The Conqueror
August 14th 2010 06:26
Original Creative Writing:
Howard Hughes
All hail Sylvia Lewis, Solo Dancer and Barrie Chase, Dancer in Wang's Palace (uncredited), for it is their dancing and the other astonishing musical moments that really pop out for me in this quite odd but strangely cool movie from 1956
The Conqueror starring John Wayne, Susan Hayward, Agnes Moorehead.
Directed by Dick Powell.
Produced by Dick Powell and Howard Hughes.
Music by Victor Young
Victor Young began as a classical composer and concert violinist but moved into the popular music sphere when he joined Isham Jones' orchestra. He studied the piano with Isidor Philipp of the Paris Conservatory. In the mid-1930s he moved to Hollywood where he concentrated on films, recordings of light music and providing backing for popular singers, including Bing Crosby.
His composer credits include "When I Fall in Love," "Blue Star (The 'Medic' Theme)," "Moonlight Serenade (Summer Love)" from the motion picture The Star (1952), "Sweet Sue," "Can't We Talk It Over," "Street of Dreams," "Love Letters," "Around the World," "My Foolish Heart," "Golden Earrings," "Stella by Starlight", and "I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You."
Cinematography Joseph LaShelle
Editing by Stuart Gilmore
Distributed by RKO Radio Pictures
Release date(s) March 28, 1956 [/SIZE]Running time 111 min.
Country United States
Language English
Budget 6,000,000
Written by Oscar Millard it's not exactly a classic. There are some stories that go with the film if you want to look deeper.
Temujin must do battle against the rival tribe that killed his father. Indeed some scenes come over pretty stilted and unpliable with John Wayne delivering the role of Temujin and Bortai the ranga Tartar prisoner whom Temujin has captured in a raid played by a scenery chewing Susan Hayward.
Few screen actors share the compelling ability Susan Hayward has of saying so very much, with no more than basic attitude and body language. Her little dance number is worth the ticket price alone.
In ancient times, the Mongolian warlord I picked this odd little film up on DVD at JBHiFi and it cost less than ten dollars. I have watched it a few times for the film itself. It is a grand epic. Obviously no expense was spared. It is an unfortunate cast, but not only because of Wayne.
Some cast members here were exposed to radiation, so the story goes, and eventually died of cancer.
Hayward truly is a knockout in this role, today I would like to see Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in the making of story. I would like to cast Stockard Channing to in the mother role, meaning she would play Agnes Moorehead not eliminating Shirley MacLaine, who has done such an admirable toast to [LINK=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001547/]Agnes in the bewildering Bewitched remake directed by Nora Ephron in 2005.
The Conqueror (1956)
In ancient times, the Mongolian warlord Temujin must do battle against the rival tribe that killed his father. The battles pale in comparison with Temujin's home life, as he attempts to woo the heart of the red-haired Tartar prisoner Bortai whom he has captured in a raid. He must also deal with various intrigues within his palace. Eventually, Bortai falls to his manly charms,
Temujin defeats his enemies within and without, and is crowned Genghis Khan.
Steve Crow
The Conqueror starring John Wayne, Susan Hayward, Agnes Moorehead.
Directed by Dick Powell.
Produced by Dick Powell and Howard Hughes.
Music by Victor Young
Victor Young began as a classical composer and concert violinist but moved into the popular music sphere when he joined Isham Jones' orchestra. He studied the piano with Isidor Philipp of the Paris Conservatory. In the mid-1930s he moved to Hollywood where he concentrated on films, recordings of light music and providing backing for popular singers, including Bing Crosby.
His composer credits include "When I Fall in Love," "Blue Star (The 'Medic' Theme)," "Moonlight Serenade (Summer Love)" from the motion picture The Star (1952), "Sweet Sue," "Can't We Talk It Over," "Street of Dreams," "Love Letters," "Around the World," "My Foolish Heart," "Golden Earrings," "Stella by Starlight", and "I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You."
Cinematography Joseph LaShelle
Editing by Stuart Gilmore
Distributed by RKO Radio Pictures
Release date(s) March 28, 1956 [/SIZE]Running time 111 min.
Country United States
Language English
Budget 6,000,000
Written by Oscar Millard it's not exactly a classic. There are some stories that go with the film if you want to look deeper.
Few screen actors share the compelling ability Susan Hayward has of saying so very much, with no more than basic attitude and body language. Her little dance number is worth the ticket price alone.
The Conqueror is a 1956 CinemaScope epic film produced by Howard Hughes and starring John Wayne as the Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan. Other performers included Susan Hayward, Agnes Moorehead, and Pedro Armendariz.
The picture was directed by actor/director Dick Powell. The film was principally shot near St. George, Utah.
The picture was a critical and commercial failure (often ranked as one of the worst films of the 1950s) which is remarkable given the stature of the cast. Wayne, who was at the height of his career, had lobbied for the role after seeing the script and was widely believed to have been grossly miscast. (He was so "honoured" by The Golden Turkey Awards.)
Reportedly, Howard Hughes felt guilty about his decisions regarding the film's production (see Cancer controversy below) and kept the film from view until 1974 when it was first broadcast on TV. The Conqueror, along with Ice Station Zebra, is said to be one of the films Hughes watched endlessly during his last years.
wikipedia.org
The picture was directed by actor/director Dick Powell. The film was principally shot near St. George, Utah.
The picture was a critical and commercial failure (often ranked as one of the worst films of the 1950s) which is remarkable given the stature of the cast. Wayne, who was at the height of his career, had lobbied for the role after seeing the script and was widely believed to have been grossly miscast. (He was so "honoured" by The Golden Turkey Awards.)
Reportedly, Howard Hughes felt guilty about his decisions regarding the film's production (see Cancer controversy below) and kept the film from view until 1974 when it was first broadcast on TV. The Conqueror, along with Ice Station Zebra, is said to be one of the films Hughes watched endlessly during his last years.
wikipedia.org
Some cast members here were exposed to radiation, so the story goes, and eventually died of cancer.
Hayward truly is a knockout in this role, today I would like to see Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in the making of story. I would like to cast Stockard Channing to in the mother role, meaning she would play Agnes Moorehead not eliminating Shirley MacLaine, who has done such an admirable toast to [LINK=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001547/]Agnes in the bewildering Bewitched remake directed by Nora Ephron in 2005.
The Conqueror (1956)
In ancient times, the Mongolian warlord Temujin must do battle against the rival tribe that killed his father. The battles pale in comparison with Temujin's home life, as he attempts to woo the heart of the red-haired Tartar prisoner Bortai whom he has captured in a raid. He must also deal with various intrigues within his palace. Eventually, Bortai falls to his manly charms,
Temujin defeats his enemies within and without, and is crowned Genghis Khan.
Steve Crow
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David Jobling
