Ephraim's Rescue
Ephraim's Rescue is a religious historical drama film by T. C. Christensen, released in 2013 by Excel Entertainment Group. It is based on the true story of Ephraim Hanks, a simple man who was called to do the work of angels and rescue the people of the Martin Handcart Company.[1] The film was released in select theaters across the United States in the spring of 2013.
| Ephraim's Rescue | |
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 Film poster | |
| Directed by | T. C. Christensen |
| Produced by |
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| Written by | T. C. Christensen |
| Starring |
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| Music by | Paul Cardall |
| Cinematography | T. C. Christensen |
| Edited by | Tanner Christensen |
Production company | Remember Films |
| Distributed by | Excel Entertainment Group |
Release date |
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Running time | 115 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
The film focuses on the experiences of two people in connection to the Martin Handcart Company; Ephraim Hanks, and Thomas Dobson.
In 1891, at Salina, Utah Territory, an elderly Ephraim Hanks (Richard Benedict) comes to bring Sister Johnson (Liz Christensen) back from the dead and gives her a blessing, saying that she will bear and raise seven daughters, and that there will be a time when they will all stand together and be a great joy to her. She tells this to her husband (Joshua Cooper), who is amazed at both her story and the fact that she is revived.
50 years earlier, Ephraim (Darin Southam), as a rebellious young man with a tough relationship with his parents. He leaves and joins the U.S. Navy after a violent confrontation with his father.
Three years later, Ephraim is back where he started his journey, at the port in Boston. There, after a mysterious encounter with a man in a grey tweed suit (Rick Macy), Ephraim decides it’s time to return home to make amends with his parents. However, when he gets there, he learns that his father has passed away, and that his brother Sidney (Daniel Sappenfield) has joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Believing Sidney to be in trouble, his mother, Martha (Nancy Peterson), sends Ephraim to go and "save" him.
When Ephraim goes to look for Sidney, he comes across a fork in the road at which leaves him confused and emotional for seemingly no reason. Wondering what he should do, he prays for the first time in years. He receives an impression that he should return home, which he does immediately. Returning, he finds Sidney has already returned, having received a dream telling him that he needed to return home.
With both Ephraim and Sidney home, their mother, wanting no more "Mormon rubbish", tells Ephraim to invite their local pastors and talk with Sidney. When they arrive at their home, Sidney bears to them a strong testimony that Joseph Smith is indeed a prophet of God, but they reject it and insult him about it, which angers Ephraim, and he sends them out of their house. Sidney later tells Ephraim that what he said to the preachers is true, and tells Ephraim how he was miraculously healed by Mormon elders with the priesthood, which intrigues Ephraim. Sidney hands Ephraim the Book of Mormon, and Ephraim accepts the teachings of the Mormon faith and decides to join them and Sidney. However, his mother is disappointed and so she sends him and Sidney away. They eventually come to Illinois, where Sidney baptizes Ephraim.
At the same time, an 8-year-old boy in Preston, Lancashire named Thomas Dobson (Koleman Stinger) is also baptized, and his mother, Alice (Katherine Nelson), tells him that he has gifts, before being attacked by an angry mob. One of the men throws a rock that hits Thomas on the head, but fortunately, he is relatively unharmed. Meanwhile, Ephraim experiences many of the joys of the LDS faith, including the Mormon Battalion, and he shows the prophet, Brigham Young, that he will give strict obedience regardless the nature of his requests. One day, Ephraim heals an injured Indian boy.
In 1856, a man announces that the Dobsons are departing for Zion, which infuriates Thomas, now a young man (James Gaisford), as he has no desire to travel to an uncivilized area miles away from home. His mother encourages him to lose himself and go, for the prophet of God has commanded them to go with the Martin Handcart Company. Meanwhile, Ephraim is informed that the Handcart people are in trouble, and he is wanted, so he agrees to go and help.
Cast
- Darin Southam as Ephraim Hanks, the film's titular protagonist, who miraculously heals the sick and afflicted at the Martin Handcart Company.
- Richard Benedict plays an elderly version of Ephraim.
- James Gaisford as Thomas Dobson, a young man who reluctantly joins the Martin Handcart Company with his mother. Because of his worn-out boots, his feet become swollen, but are miraculously healed by Ephraim.
- Koleman Stinger plays Thomas as an 8-year-old.
- Katherine Nelson as Alice Dobson, Thomas's loving mother who shows great concern for her son's well-being.
- Mia Selway as Ester Dean, a pretty young lady in the Martin Handcart Company whom Thomas develops a crush on.
- Travis Eberhard as Albert (real name Robert Pearce), a crippled dwarf who travels with the Martin Handcart Company and promises to walk every step of the mile to Zion.
Production
Written and directed by T. C. Christensen, and produced by Ron Tanner and Christensen, Ephraim's Rescue debuted on May 31, 2013 in select theaters in Utah, and then across the United States. The film was subsequently released on DVD and Blu-ray for distribution by Excel Entertainment Group through Deseret Book and affiliated retailers.
Reviews
Ephraim's Rescue received mixed to positive reviews. Sean Means of the Salt Lake Tribune felt that it was similar to 17 Miracles but "the results this time are less dramatic and more like an illustrated Sunday school lesson."[2]
Notes
- "Deseret News: 'Ephraim's Rescue' another powerful pioneer tear jerker", DeseretBook.com, Deseret Book, 2013-05-31, retrieved 2017-11-17
- Means, Sean (30 May 2013). "Movie review: 'Ephraim's Rescue' lacks drama, serves up homilies". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 8 November 2019.