teenager, influenced by peer pressure and rebellious against his parents. He finds himself in the company of other teenagers who are critical of his parents for having such a large family and advocate philosophies such as zero population growth and legalized abortion ("Zero Population"). Because of their influence, he becomes upset when he learns his parents are going to have another baby (Emily). 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 has a chance encounter and conversation with a non-Mormon named Tod Richards ("Voices") and then 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, 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 ("Humble Way"). Though the two companions have not had much success proselyting, they find Tod, who has been searching for answers ("Paper Dream") and teach him by the Spirit. Julie decides she doesn't want to marry Peter after all, but when Wally comes home from his mission, he brings Tod 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, Pam dies and meets Emily in Heaven. They joyously reunite, then say goodbye, as it's Emily's turn to be born. Emily is born, and the main title song, "Saturday's Warrior", is played as a finale.

Cast

Musical numbers

Musical Numbers, as included in the original play soundtrack:^[3]

(SV) Stage Version only
(FV) Film Version only

Recognition

Saturday's Warrior is not well known outside the Mormon community. The themes of Saturday's Warrior, however, resound with many Latter-day Saints, especially regarding "the last days".

2016 Remake

Plot

Set in the turbulent 1970s, Saturday's Warrior explores the age-old questions of “Where do I come from?” and “Why am I here?” Centered on twins Jimmy and Pam Flinders, the musical begins with a group of spirits making promises to each other before coming to live on Earth. However, with those promises forgotten, Jimmy, Pam and all the others find themselves on very different paths once on Earth. Jimmy (Kenny Holland) loses himself seeking stardom, and struggles with his faith, his identity, and his relationship with his family. Devastating tragedy strikes Pam (Anna Daines), and her family. But will this devastation destroy Jimmy or help him rediscover who he really is? And what of the others? Will their promises be kept or be forever forgotten?

Cast

Cameo

• The Piano Guys

Crew

Soundtrack

See also

• Added Upon

References

External links

• Saturday's Warrior at the Internet Movie Database