by Sam Moffie
Miss Burchett: Became one of those types of secretaries who know more about the business she works for than the boss who owns it. Efficient, bright and competent, Miss Burchett followed Dick Powell when Powell formed his own production company. Never marrying but always playing around with younger men, she was an original cougar, long before that term ever became part of popular culture.
Randy Komara: With a very successful internship under his belt, Randy returned to Wittenberg University for his senior year. There, with the help of his fraternity brothers from Beta Theta Pi, Randy introduced the art of ‘traying’ in the world-famous Hollow on Wittenberg’s campus. Randy got the idea of ‘traying’ after Dick Powell explained how sand skiing had become so popular while they filmed The Conqueror in Southern Utah. Randy and his fraternity brothers conjured up their version by waiting for the snow to fall and then using trays pilfered from the school’s cafeteria to sit on and slide down the vast Hollow’s banks. It was a huge success. After graduating from Wittenberg, Randy returned to Hollywood where he excelled in all aspects of movie making. He married five times and produced eleven children from the marriages. Randy was rumored to have been the inspiration for the main character in Blake Edward’s satire on Hollywood titled S.O.B.
Oscar Millard: Despite the seduction by Hughes and the smooth talk from Dick Powell, Oscar remained bitter about Wayne being cast as Genghis Khan. He had a very successful career writing in the fledging TV business. Wrote many a script for 4 Star Playhouse, 20th Century Fox Hour, Studio 57, Markham, Kraft Mystery Theatre, Alfred Hitchcock Presents and many others. In one of his non-movie or TV writings, he penned an essay on Hollywood in 1985. Many a screenwriter loved this tid-bit that Oscar wrote. “The equating of swimming pools and sunshine with moral and critic rot, and the notion that Hollywood writers work languidly besides their pools are, if you will pardon the Britishism, bloody rot.” Died at the age of 82 in California of natural causes.
The Conqueror: Most reviewers trashed the film and Wayne’s performance. Time Magazine’s critic said “…Wayne portrays the great conqueror as a sort of cross between a square-shootin’ sheriff and a Mongolian idiot…” However it did boffo at the box office and brought in $12 million in worldwide sales. The all-important “ROI” was far more important in the movie-making business than what any critic thought and wrote.
THE ACTORS:
Lee Van Cleef: His appearance in The Conqueror was standard fare for Van Cleef throughout the 1950’s in the film business. He did nothing but supporting roles — mostly as the villain in westerns and film noir. Then, like many actors in the 50’s, he made the successful transition from the big screen to the small screen while waiting for more movie roles to be offered. In 1958 he was involved in a very serious car accident that no one thought he would live through, let alone be able to act again. It took him a few years to recover physically and to be offered roles. His first big breakthrough after the accident was a role as the villainous henchman working for Lee Marvin in the western The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, which starred John Wayne. Roles trickled in and he took up painting to keep himself busy until he was offered a starring role in what has come to be known as Spaghetti Westerns of the 1960’s and 1970’s. His most famous role was as Angel Eyes in the Sergio Leone blockbuster The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly starring Clint Eastwood. He died of a heart attack at the age of 69 in 1994.
William Conrad: The big, booming voice of William Conrad was known to millions of baby-boomers as the narrator of the cartoon Rocky and Bullwinkle. Voice acting was nothing new to Conrad. He had been the voice of Marshall Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke, which started in 1952. After The Conqueror, he continued to act in movies. But his bread and butter became his voice, and he made the total transition from Hollywood and radio to TV. First he was the narrator of the very popular The Fugitive TV show, and then he acted, produced and directed three TV shows for Warner Brothers: Cannon, Nero Wolfe, and Jake and the Fatman. He died in 1994 of congestive heart failure.
A sidebar story on Conrad is that he was given one of the Maltese falcons from the movie of the same name. It was in his bookcase for years. After he died, his wife auctioned it off, thinking she would get $10,000. She was wrong — she landed $398,500!
Ted de Corsia: Like William Conrad, de Corsia had success in radio and made the transition to TV. His radio credits were The March of Time, The Shadow, and Mike Hammer. He appeared in many TV shows throughout the 50’s and 60’s and was always cast as the villain — even in the comedy shows I Dream of Jeannie and Get Smart. Died in 1973 of a heart attack; his body was donated to medical science.
Leo Gordon: Leo Gordon followed a very different path to the acting business. After being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army he turned to crime and was sent to prison, having being convicted of armed robbery. However, after his release, he used the GI Bill to study acting. After The Conqueror, Leo made more than 150 film and television appearances — mostly as the heavy. He also penned more than 50 scripts for each of the TV shows Bonanza and Cheyenne. He wrote the screenplay for the movie Tobruk and also wrote a well-received novel titled Powderkeg. He died in 2000 of an undisclosed illness.
Pedro Armendáriz: One of the first from the movie The Conqueror to die from cancer. Very popular Mexican actor who appeared in other movies with John Wayne. After The Conqueror, his most famous role was in the James Bond film From Russia with Love (his last role). (Ironically, in 1989 his son Pedro Armendáriz, Jr. would appear in the James Bond film License to Kill.) In the early 60’s he started experiencing severe pain in his hips. When he went for a complete check-up at the UCLA medical school he was told he had terminal cancer. He committed suicide by shooting a bullet through his heart in 1963.
Thomas Gomez: Worked sparingly in films after The Conqueror. The main reason for this is that because of his Latin heritage, he refused to take any roles that portrayed Latinos in a bad light. Moved on to minor roles in TV and worked steadily in the theater — especially off-off Broadway. Died in 1971 from injuries suffered in a car accident.
John Hoyt: After appearing in The Conqueror, Hoyt went on to work in many TV shows. His most notable role was on Hogan’s Heroes. He also was the voice for the Midas Muffler Commercials. Only decent film role after The Conqueror was in Spartacus. Was one of the last cast members to die from cancer, in 1991.
Peter Mamakos: Appeared in some big-time movies after The Conqueror, including The Searchers (with John Wayne), The Ten Commandments and The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. Like many of the other male character actors from The Conqueror, he fared well on TV in such series as The Untouchables, Wagon Train, Rawhide, The Red Skelton Show and Fantasy Island. He was rumored to have died from cancer in 2008.
Richard Loo: Much more popular before filming of The Conqueror because of his Asian ancestry, which had allowed him to act in many WWII war movies as the vicious Japanese solider. His career died way down after the late 50’s. Except for stock roles and minor TV appearances he didn’t do much. Like a few others from the cast he too appeared in a James Bond movie, The Man with the Golden Gun. His wife was extremely successful as an agent in Hollywood and one of his daughters was very successful in the world of publishing. Died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1982.
Fred Aldrich: Stayed busy playing very minor roles in many pictures. Like the others — fared well on TV — especially on many episodes of I Love Lucy. Rumored to have died from cancer in 1979.
Phil Arnold: Better known for his roles with The Three Stooges, Phil died of a heart attack in 1968 after doing many roles in TV and commercials.
Gregg Barton: Very active in numerous TV series after the filming of The Conqueror. My Friend Flicka, The Lone Ranger and the Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok were some of the series he worked on. Rumored to have died from cancer in 2000.
Lane Bradford: The Conqueror was one of the few ‘A’ films that Lane appeared in. After the filming, he returned to his genre of choice where he excelled as a heavy in ‘B’ movies — mostly westerns
. Died in 1973 of a heart attack.
Larry Chance: Appeared in The Ten Commandments and went on to a solid career in TV. Rumored to have died from cancer sometime in the 1970’s.
John Daheim: Kept very busy with small roles in movies such as Jailhouse Rock, Von Ryan’s Express, Shenandoah and Silver Streak. Diversity with TV roles from Gunsmoke to The Beverly Hillbillies. Rumored to have died from cancer in 1991.
John George: A dwarf, he played a drummer boy in The Conqueror. The bulk of his career was over by the time of the filming. He had many appearances in a lot of films (mostly horror) during the 1930’s. Roles dried up in the 50’s and 60’s, and he died of cancer in 1968.
Leslie Bradley: After The Conqueror Les went into TV where he played various minor roles. His movie credits include Symbol Maker and Attack of the Crab People. Rumored to have died from cancer in 1971.
Fred Graham: Did very well as an actor in B-movie westerns both as an actor and stuntman. Most famous role after The Conqueror was in the movie Vertigo where, in the beginning scene, he and James Stewart are chasing a criminal over the rooftops and Graham’s character falls to his death. Rumored to have died from cancer in 1979.
Michael Granger: Lots of small TV roles after The Conqueror. Rumored to have died from cancer in 1973.
Robert Hinkle: Had a very successful career in everything he did after the making of The Conqueror (not that anything he did prior to the movie wasn’t successful). In 1961 he wrote, directed and produced a movie titled Old Rex. Right after that he worked on the movie Hud and was credited with helping Paul Newman, Patricia Neal and Melvin Douglas become “Texans.” He signed Glen Campbell, discovered Evel Kneivel. Did great in real estate, opened up two very successful restaurants and still found time to become a licensed pilot. His autobiography came out a few years back titled Call me Lucky — a Texan in Hollywood. He is still living.
David Hoffman: Often went unbilled as an actor in the many small weasel-like roles he played. Hoffman’s date of death and cause is unknown.
Paul Hoffman: Made one movie after The Conqueror and that was the last seen of him in Hollywood. Hoffman’s cause of death is unknown.
Charles Horvath: Was very active in movies as an actor and stuntman after The Conqueror. Some of his better-known movies included Around the World in 80 Days and Elmer Gantry. Made the successful leap to TV and starred in Dick Powell Theatre and The Twilight Zone. Rumored to have died from cancer in 1978.
Weaver Levy: Due to his Asian ancestry, he was very active in TV roles. Best known film was M*A*S*H in 1970. Cause of death is unknown.
Torben Meyer: Longtime European character actor who appeared in The Fly, GI Blues and Judgment at Nuremberg after The Conqueror. Died in 1975 of pneumonia.
Norman S. Powell: Dick Powell’s adopted son. Had a very small role in the film and wasn’t on location that much. Went on to work with his father as a production manager for Dick Powell Theatre and also produced TV shows into the early 90’s. Still living.
Ray Spiker: Didn’t act or do many more stunts after The Conqueror. Did appear in The Birdman of Alcatraz and The Manchurian Candidate. Rumored to have died from cancer in 1962.
George E. Stone: After The Conqueror he made many appearances in minor roles on the Perry Mason TV series. Most memorable movie role was as Toothpick Charlie in Some Like it Hot. Died from a stroke in 1967.
Ken Terrell: Career came to a virtual standstill after The Conqueror, although he did appear in The Buccaneer. Died in 1962 of arteriosclerosis. This was a problem directly related to the thyroid gland. (Remember that nuclear fallout studies done during the bombings, made upwind of the filming, warned of the thyroid gland being most vulnerable).
Carl Vernell: Disappeared from the Hollywood scene after the filming. Rumored to have died from cancer in 1969.
Michael Wayne: Oldest child of John Wayne. Had a minor role as a Mongol guard in The Conqueror. Soon became a front-line producer at his father’s production company and proved himself to be a very able Hollywood businessman. Founder of The John Wayne Cancer Institute. Died in 2003 of heart failure from complications of Lupus.
Patrick Wayne: Second son of John Wayne. His role in The Conqueror was even smaller than that of his older brother. Appeared in nine films starring his father, including The Alamo and Big Jake. Other films he starred in (without his father) included Cheyenne Autumn and Eye for an Eye. Had his own TV series called The Rounder’s that ran for a season. Made a nice niche in the sci-fi genre with the well-received Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger. Took over as Chairman of the Board for The John Wayne Cancer Institute upon his brother Michael’s death. Patrick is still living and very active in various enterprises.
John Wayne: What can any epilogue add to the legacy of this man, which hasn’t already been written, said or thought? Okay, here goes. The Duke was operated on for lung cancer in 1964 (he lost one lung and four ribs to that operation). He died of stomach cancer in 1979. Thirty-two years after his death, he still pops up on favorite movie star lists. Can anyone think of a movie star born since 1979 who will be doing that 32 years after their death? He turned down the role of the Waco Kid in Mel Brook’s Blazing Saddles. His tombstone reads: “Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes to us at midnight very clean. It’s perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes that we have learned something from yesterday.”
THE ACTRESSES:
Agnes Moorehead: After The Conqueror Agnes moved to TV where she appeared in more than 946 episodes of the CBS series Suspense. She also appeared in a very popular episode of The Twilight Zone. Baby Boomers remember her mostly for her role as Endora from the TV series Bewitched. She had a memorable role in the movie Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte. She died in 1973 from cancer.
Barrie Chase: Daughter of screenwriter Borden Chase. Was in the chorus line of The Conqueror when Dick Powell recognized her talent and cast her in a role in his next movie You Can’t Run Away From It. None other than Fred Astaire asked her to be his dancing partner for his many TV specials, and millions saw her dance with him. Went on to be in the movies Can-Can, Cape Fear and The Flight of the Phoenix. Most movie goers consider her role as Dick Shawn’s sexy dancing partner in It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, World her most prominent. She is still alive.
Jeanne Gerson: Except for a role in The Ten Commandments, after The Conqueror Jeanne appeared in movies most people don’t know or don’t WANT to know of. She appeared in She Girls of Shark Reef and actually made a movie written by the man considered the worst movie maker of all time — Ed Wood, Jr. — titled The Bride of the Beast. Not many people in Hollywood can say they worked for Cecil B. DeMille and Ed Wood, Jr.! She died in 1992 from cancer.
Pat Lawler: Posed nude in Playboy magazine after the filming of The Conqueror but before the movie was released. Her trail ends there, except for a minor role in the movie Saucer Women.
Jarma Lewis: After The Conqueror, Jarma only appeared in one other movie, Raintree County. She became very active in creative writing with the UCLA Arts Council. Rumored to have died from cancer in 1985.
Sylvia Lewis: After The Conqueror, she performed many more memorable dances on film, including in the Jerry Lewis production of The Ladies Man. Sylvia is the mysterious woman in black who dances with Lewis on an all-white set. This is now available on YouTube along with her dance from The Conqueror. Sylvia did a lot of TV. She appeared on The Bob Cummings Show, Steve Canyon, Zorro and The Dick Van Dyke Show to name a few. She spent four years in theatre and then graduated to not only teaching dance but choreographing lots of TV shows — both Married with Children and Who’s the Boss? are on her resume. She has her own website, www.sylvialewis.net. During a recent conversation, Sylvia brought up one excellent question. “What happened to the 60 tons of radioactive sand that Hughes had brought into Hollywood?” Only the ghosts of RKO studios know.
Pat McMahon: A dead end after the filming of The Conqueror.
Patricia Tiernan: After The Conqueror she had a role in Wal
k on the Wild Side. Later she married Wally Cox. She is still alive.
Susan Hayward: In 1958 she won her only Academy Award (it should have been her second because a lot of critics think she should have won earlier for her role in I’ll Cry Tomorrow) for her role in I Want to Live! She moved to Georgia after marrying her second husband — Eaton Chalkey. She died in 1975 from brain cancer.
THE CREW:
Richard Sokolove: Was an associate producer on The Conqueror. His only item of note after the filming was adapting the screenplay for Anne of a Thousand Days for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. Rumored to have died from cancer in 1975.
Victor Young: Original music. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage right after The Conqueror was released in 1956. His work for Around the World in 80 Days won an Academy Award, and it was awarded to him posthumously.
Joseph LaShelle: Nine Academy Award nominations for his work as a cinematographer, Joseph did win once for the film Laura. After The Conqueror his notable films included I was a Teenage Werewolf and The Fortune Cookie. Rumored to have died from cancer in 1989.
William E. Snyder: William was also nominated for an Academy Award for his cinematography in Jolson Sings Again. After The Conqueror he went to TV where he did the photography on a lot of Disney features. His most famous photography for TV was the pilot episode for Star Trek. Rumored to have died from cancer in 1984.