Pioneers in Petticoats (1969)

When Brigham Young creates the Young Women's Retrenchment Society in 1869, the headstrong Abigail Harper is called as president in her rural community. Though bucking at the restrictions imposed upon her, she strives to serve well and fellowship and inactive girl. One night, when her parents are out of town, Abigail wears an immodest dress to a church ball. After embarrassing herself she leaves and winds up inside a tavern, where things go from bad to worse when she refuses alcohol. An unknown gentleman offers to escort her home, with the inactive girl and a non-Mormon boy secretly following. When the stranger attempts to rape Abigail they intervene and save her. Later, when the young women meet to decide what to do with Abigail as Retrenchment Society president, the inactive girl arrives and defends her, showing that we all make mistakes and need forgiveness.
This film was commissioned by the Young Women's Mutual Improvement Associate for their centennial in 1969 and was the BYU Motion Picture Department's prestige production for that year (although the sleeper hit Johnny Lingo has proven more enduringly popular). The values championed decidedly belong in 1969, not a century earlier.
Not only was it a prestige production for 1969, but it was the longest film undertaken at BYU up to that point; Judge Whitaker called it the closest thing they had done to a feature. The original version was edited down to forty-four minutes for easier classroom use, and this is that latter version.

[@starlingrd]

I was a BYU student working as a production assistant at the Motion Picture Studio when this was filmed. I went up the mountain to the Sundance Ski Resort to get a tub of snow to make the snowballs that were thrown outside the saloon. I was also the young fiddler in the background inside the saloon. Melinda Cummings who played Abigail Harper was in my student ward. This was a memorable film.

[@andrellen]

All this patriarchy is frightening...….

[@ChristyHD27]

Who's here after seeing that tiktok 😳

[@beebaritter4952]

I like this movie. I remember it being my favorite ehen I was little. It's funny how little the church has changed as far as their desire to control women. I don't think they will ever change.

[@susanfarnsworth-mccarter1900]

This was such a great movie for our kids to watch. We loved it as a FHE aide.

[@AxelQC]

Lordy, Mr. Rhett! That Ain't Nothing But My Red Silk Petticoat You Done Give Me.

[@harrisonbeckett1545]

thank you so much forplacing good history on the screen

[@ejmorin7338]

Instant classic

[@savezelda]

Thanks for all these fabulous uploads. I watch them every day.

[@colincofield3747]

Is it me or is the blacksmith (Nellie's dad) the Maytag man?

[@AnnaBellaChannel]

Good Luck getting anyone in the church to Retrench now in 2024.

[@1PulseDawg1]

My Great grandma Ruth was the town gossip and my great grandpa Nathan was the Bishop. He died before I was born so this film was the first time I heard his voice, in the flesh that is.

[@TheSunOppositePluto]

Nelly is a true girl’s girl. All the religious people stood back and flapped their jaws but Nelly got right in there and saved the day.

[@myleemontag1690]

This was really interesting to watch!

[@ElectronicsTech09]

Was this is a TV Show ?

[@harrisonbeckett1545]

everyone of us can learn a great lesson from this fine eposoid

[@valid_sound_and_furious961]

FIDDLE DE DEE

[@TheBoss-ie8dj]

Ahh, the sin of "street corner loafing"...

[@semisipaea5294]

Damb

[@aeyacastanares1034]

lol...it reminds me of something nice one...