A Reel 40: CONAN THE BARBARIAN

“What is best in life?”

 

This month marks the 40^th anniversary of John Milius’ CONAN THE BARBARIAN. 

 

Based on the writings of Robert E. Howard, and based on a screenplay by Milius and Oliver Stone, CONAN is an epic story of a barbarian (Arnold Schwarzenegger) who seeks vengeance for the death of his parents, who were killed by cult leader Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones). 

The film was put into production in the late 1970’s, when the success of STAR WARS (1977) had studios looking to capitalize on the new interest in heroic tales and adventures. After years of stops and starts, young filmmaker John Milius was chosen to helm the project. Milius was known in the film industry for his big-nuts, macho screenplays for DIRTY HARRY (1971), and MAGNUM FORCE (1973), and was a perfect fit for the tale of a muscle-bound warrior who settled everything with the might of his sword. 

Milius cast a young and virtual unknown (in cinema), bodybuilding star with the odd name of Schwarzenegger as the lead, who was eventually tutored on-set by James Earl Jones and co-star Max von Sydow. Arnold was joined by actress Sandahl Bergman, along with Gerry Lopez, Mako Iwamatsu, and Valerie Quennessen. The three main actors; Schwarzenegger, Bergman, and Lopez, underwent intense martial arts and sword fighting training prior to filming. Filming began in October of 1980 at England’s Shepperton Studios, and locations across Spain, and was completed the following May. Basil Poledouris provided the score. 

 

Despite mixed reviews, CONAN opened in first place at the box office in its opening weekend, and was a consistent earner to become a financial success. Sandahl Bergman was awarded a Golden Globe for New Star of the Year-Actress. Over the years, CONAN has become a pop culture icon and has earned placement on the American Film Institute’s 100 Years lists, including 100 Heroes and Villains, 100 Years of Film Scores, and Top 10 Fantasy Film. 

*

 

CONAN is often unfairly dismissed as a soul-less blood-and-guts flick. Although it does have plenty of bloodshed, its inspirations stretch back to classic films like KWAIDEN (1964) and SEVEN SAMURAI (1954). CONAN stuck with those themes and while it still kept true to the brutal slayings that the books were chock full of, it also had basic, human themes of spirituality, grand adventure, faith and love, and a little bit of sorcery thrown in for good measure. CONAN also employed some fantastic, sweeping cinematography; a gorgeous film that is not edited as much as it is composed; using the most-excellent music and towering, minimal dialogue to tell its story. It is a story of revenge that has inspired a generation of films from the Oscar-winning GLADIATOR (2000) to this year’s THE NORTHMAN, but at its heart is its message to truly find what is best for each one of our lives. 

 

“To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women…!”

**

The year of 1982 was a landmark for cinema. Read Reel Speak's recap of the year HERE