The Conqueror (1956 film)

The Conqueror is a 1956 film Dick Powell directed film staring John Wayne as Genghis Khan. The film was produced by Howard Hughes and is often included on lists of the worse films of the 1950s. It was a major flop with Howard Hughes purchasing every copy of the film for $12 million dollars and refusing to let it be shown again until 1974. Shortly after it was the film was included in the 1978 book 'The Fifty Worst Films of All Time'. The film premiered in London after some editing to meet rating standards in London on Feburary 2, 1956 prior to it's January 22 premiere in Los Angeles. The film was released nationally in the US by March 28.

Synopsis
The film is based on Temujin's campaign to recapture Borte who had been taken by the Merkits in the 12th century. This campaign is considered both a personal victory for Temujin and a powerful epic involving his half brother and childhood friend Jamukha who after this campaign would develop a split.

Detailed Plot
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Production
John Wayne lobbied for the role of Genghis Khan after reading the script and was rewarded said roll of which is often considered miscasted. Parts of the film were shot in Snow Canyon, Warner Valley, Pine Valley, Leeds, and Harrisburg, Utah. Exterior scenes where shot near St. George, Utah 137 miles downwind from the Nevada National Security Site which was the location of 11 above ground nuclear tests in 1953. The crew spent a lot of time filming at the location with John Wayne shipping 60 tons of red dirt to Hollywood for studio reshots. The cancer related deaths of Susan Hayward, John Wayne, Agnes Moorehead, Pedro Armendariz, and Dick Powell himself are often blamed on this. In total 91 out of the 220 involved where diagnosed with Cancer by 1980. Howard Hughes decision to withhold further viewing of the film until 1974 is also acreddited to some guilt over this rather then the film being poor.

Cast

 * John Wayne as Genghis Khan

Crew

 * Director: Dick Powell

Reception
The Conquerer had the 11th most successful box office during it's national release in 1956 earning 4.5 million dollars. It tied with the box office of 'Rebel Without a Cause' and was beatten by The Searchers by 200 thousand dollars.