{"id":51515,"date":"2025-10-21T03:00:30","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T09:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/?p=51515"},"modified":"2025-10-12T18:46:45","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T00:46:45","slug":"what-does-hollywood-think-about-latter-day-saints","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/2025\/10\/what-does-hollywood-think-about-latter-day-saints\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does Hollywood Think About Latter-day Saints?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

How we’re perceived in popular culture is one of those questions that usually devolve into anecdote slinging, with all the biases inherent in what we remember or are in a position to experience. Recently I ran across a “corpus,” or a dataset, of scripts in movies. Specifically, the Baskin Lab at UC Santa Cruz keeps a dataset of 1,068 films<\/a> in an easily digestible text format, so I wrote a script to detect any usage of the word “Mormon” and to give me the immediate context surrounding the word: whether it’s pejorative, flattering, or what. This has the advantage of giving us a somewhat random sampling of mentions of Mormons in cinema; specifically, within 17 movies, none of which are Mormon-specific per se. What do they say?<\/p>\n

The results are below. Basically, our main function in cinema is to be the ah-shucks, innocent foil to some world-smart\/weary main character. Although I did laugh out loud at the John Malkovich character in “Burn Without Reading,” and this provided a nostalgic reminder of “Fort Joe Smith” from Starship Troopers (you can always tell where somebody gets their sources by if they say “Joe” Smith, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a pro or neutral source say “Joe” Smith, it’s always some 19th-century anti).<\/p>\n

Bodies, Rest, & Motion (1993)<\/a><\/p>\n

You <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>get stopped in Utah by the cops — <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>you flunk the breathalizer, they <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>haul you in. The judge is Mormon — <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>you get fifteen years, you go to <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>prison, but at least your life has <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>taken a direction!<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Nick and<\/span><\/p>\n

Burn After Reading (2008)<\/a><\/p>\n

assault.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>PECK<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Come on, Ozzie.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>OSBOURNE<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>This is an assault. I have a drinking<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>problem? Fuck you, Peck, you’re a<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Mormon!<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>PECK<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Ozzie—-<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>OSBOURNE<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Next to you we all have a drinking<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>problem! Fuck you guys! Whose ass<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>didn’t I kiss?<\/span><\/p>\n

Casino (1995)<\/a><\/p>\n

– DAY<\/span><\/p>\n

NANCE, with suitcase, and PISCANO leave the car and enter <\/span><\/p>\n

the produce market.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>NICKY (V.O.)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Now this old Mormon fuck here…<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>CUT TO: NANCE, AS HE GETS OUT OF PISCANO’S CAR<\/span><\/p>\n

INT. SAN MARINO ITALIAN GROCERY, KANSAS CITY –<\/span><\/p>\n

Christ Complex (2012)<\/a><\/p>\n

Quinn was a step ahead of you, and looked<\/p>\n

for a human ally. That ally was Joseph<\/p>\n

Smith, and Quinn…or I mean Moroni…led<\/p>\n

Joseph to the plates that later when into-<\/p>\n

Ryan picks a book up and throws it at Louis. Louis looks<\/p>\n

down at the “Book Of Mormon”.<\/p>\n

RYAN BLOOD (CONT’D)<\/p>\n

-His little plan didn’t work, but the<\/p>\n

book is a great coffee table discussion<\/p>\n

piece. This made him weak Louis. You<\/p>\n

could have destroyed him. The problem is<\/p>\n

you’ve allowed yourself to become fond of<\/p>\n

him. YOU need to embrace your destiny.<\/p>\n

……..<\/p>\n

Zoey is flipping through documents.<\/p>\n

JACK (CONT’D)<\/p>\n

Quinn displayed some erratic behavior<\/p>\n

from the beginning. One of the staff<\/p>\n

members was Mormon and they would read<\/p>\n

stories to Quinn out of the Book Of<\/p>\n

Mormon. That employee was later fired,<\/p>\n

but a seed was planted in Quinn’s head.<\/p>\n

He kept going on about how he and Louis<\/p>\n

were meant to fight to the death. Some of<\/p>\n

the children at the time claim Louis<\/p>\n

would encourage this behavior. He<\/p>\n

probably thought this was Quinn’s attempt<\/p>\n

at playing.<\/p>\n

\n

Yes I believe a seed was planted.<\/p>\n

ZOEY<\/p>\n

Exactly. I heard there was an employee<\/p>\n

that got fired for sharing Mormon<\/p>\n

mythology with the boys.<\/p>\n

JAKE<\/p>\n

(monotone)<\/p>\n

No. Off base. He’s not the right one.<\/p>\n

Days of Heaven (1978)<\/a><\/p>\n

Why do I need to?<\/span><\/p>\n

Bill catches Abby’s eyes. He frowns at the idea of being cooped up with this Mormon all winter.<\/span><\/p>\n

BILL<\/span><\/p>\n

Relaxation. Look at the girls. Opportunity to see how other folks live.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chuck looks at him blankly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Donnie Brasco (1997)<\/a><\/p>\n

not tonight–it<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>could still be tonight because it<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>could be any night.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>JULES<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Fuck you, Clarence.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>LEBOW<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Heyl I’m a Mormon 1<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>HOGUE<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>You have some objection to these<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>guys killing each other? \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>MARSHALL<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>It’s just that–one of them’s one<\/span><\/p>\n

Easy A<\/a><\/p>\n

we’re looking at has an even<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>more frightening smile.)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>MRS. ABERNATHY has hair to her ankles and dresses like a<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Mormon.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>4.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>OLIVE (V.O.)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>I’ve always felt sort of sorry for<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Rhiannon, but not enough to do what<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>she was asking<\/span><\/p>\n

The Get Away (1994)\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

SOLDIER<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Utah, the Bee-Hive state. I’m from Orem,<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>right near Salt Lake … Say, you<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>wouldn’t happen to be a Mormon, would<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>you?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>(CONTINUED)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>55.<\/span><\/p>\n

CONTINUED:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>CAROL<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>(chuckles)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>No, I’m not.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>SOLDIER<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Me, neither. There’s about twelve people<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>in the state<\/span><\/p>\n

The Long Kiss Goodbye (1996)<\/a><\/p>\n

bullshit —<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>HENESSEY<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Whoa. Ms. Class, drive a little truck <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>on the side, do you?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>SAMANTHA<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>What are you, a Mormon?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>HENESSEY<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>No, ma’am, it’s just that… well, <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>when we met you’re all, “Oh, fooey, <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>I burned the darn cupcakes.” Now,<\/span><\/p>\n

Man on the Moon (1999)<\/a><\/p>\n

surprised and giggling.<\/span><\/p>\n

ANDY<\/span><\/p>\n

Ladies and Gentlemen, she’s alive!<\/span><\/p>\n

Huge APPLAUSE.<\/span><\/p>\n

CHOIR (O.S.)<\/span><\/p>\n

HALLELUJAH!\u00a0 <\/span>HALLELUJAH!<\/span><\/p>\n

ANDY<\/span><\/p>\n

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Mormon<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabernacle Choir!!!<\/span><\/p>\n

Rear curtains part, and the MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR belts<\/span><\/p>\n

out the “Hallelujah Chorus”!<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s spectacular.\u00a0 <\/span>The crowd goes<\/span><\/p>\n

Ocean’s Eleven<\/a><\/p>\n

MALLOY. They’re nice boys. Really.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Peckerwoods, sure, but nice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>RUSTY (V.O.)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>I talked to the Malloys yesterday.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>DANNY (V.O.)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>The Mormon twins?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>RUSTY (V.O.)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>They’re both in Salt Lake City,<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>six months off the job. I got the<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>sense they’re having<\/span><\/p>\n

Point Break (1991)<\/a><\/p>\n

one.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>UTAH<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Well, what’re your ideas on these<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>guys?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>PAPPAS<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Forget about it, kid.\u00a0 <\/span>They’re<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>ghosts.\u00a0 <\/span>Let the goddamn yuppie<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Mormon affirmative action assholes<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>handle it.\u00a0 <\/span>See I’m almost 55… so<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>I must be senile, right?\u00a0 <\/span>They<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>better get me out<\/span><\/p>\n

Punch Drunk Love (2002)<\/a><\/p>\n

I mean<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>it’s like a nine or ten hour drive.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>It’s not like going to Salt Lake<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>and getting the Mormon’s, it’s<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>different…<\/span><\/p>\n

After a long, long staring contest with David, Dean SUDDENLY<\/span><\/p>\n

AND VERY VIOLENTLY PUTS HIS FIST THROUGH THE<\/span><\/p>\n

Starship Troopers (1997)<\/a><\/p>\n

of a tranquil alien bay.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, a “You Are Here” map of the Known Universe.<\/span><\/p>\n

OFFICIAL VOICE<\/span><\/p>\n

Disregarding Federal warnings, Mormon <\/span><\/p>\n

extremists established Port Joe Smith,<\/span><\/p>\n

a settlement of 300 on Tango Urilla, a<\/span><\/p>\n

system just inside the Arachnid<\/span><\/p>\n

Quarantine Zone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sunshine Cleaning (2008)<\/a><\/p>\n

back to Lynn. Lynn waves it<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>off a second time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>(CONTINUED)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>GREEN REVISION 3\/5\/07\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>64.<\/span><\/p>\n

99 \u00a0 <\/span>CONTINUED:\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>99<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>NORAH<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>She’s Mormon.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>LYNN<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>I’m not Mormon. I just… You’re<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>gonna think it’s weird.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>NORAH<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>What?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>LYNN<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Sometimes I think that when you<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

blood-shot concentration.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>NORAH<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>All right, you’re kind of freakin<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>me out.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>LYNN<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Sorry.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>NORAH<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>You should just tell people you’re<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Mormon.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>LYNN<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>I think your boyfriend is winning.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Two women gnaw at Randy’s neck. His necklace is almost empty.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>NORAH<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Yes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wild Wild West (1999)<\/a><\/p>\n

become more<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>exaggerated, she’s in the thrall of her audience.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>CHANTEUSE<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>(singing)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>‘Hangtown gals are lovely<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>creatures<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Think they’ll marry Mormon<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>preachers.’<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>She sashays over to the French dignitary, pulls his<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>monocle out of his eye and blows hot breath on<\/span><\/p>\n

Wonder Boys (2000)<\/a><\/p>\n

at the window) <\/span><\/p>\n

Besides, she doesn’t really know me. She <\/span><\/p>\n

thinks she does, but she doesn’t. Maybe it’s <\/span><\/p>\n

because she’s Mormon and I’m Catholic.<\/span><\/p>\n

GRADY<\/span><\/p>\n

Maybe it’s because she’s beautiful and she <\/span><\/p>\n

knows it and try as she might to not<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

enters this SMOKE-FILLED RHYTHM AND BLUES club. She beckons <\/span><\/p>\n

with a finger, but Grady–Nervous at the sight of her <\/span><\/p>\n

glistening Mormon skin–merely pantomimes an exaggerated <\/span><\/p>\n

shrug and she points.<\/span><\/p>\n

CRABTREE and James Leer sit at a dark corner table. James <\/span><\/p>\n

slouches,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

block, then <\/span><\/p>\n

turns back for another pass.<\/span><\/p>\n

VERNON<\/span><\/p>\n

Who the hell is that?<\/span><\/p>\n

GRADY<\/span><\/p>\n

A Manhattan book editor murdering a Mormon <\/span><\/p>\n

girl’s clutch.<\/span><\/p>\n

The car bucks crazily, picks up speed, and Crabtree– <\/span><\/p>\n

swiping aside a flutter of MANUSCRIPT PAGES that have<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How we’re perceived in popular culture is one of those questions that usually devolve into anecdote slinging, with all the biases inherent in what we remember or are in a position to experience. Recently I ran across a “corpus,” or a dataset, of scripts in movies. Specifically, the Baskin Lab at UC Santa Cruz keeps a dataset of 1,068 films in an easily digestible text format, so I wrote a script to detect any usage of the word “Mormon” and to give me the immediate context surrounding the word: whether it’s pejorative, flattering, or what. This has the advantage of giving us a somewhat random sampling of mentions of Mormons in cinema; specifically, within 17 movies, none of which are Mormon-specific per se. What do they say? The results are below. Basically, our main function in cinema is to be the ah-shucks, innocent foil to some world-smart\/weary main character. Although I did laugh out loud at the John Malkovich character in “Burn Without Reading,” and this provided a nostalgic reminder of “Fort Joe Smith” from Starship Troopers (you can always tell where somebody gets their sources by if they say “Joe” Smith, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a pro […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10403,"featured_media":51528,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1254],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-51515","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-film"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/f8e2a99c-a92a-43d2-ab8b-92ae7507acb2.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51515","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10403"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51515"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51515\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":51533,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51515\/revisions\/51533"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/51528"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51515"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51515"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51515"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}