The Fighting Preacher

THE FIGHTING PREACHER is a clean, family-friendly movie, with its major issues being the false Mormon theology and history and the violence. Because Willard is a boxer, there are many scenes not only of sports related violence, but also violence outside the ring. I absolutely love this movie 🍿. This is based on a true story with extreme liberty taken with dialogue and events. Willard and Recca Bean have been selected by the Church of the Latter-Day Saints to occupy the Joseph Smith farm in Palmyra, NY. Willard is a former boxer. They are not wanted, but all ends well in a hokey story. Preacher Willard Bean becomes the world middleweight boxing champion in 1905, but when Joseph F. Smith asks him to step away from the limelight and serve a five-year mission in upstate New York, the Beans immediately pack their bags and travel to the East Coast.

In his autobiography, Willard Bean wrote: "When people tell my story they usually get it about half right." This movie is an example of that; the screenwriter got it about half right. The sad thing is the parts he got wrong were deliberately wrong because the writer thought it would make a better story. The real, accurate story would have made a much better movie. Sadder still is that in interviews the writer presented his altered version as true and accurate. Visually this movie is beautiful. Mr. Christensen is one of the best cinematopraphers working today. David McConnell does a very good job portraying Willard Bean, but unfortunately, he received some bad direction which made some of his scenes silly and eye-rolling. If you like "Mormon movies", you'll love this one. It has some touching moments and some good lessons, and even a thinly disguised Three Nephites Story (which is so poorly put together it leaves the audience wondering what just happened). One of the ways the writer changed the true story was to create an a-little-child-shall-lead-them storyline. This is always good for a few tears whether it's true or not. Adding this storyline feels like an insult to Willard Bean's life and his true character, but it's a guaranteed Kleenex moment in any "Mormon movie". Visually, I would give this movie 8 out of 10 stars. Unfortunately, Mr Christensen insists on being a one-man band who writes, directs, shoots and produces and I can't give the final product more than 4 out of 10 stars. Had this been a team effort with a good writer who stuck to the true story, and good director working with one of the industries great cinematographers, this could have been an outstanding movie. One final note. Before you lump me in the category of Mormon hater, or disgruntled Latter-day Saint with a chip on his shoulder, I am neither of these. I am a devout Latter-day Saint with no ax to grind. I am simply giving an honest assessment of the movie.

What a great story! There are not very many films that tell a really good story well, but this is one of them! Treated with love and kindness it fills you with love. This is not really a religious story but one of belief. Great family watch!

"The Fighting Preacher" benefits from a slightly fresher style than other Mormon films of its kind and definitely shows more promising production value. Still, the performances are one-dimensional and the script is incredibly predictable.

It's a boring piece that feels just like the other propaganda stories of its kind and Mormon films still feel that its fair to predict "outsiders" as one-dimensional bullies that in order for them to become a decent person, they must convert to the religion.

I found the film to be generally poorly done considering the time it was released and felt that at this stage, there should be no excuses anymore to prevent Mormon cinema to reach a new standard. Unfortunately, the genre is trapped in a never ending "early saints" setting, determined to portray Mormons as perfectly kind hearted people being victimized by everyone in the country.

The main lead's performance is the only thing that grounds the film for me in some kind of reality. Unfortunately, everything else fails.

In the realm of independent filmmakers telling inspiring true stories of people of faith meeting challenges there is no one more impressive than T.C. Christensen. T.C. is a story teller who uses his talents as a writer, cinematographer and director to bring to life tales of ordinary people who are called upon to do extraordinary things -- and with faith in God accomplish seemly impossible challenges.

THE FIGHTING PREACHER unfolds the amazing story of Willard Been and his wife Rebecca who in 1905 are called upon to be caretakers for their Church of sacred property that had been abandoned when the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were forced to flee due the hatred of their neighbors. What begins as a 3 year calling transforms into a 25 year span that changes their lives and those who still carrying on their dislike for "Mormons".

Not only has T.C. skillfully condensed a 25 year story into a fascinating film that is beautifully photographed and skillfully edited (by son Tanner) but has discovered two wonderful performers new to the screen. David McConnell as Willard and Cassidy Hubert as his wife Rebecca bring to life these two remarkable people. Scarlett Hazen who was so good in T.C.'s LOVE, KENNEDY shines in the role of their daughter Palmyra.

THE FIGHTING PREACHER is a film that I am proud to recommend to others and one that I will return to the theatre to see again. I look forward to its future release on Blu-ray to add to my revered collection of T.C. films: 17 MIRACLES, EPHRAIM'S RESUCE, THE COKEVILLE MIRACLE and LOVE, KENNEDY. These are films that I actually rewatch from time to time.