BYU NewsNet - Third 'Work and the Glory' Film to be Last in Series

The most recent entry in the Latter-day Saint film industry "The Work and the Glory III: A House Divided" has the potential to make or break the entire genre.

It is the final film in the series based on Gerald N. Lund's nine best-selling novels, which chronicle one family's involvement in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Utah businessman Larry Miller, the sole investor in the "Work and the Glory" films, has spent approximately $20 million in production costs for the three movies. Box office earnings for the first two total only about $6 million, according to The-Numbers.com.

The films have "filled the role of the most phenomenal flops in the [LDS film] movement," said Randy Astle, author of an upcoming history of LDS-themed films. "Larry Miller has postured himself as a magnanimous benefactor more interested in building the kingdom than making a profit, but you just can't spend that much money and stay in the game. So most LDS filmmakers, I think, have seen them, well done as they are, as a warning to not overspend. Larry can take the hit, but no one else can."

"A House Divided" comes at a crossroads for LDS cinema. The last two films produced by Orem's Halestorm Entertainment-"Mobsters and Mormons" and "Church Ball"-each made less than $500,000 at the box office. Missionary-themed "Suits on the Loose?" and "God's Army 2: States of Grace" made less than $100,000, according to The-Numbers.com. The failure of "A House Divided" could mark the end of not only the series but the genre as well.

At a special showing of the series' second film, held at BYU in conjunction with a May DVD signing, director Sterling Van Wagenen pleaded with the audience to see "A House Divided" immediately on its release in theaters.

"Most people don't realize that these independent films make it or break it on opening weekend," he said. Theaters will not continue to book movies that do not sell tickets.

According to Excel Entertainment, "A House Divided" ranked in the top three of tickets sold when it opened in Utah on Thanksgiving weekend.

"Regardless of what the naysayers have claimed, LDS cinema is not dead," said Randy Davis, vice president of Excel. "A lot of people would rather believe that the whole niche is falling apart than believe that they made a film that nobody wants. Everybody wants 'The Work and the Glory.'"

Still, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com, box office returns have reached only $741,738 after seven weeks in Utah theaters, far removed from Excel's goal of $2 million in state. Excel must now depend on national audiences and DVD revenues to make up for the remainder of the movie's $6.5 million budget.

Films one and two both made over $1 million by this point in their theatrical runs.

"The third film is easily the best one to date," Davis said. "'A House Divided' has all the beauty of the first film, the passion of the second, and it has a certain magic and romance that audiences will love."

However, despite its claimed appeal, it is billed as the "final chapter" of the series.

"I am very sad that this will be the last of "The Work and the Glory" and hope that someone will step forward to complete the series in film," said Sam Cardon, composer for the films. "I have always said that "The Work and the Glory" will be extremely valuable in the long run."

Producer Scott Swofford added that in the film series "the prophet is more real, and the struggles more accurate than have ever been presented in film before. I'm proud of the films. I wish they would have been financially successful as well, because then there would have been more of them."

Lindsey Furstenberg, a linguistics major from Ayden N.C., said she was surprised audiences weren't more supportive of the "Work and the Glory" films. She said she thought the first movie was Hollywood quality. The film had romance and action - something for everyone. She had not yet seen the second movie.

Adrianne Roldan, a sophomore from Dover, Penn., said she heard they were good but never got around to seeing them.

"The Work and the Glory III: A House Divided" will receive a platform release in 37 states and Canada between February and April of this year. It is showing in Utah at a limited number of locations.