Hollywood Tragedy: "The Conqueror"

In 1954, hundreds of cast and crew members traveled to the deserts of southern Utah to make what was supposed to be Hollywood's next epic adventure movie: The Conqueror. The film starred John Wayne as Genghis Khan and was backed by eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes. What was meant to become the next blockbuster ended up becoming one of the deadliest movies ever made, all thanks to a nuclear testing site just a few dozens miles from the set.

 

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Episode Sources:

“A John Wayne flop has been linked to high cancer rates. A new documentary aims to tell the community’s story.” by Zack Budryk, June 30, 2024, The Hill

“The Production and Legacy of The Conqueror (1956)” by Paige Stringham, Brigham Young University, March 14, 2018, modified April 17, 2026, Intermountain Histories

“Hollywood and the downwinders still grapple with nuclear fallout” by Rory Carroll, June 6, 2015, The Guardian

“RISKY BUSINESS: The Conqueror” by Brian Smolensky, Epitome Risk, ProductionHUB

“The Conqueror – the Movie that Killed actor John Wayne” by Paul Andrews, Lost in History

“John Wayne Biography” by Biography.com Editors, Published April 3, 2014, Updated September 15, 2022

“Nevada Test Site” from the Atomic Heritage Foundation

“Our History” from Nevada National Security Sites

“Radiation Death and Deception” by Thomas G. Alexander from “Utah, The Right Place,” History To Go

“Impacts of Radiation from Aboveground Nuclear Tests on Southern Utah” from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality

“The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout on IMDb

“The Conqueror” on IMDb

 

Creeptastic theme music by:

Nicholas Davio - nicholasdavio.com, @mr.nick.davio, @huron_coast

 

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