Temujin. The Conqueror
The Conqueror told an epic story, with a distinguished cast, including Susan Hayward and Agnes Moorehead, with John Wayne starring in the lead role. It was produced by Howard Hughes. It had all the ingredients for success, and it finished eleventh of all films released in 1956, in terms of dollars earned at the box office. Yet it is widely held to be one of the worst films of John Wayne’s career, and is often included in lists of the worst films of all time. Nearly all critical of the film agree that John Wayne was hopelessly miscast in the lead role, which he worked hard to obtain after reading the script, even offering to share some of the cost of production.
For those unaware, Temujin is better known today as Genghis Khan. In real life Temujin was married at 16 in an arranged marriage to Borte of the Onggirat tribe, intended to strengthen tribal relations. Borte was subsequently kidnapped by the Merkit tribe, given away as a wife, and later rescued by Temujin, with the support of allies. Borte remained Temujin’s wife for the rest of his life, though he eventually had about 500 other consorts. As Temujin rose in power and increased his authority over the gradually uniting Mongol tribes, he introduced a system of promotion based on merit, rather than of familial or tribal relationships. He also practiced fratricide.
Wayne’s Temujin kidnaps Bortai, she fails to be impressed by him, and she is rescued by the Tartars. Later Temujin is captured by the Tartars and while a prisoner she begins to be more impressed with him. After falling in love with him she helps him to escape and Temujin begins his ascent to becoming Genghis Khan. He does so portraying Temujin as a faithful husband to one woman, with a western accent from which lines such as “she is my destiny”. Wayne wears a Fu Manchu moustache and a Mongol hat which is more than a bit ridiculous. The film was made in the Utah desert and most of the extras were Navajo Indians. There are no Asians in the film, which is strange since it portrays Asian history.
The film is more famous for its links to cancer which afflicted many of the cast and crew. Of the 220 men and women which comprised the cast and crew 91 had developed some form of cancer by 1980. Since the filming was completed downwind of the Nevada nuclear test site, which was actively testing nuclear weapons during filming, some postulate that this statistically high rate of cancer was a result of the testing. Others argue that several of the victims of cancer, including director Dick Powell, John Wayne, and Agnes Moorehead were all heavy smokers. Wayne smoked several packs a day for most of his life. Susan Hayward, also a heavy smoker, likewise died of cancer.
Although Wayne did depict Temujin as a ruthless warrior, it is in a manner which is nearly laughable, and the real Temujin was anything but a figure of fun. Wayne disliked discussing the film in later years, and lamented that he had been hopelessly miscast. The film is essentially a western in the wrong costumes, and Wayne played his role with much of the same flourish and gesticulation which punctuated his western heroes. There is nothing historically accurate about The Conqueror nor John Wayne’s portrayal of the man who became Genghis Khan, one of the most brutal and genocidal rulers in Asian history.