*The Conqueror*

*The Conqueror* is a 1956 American CinemaScope epic film produced by Howard Hughes for RKO Pictures and directed by Dick Powell. The film is a highly fictionalized account of the early life of Temüjin, who would become the Mongol leader Genghis Khan. Featuring an infamous casting choice with John Wayne in the lead role, the production was filmed in Snow Canyon, Utah, near the site of U.S. government nuclear tests, a decision that later fueled significant controversy. Upon its release, the film was widely panned by critics for its historical inaccuracies, dialogue, and performances, and has since endured as a notorious example of Hollywood miscasting and production hubris.

Plot

The narrative follows the rise of Temüjin, a fierce warrior of the Mongols, after his father, the khan Yesügei, is poisoned by rival Tatars. Captured by the rival Merkit tribe, Temüjin escapes and vows vengeance, uniting the scattered Mongol clans under his banner. His central conflict involves his tumultuous relationship with Börte, the fiery daughter of a rival chieftain, played by Susan Hayward. The plot culminates in large-scale battles against the Merkit and the powerful Wang Khan of the Keraites, with Temüjin ultimately triumphing over his enemies to be proclaimed Genghis Khan, the supreme ruler. The story heavily emphasizes a romantic and revenge-driven storyline over historical fidelity, featuring confrontations at locations like the Gobi Desert and the Altai Mountains.

Cast

The film is led by John Wayne as Temüjin, a decision that became synonymous with miscasting in American cinema. Susan Hayward portrays the defiant Börte, with Pedro Armendáriz co-starring as the loyal warrior Jamukha. The supporting cast features Agnes Moorehead as Höelün, Temüjin's mother, and Thomas Gomez as the scheming Wang Khan. John Hoyt appears as the shaman Guchlug, while William Conrad plays the warrior Kasar. Ted de Corsia and Leslie Bradley feature as rival chieftains, with Peter Mamakos and Richard Loo in supporting roles. The casting of predominantly American and European actors in Asian roles was typical of Hollywood period epics of the era but was heavily criticized.

Production

The project was spearheaded by Howard Hughes, the reclusive billionaire owner of RKO Pictures, who was determined to create a lavish historical epic. Filming took place in 1954 primarily in Snow Canyon near St. George, Utah, under the direction of Dick Powell. Notably, the location was approximately 137 miles downwind from the Nevada Test Site, where the Upshot-Knothole series of atomic tests had been conducted the previous year. The production shipped 60 tons of sediment from the location back to Hollywood for additional shooting, inadvertently transporting radioactive fallout. The $6 million budget made it one of the most expensive films of its time, with costs inflated by Hughes's exacting demands and extensive location work.

Release

*The Conqueror* was released theatrically in the United States by RKO Radio Pictures in February 1956. It was marketed as a grand CinemaScope adventure, emphasizing its large-scale battles and the star power of John Wayne. Following its poor critical and commercial reception, the film later gained notoriety through television broadcasts and became a staple of late-night television. The rights were retained by Howard Hughes, who, reportedly remorseful over the film's legacy and the subsequent health tragedies linked to its production, purchased all existing prints in the 1970s and kept it largely out of circulation for years before it re-emerged on home video and cable television.

Reception

Upon release, the film was met with overwhelmingly negative reviews from major publications like The New York Times and Variety, which ridiculed John Wayne's performance and the anachronistic dialogue. It was a significant box-office bomb, failing to recoup its enormous budget. The film later earned a reputation as one of the worst films ever made, cited by organizations like the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation. The tragic legacy of the production deepened in subsequent decades, as an alarming number of cast and crew, including Wayne, Hayward, Armendáriz, and Powell, developed cancer, leading to widespread speculation that their illnesses were caused by exposure to radiation during filming in Utah. This association has cemented the film's status as a notorious cautionary tale in film history.

Category:1956 films Category:American epic films Category:Films directed by Dick Powell Category:RKO Pictures films