Hes played God, Michelangelo, Moses, El Cid, Ben Hur and was the only man considered scary enough to frighten Arnie in True Lies. Now, Charlton Heston convincingly essays legendary Mormon leader Brigham Young, literally putting the fear of God into his flock.
Salt Lake City, Utah, 1880s: factions are rising, unhappy with Youngs heavy-handed approach. But polygamous ol Brig can sleep easy with his wives, knowing that watching over him is Miles Utley (Berenger), a calculating killer, who justifies his murders as Gods work. Yet after foiling one assassination attempt on Young, Miles is wrongly cast out by his people, leaving him to lead a secret crusade to stop a second conspiracy to topple Young, accompanied grudgingly by his mentor, Porter Rockwell (the excellent Coburn).
This above-average video premiere is boosted by spot-on performances from Heston and Berenger (who co-produced), and though Witness it aint, Dennis Nemecs script and Craig Baxleys direction ensure tension is sustained. Whats more, this Western details a seldom seen aspect of the frontier with some of the strongest jaws in American acting, and history is well served. The only let-down is the facial hair The Avenging Angel has a selection of the most patently false beards since