Romney gets mention on 'Big Love,' will be part of documentary

The confluence of Hollywood and politics continues for Mitt Romney's presidential bid, revolving around his Mormon faith.

On Sunday night, "Big Love," the HBO drama about a Mormon family, included a reference to Romney. In the scene, the family's patriarch is watching TV when a woman's voice comes over the air: "He saved the Olympics. Who cares if he lets his dog ride on the roof of his car. People are just out to get him for any little thing."

Romney has generally won plaudits for leading the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, but has been criticized after a Globe profile this year told the story of how the family dog Seamus once rode in a pet carrier atop their station wagon on a trip.

Now comes word that a documentary is being filmed, called "A Mormon President," which explores anti-Mormon sentiment and features Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet killed in 1844 soon after he announced his presidential bid.
"Very few people realize that Romney is not the first Mormon to run for the White House," producer/director Adam Christing, a member of the Mormon History Association, said in a press release. "The first Mormon to run for the Presidency was actually the first Mormon, the prophet, Joseph Smith. Those who want to understand Romney's challenge today, must first understand Joseph Smith."

Christing's publicists say the movie, due out this fall, will be a counterpoint to "September Dawn," which opened in theaters last week. The movie, criticized by many Mormons, is billed as a dramatic recreation of the Mountain Meadows massacre, the killing of 120 unarmed Arkansas pioneers by Mormon settlers in Utah in 1857. The extent of the Mormon church's involvement has long been debated.

Romney has said he has no plans to see "September Dawn."