-Written by Kyle Bain.
In June of 1954, Howard Hughes began production on what he believed would be his greatest cinematic achievement: The Conqueror. Just three years prior, the United States government began nuclear testing in Nevada. With the fallout of those tests, the desert in Utah where The Conqueror was filmed was a hotbed for radioactivity. The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout dives deep into the connection between the nuclear testing site and the filming locations of The Conqueror, and how the U.S. government may have killed the beloved John Wayne.
About a year and a half ago a film called Downwind was brought to my attention. I watched it and thought that it was an interesting representation of how nuclear testing affected many American residents (particularly out west). I even had the amazing opportunity to sit down with members of the film’s crew to discuss the process of bringing this film to life, as well as why they felt it was so important to shed light on this story. The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout plays a similar role in the world of cinema as Downwind does, as it attempts to express the horrific things that have come as a result of these testings.
I have no choice but to compare these two films, as the content is so similar. What I remember Downwind doing so well was using the prowess of figures like Lewis Black and Martin Sheen to help tell the story. The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout, however, creates a different connection–one that feels a bit more human. While The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout is far more straightforward, not working too hard to create wonderful spectacles, it develops a human connection early and often. We hear from individuals that lived in the St. George area of Utah, that have very literally felt the effects of the testings throughout the course of their lives. There’s something to be said about leaving celebrities out of The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout, because as important as they can be in getting a message across, their sometimes larger-than-life presence can steal from the other figures in the film. The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout finds a brilliant balance in this regard.
Patrick Wayne (son of John Wayne) appears early and often throughout The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout, but his contribution to the film is often framed by the others that we’ve never heard of. I was able to relate better to those individuals compared to millionaires and celebrities. Neither approach is flawed really–but I particularly liked the fact that “normal” people like me were effectively the center of attention in The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout.
The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout is a straightforward documentary with few frills, but it does sometimes use storyboards and narration to help propel the story. I found this to be a nice touch, a way to develop a connection between the viewer and Hughes, Wayne, and The Conqueror. Again, these things can sometimes be seen as larger than life, even intimidating–creating something simple like a storyboard that appears on screen and helps to pull us into the stories of the 1950’s is a masterful move–working effectively each of the handful of times that it’s used.
The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout is a bit too long at almost two hours, and having semi-recently seen another documentary with very similar information, it was sometimes challenging to remain focused. However, The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout is very well put together, and well paced considering its length. This film provides a clear and thorough explanation of nuclear testing, The Conqueror, and how the two connect.
Written & Directed by William Nunez.
Starring Tim Barker, Patrick Wayne, Barrie Chase, Sylvia Lewis, Norman Powell, Mark Sennet, Michael Medved, etc.
7.5/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING
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