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Set in 13th century Asia, this lavish epic historical adventure film stars John Wayne as Mongol chieftain Temujin, better known as Ghengis Khan. Susan Hayward co-stars as Bortai, the Tartar princess who is captured by Ghengis Khan and eventually falls in love with him.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
"The Conqueror" made in 1955 was produced by Howard Hughes and directed by Dick Powell. It starred John Wayne as Temujin, better known by his later name of Genghis Khan. The film was locked away in the vaults of Howard Hughes who owned the RKO studio who financed this film, and was not shown on American TV until 1974. It is easy to see why it was locked away. Together with "Ice Station Zebra" it was said to be the most watched film of Howard Hughes, which might say more about his state of mind than the quality of the film. The film has to be a strong contender for cinemas unintentionally funniest film of all time. John Wayne has also appeared in a couple of other good contenders. He was an American Consul General in 1850s Japan in John Hustons "The Barbarian and the Geisha"(58), where he was a sort of Gulliver amongst the Lilliputians. In George Stevens life of Christ "The Greatest Story ever Told"(65), he was the Centurion whose deeply American brogue was rather distracting during the crucifixion scene. Good contenders, but I believe this has a greater claim to the title.
A film about a man of humble origins who conquers most of the known world and engages in numerous pitched battles should be a sure fire winner. So what went wrong, or right should I say. Well Wayne turns up costumed in fur with a spikey hat. His eyes are slightly taped up and on his mouth is a very droopy Walrus moustache. Wayne's voice is so deeply American that his efforts seem doomed from the start. It is hard to stop giggling at his appearance.
We then have some of cinemas most immortal camp lines. The opening is a classic.... Read more ›
A film about a man of humble origins who conquers most of the known world and engages in numerous pitched battles should be a sure fire winner. So what went wrong, or right should I say. Well Wayne turns up costumed in fur with a spikey hat. His eyes are slightly taped up and on his mouth is a very droopy Walrus moustache. Wayne's voice is so deeply American that his efforts seem doomed from the start. It is hard to stop giggling at his appearance.
We then have some of cinemas most immortal camp lines. The opening is a classic.... Read more ›
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
"The Conqueror" has great production values. Apparently, everyone's favorite eccentric millionaire/filmmaker, Howard Hughes, thought this would be a smashing success. I recently watched "Genghis Khan" (1965) with Omar Sharif, and thought that film suffered from miscasting (James Mason as a Chinese for example). But that's nothing compared to the casting of John Wayne as the mongol warrior. Did anyone, even Hughes, ever think that was a good idea? Believe you me, this role was more than even the Duke could chew (apparently even Wayne later said he wasn't suited for the role). But it's not just Wayne's and the casting director's fault that the movie is a stinker. The dialogue is so bad it has to be seen (or heard) to be believed. Our great warrior hero Temujin/Genghis Khan (Wayne) shows all the intellect and charisma of a caveman ("I stole you. I will keep you. Before the sun sets you will come willingly to my arms!"). As an epic adventure, "The Conqueror" is really, really bad. But if you're looking for some campy entertainment, all of the flaws, the miscasting and ridiculous dialogue, could be regarded as qualities. It has some slow stretches where not much happens but "The Conqueror" certainly is offers quite a unique viewing experience. I'll let you decide if you think that's good or bad, for you.
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I collect films that are so bad they are good or funny. This is funny although the research was well done for costumes etc. John Wayne drawling all American hero as Temujin is great. Only shame was that the bit of desert used was contaminated by the dirtiest nuclear test in US mainland history only a while before filming. Many of the cast and crew subsequently died from cancers so you just don't know if this film helped do them in.
By Paul Smith
Format:DVD
Shot in 1956 by Howard Hughes, in the Utah proving grounds just 3 years after an atomic explosion, 91 of the 220 film cast and crew died of cancer (three times the average for this number of people), this included Wayne himself.
Initially panned by the critics in 1956, and subsequently withdrawn by Hughes until after his death, this movie has much going for it, a great cast, an original story and great scenery.
The only negative would be that Wayne is typcast as a cowboy in manyh peoples minds, and playing a Mongol Warlord may not imediatley suit his style. However, I found that after the first few minutes you realise that wayne is actually carrying it off.
I would recommend you give this film a viewing.
Initially panned by the critics in 1956, and subsequently withdrawn by Hughes until after his death, this movie has much going for it, a great cast, an original story and great scenery.
The only negative would be that Wayne is typcast as a cowboy in manyh peoples minds, and playing a Mongol Warlord may not imediatley suit his style. However, I found that after the first few minutes you realise that wayne is actually carrying it off.
I would recommend you give this film a viewing.
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