Conan the Destroyer

Conan the Destroyer
Conan the Destroyer
Directed by Richard Fleischer
Produced by Raffaella De Laurentiis
Screenplay by Stanley Mann
Story by Roy Thomas
Gerry Conway
Based on Characters by
Robert E. Howard
Narrated by Mako
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger
Grace Jones
Olivia d'Abo
Mako
Sarah Douglas
Wilt Chamberlin
Tracey Walter
Music by Basil Poledouris
Cinematography Jack Cardiff
Editing by Frank J. Urioste
Studio Dino De Laurentiis Company
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date(s) June 29, 1984 (1984-06-29)
Running time 101 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $18 million (est)[1]
Box office $31,042,035 (USA)

Conan the Destroyer is a 1984 American action fantasy film directed by Richard Fleischer, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mako returning to resume their roles as Conan and Akiro the wizard, respectively. The cast also includes Grace Jones, Wilt Chamberlain, Tracey Walter and Olivia d'Abo . It is the sequel to Conan the Barbarian. The film was moderately successful at the box office in the US, and very successful internationally, although critical response was not as strong as the original film.

Contents

Plot

While praying at an altar with his traveling companion and fellow thief Malak (Tracey Walter), Conan (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is confronted by Queen Taramis (Sarah Douglas) of Shadazar, who tests the pair in combat with several of her guards attempting to capture him. She tells him that she has a quest for him, which he initially refuses. The queen uses her power to learn his greatest desire, to resurrect his beloved Valeria, and promises to bring her back to him, to which Conan agrees to the quest. They learn that the queen's niece, Jehnna (Olivia d'Abo) has been destined, due to a special birthmark, to find a special jewel that only she can touch and with it obtain the jewelled horn of the dreaming god, Dagoth. She tasks Conan and Malak to protect her on this journey, while her captain of the guard, Bombaata (Wilt Chamberlain), is secretly asked to betray and kill Conan once the task is complete so they can sacrifice Jehnna to the god without interruption.

Due to the task of confronting a powerful wizard for the gem, Conan seeks the help of his friend, another wizard named Akiro (Mako) whom he saved from a tribe of cannibals that were about to eat him to absorb his magic power. Enroute they also meet Zula (Grace Jones), a powerful warrior and a bandit whom Jehnna and Conan save from being tortured by a group of villagers she and other bandits tried to raid, she joins the quest indebted to Conan for saving her life. They find their way to the wizard Toth-Amon's (Pat Roach) icy castle upon a lake. When they camp, however, the wizard transforms into a bird of smoke and takes Jehnna during the night. The travelers make their way into the castle and Conan is able to defeat the wizard, destroying the illusion and prompting a hasty escape from the castle. With the jewel now in hand they start to make their way to where the horn is hidden. Jehnna expresses interest in Conan, but he drunkenly rejects her for Valeria. They make their way to an ancient temple, and using the power of the jewel Jehnna is able to find and obtain the horn. Guardians of the horn attack the group and they manage to slip out a back entrance. Bombaata, having failed previously to kill Conan instead blocks their exit and takes Jehnna. After the others escape they make their way back to Shadizar and find their way inside due to a secret route Malak's "brother's sister's cousin" used to previously escape captivity. They confront Bombaata and Conan beats him in combat, killing him. Meanwhile, Jehnna is prepared to be sacrificed and the horn is placed upon the head of the Dagoth statue. Upon its first signs of life, they attempt to sacrifice Jehnna, but Zula intervenes and kills the Grand Vizier (Jeff Corey) first. Having received an improper sacrifice, the statue becomes angry and begins to twist and distort into the demonic of version Dagoth (André the Giant). Queen Taramis is killed and Conan battles the Dagoth, eventually killing it by removing the horn from its head.

After the battle, the newly crowned queen Jehnna offers each of her companions a place in her new court. Zula becomes the new captain of the guard, because Jehnna does not see any reason why a woman can't do as good a job as any man. Akiro becomes her new wiseman and advisor, and Malak steps forward and nearly trips, qualifying him for the position of court fool. She offers Conan her hand and the opportunity to rule the kingdom together, which he declines; having been promised a kingdom already, and departs on his own for further adventures and to find his own place in the world.

Cast

Actor Role Class Description Weapon of Choice
Arnold Schwarzenegger Conan Warrior Warrior who mourns the death of his lover Valeria from the first film, and is promised her resurrection in exchange for obtaining the magical horn. Atlantean Sword, Battle-Axe & Daggers
Grace Jones Zula Warrior/Thief A thief/raider rescued by Conan, who joins his brigade. Zula later becomes the Captain of the Guard in Shadizar, replacing Bombaata. Despite being a fierce warrior, she is afraid of rats. Sharpened Stick/Spear (aka "Toothpick"). She later receives a real spear when promoted.
Wilt Chamberlain Bombaata Warrior Captain of the Guard in Shadizar, he is sent by Queen Taramis to check up on Conan's progress in the mission and later to betray him. In the end of the film he would be killed by Conan and Zula would replace him as Captain of the Guard. Mace with modified spike, Axe, Sword and Bolas
Olivia d'Abo Princess Jehnna (later Queen) Princess Virginal princess who is used to obtain the magical horn which can resurrect the evil god Dagoth. None, but she is the only one capable of retrieving the magical horn from its holding place.
Mako Akiro Wizard Wizard friend of Conan and chronicler of his adventures who narrated the previous film as well as this film. Later accepts position as Chief Wizard of Shadizar when Queen Taramis' own personal wizard is impaled by Zula's spear. Sorcery
Tracey Walter Malak Thief Bumbling thief who rides with Conan. Later accepts position as Court Jester of Shadizar. Despite being a bumbling idiot, he has shown decent proficiency wielding and throwing small daggers. Daggers
Pat Roach Thoth-Amon Wizard Wizard who is the proprietor of the diamond jewel needed to enter the palace of the magical horn. Sorcery and Mirrors
Sarah Douglas Queen Taramis Queen Evil Queen of Shadizar who plans to resurrect Dagoth, the Dreaming God, of whom she herself is a follower. She is also the aunt of Princess Jehnna. Dagger (it should also be noted that Taramis is capable of limited sorcery as well)
Jeff Corey Grand Vizier Wizard Queen Taramis' personal Wizard Sorcery, and Dagger
Sven-Ole Thorsen Togra Warrior Queen's Guard who tries to kidnap the princess, before he battles Conan who kills him Sword
Andre "The Giant" Roussimouff Dagoth Deity/Beast "The Dreaming God", the evil entity that would supposedly bring darkness upon the world when summoned Magical Horn

Production

Toning down the violence

When John Milius, director of Conan the Barbarian, proved to be unavailable to direct the sequel, Dino De Laurentiis suggested Richard Fleischer to his daughter Raffaella De Laurentiis, who was producing Conan the Destroyer. Fleischer had already made Barabbas (1961) and Mandingo (1975) for Dino De Laurentiis.

Conan the Barbarian made approximately $40 million at the U.S. box office when it was released in 1982 with an R rating, and an additional $50 million in foreign markets. Because Universal Pictures and producer Dino De Laurentiis thought it would have been even more successful if it had been less violent, they wanted to tone down the violence in the sequel. Conan the Destroyer originally received an R rating like its predecessor, but the film was recut in order to secure a PG rating. Fleischer delivered a movie that was less violent and somewhat more humorous than the first, although some scenes of violence have bloody results.

Casting

Arnold Schwarzenegger put on an extra 5 kilograms (10 pounds), at director Richard Fleischer's request, to play Conan in this film. Singer Grace Jones gave a noteworthy performance as the female warrior Zula, the last of her tribe. This would be the first major role for seven-foot, one-inch-tall basketball player Wilt Chamberlain. It would be 15-year-old (at time of release) Olivia d'Abo's first screen appearance, playing the petulant teenage princess. Tracey Walter played the opportunistic and foolish thief Malak. David L. Lander was originally cast to play Malak, but due to Lander's deteriorating health from the onset of multiple sclerosis, Lander was forced to quit the project, and the part was recast with Walter. Sven-Ole Thorsen, who played Thorgrim in the first film, also returned, but this time he had to partially cover his face with a mask, as he was playing a different (yet more bearded) character. André the Giant played Dagoth but was not credited in the film, as he was in costume.

Photography

Conan the Destroyer was the fourth film on which British director of photography Jack Cardiff worked with Fleischer. Cardiff had already photographed The Vikings (1958), Crossed Swords (1978), and Amityville 3-D (1983) for the director. They would work together twice more on Million Dollar Mystery (1987), and Fleischer’s last film, the short Call from Space (1989), which was shot in the 65mm Showscan process. Cardiff’s other notable films include John Huston’s The African Queen (1951), King Vidor’s War and Peace (1956), and Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985). However, he is best known for his extraordinary Technicolor photography on three films directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger in the forties — A Matter of Life and Death (1946), Black Narcissus (1947, for which Cardiff won an Oscar), and The Red Shoes (1948).

Locations

Conan the Destroyer was filmed in a number of locations in Mexico — including Pachuca, the extinct volcano Nevado de Toluca, and the Samalayuca Dunes (near El Paso) — as well as in the Churubusco Studios (also in Mexico). Carlo Rambaldi created the Dagoth monster.

Misc.

In the film, a camel is knocked to the ground and, after struggling to get back up, its hind legs are drawn forward with wires so that it is forced to sit down before falling to the ground. This sequence is cut from the UK version, as is a double horse-fall in the opening battle. There are a number of deleted scenes from the movie confirmed by actress Sarah Douglas including; Conan and Queen Taramis love scene, Taramis slaps Bombatta, extended battle scene between Conan and the Man-ape, and more graphic action scenes.

Reception

Conan the Destroyer received mixed to negative reviews by critics. Despite some negative reviews, the film was a box-office success, grossing a respectable $31 million in the U.S., and internationally it grossed an additional $69 million upon its 1984 release. This success led Schwarzenegger, Fleischer, and De Laurentiis to team up again to make Red Sonja a year later; however, Red Sonja would be a critical and commercial disappointment.

Writers Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway, who wrote the original story treatment for this movie, were not satisfied with the final screenplay by Stanley Mann and the finished film, so they made their story into the graphic novel Conan: The Horn of Azoth, published in 1990, with art by Mike Docherty. The names of the characters were changed to untie the graphic novel from the movie: Dagoth became Azoth, Jehnna became Natari, Zula became Shumballa, Bombaata became Strabo, Toth-Amon became Rammon, and the characters of Queen Taramis and The Leader were combined into sorcerer Karanthes, father of Natari.

A novelization of the film was also written by Robert Jordan in 1984.

Conan the Conqueror

The third film in the Conan trilogy was planned for 1987 to be titled Conan the Conqueror. The director was to be either Guy Hamilton or John Guillermin. However Arnold Schwarzenegger was committed to the film Predator and De Laurentiis's contract with the star had expired after his obligation to Red Sonja and Raw Deal and he wasn't keen to negotiate a new one. The third Conan movie thus sank into development hell. The script was eventually turned into Kull the Conqueror.

In popular culture

Kim Wayans' spoof portrayals of Grace Jones on the show In Living Color are based on Grace's performance of Zula in this film.

References

External links


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