The Conqueror (1956)

John Wayne passed away on June 11, 1979, at the age of 72. The cinema legend had a long history of battling cancer. Duke's death, along with the demise of over 40 others, has been attributed to their work on billionaire Howard Hughes’ 1956 RKO epic, THE CONQUEROR.

The filming of the movie took place in the rugged hills and desert areas surrounding St. George, Utah. It seemed like the perfect setting for the period piece: exotic, imposing, and desolate. However, the area had been the site of nearly 20 atomic blasts and recent nuclear tests. It was a time during the Cold War, paranoia, and fear of communism in the early 1950s. The Utah locations were contaminated by nuclear fallout, but the production team was reassured by the Atomic Energy Commission that it was safe to film there. Radioactivity was not deemed a problem, and thus filming commenced. In hindsight, this proved to be a deadly decision.

Wayne was arguably miscast as the Mongol leader, Genghis Khan. Future Oscar winner Susan Hayward, who played Khan’s love interest, and Pedro Armendariz were also top-billed alongside the Duke. Unfortunately for many involved in the 1956 project, THE CONQUEROR was to be branded as “An RKO Radioactive Picture.”

Of the stars and personnel who worked on THE CONQUEROR, nearly 100 developed some form of cancer. Forty-six died, including John Wayne, as well as cast members Hayward, Armendariz, Moorhead, John Hoyt, and director Dick Powell. This death toll does not account for potentially dozens more Navajos who were enlisted as extras to portray the horseback-riding Mongol hordes, all of whom died from cancer.

Duke’s son, Patrick Wayne, visited the set on location and recalls seeing Geiger counters and hearing the noise created by the proximity of the radioactive sands. Patrick joined A WORD ON WESTERNS host, Rob Word, to share his experiences and discuss how, years later, the John Wayne Cancer Foundation was established to raise awareness, fund research, and honor his father. Patrick also regales the AWOW audience with stories of bunking with, and pranking, his Dad, and how Duke's special Pontiac station wagon was created by designer George Barris, which is now on display in Fort Worth at The John Wayne Experience.

John Wayne’s death on June 11th at the age of 72 remains a subject of controversy. Was it really due to nuclear fallout contracted during the making of THE CONQUEROR? Some argue it was his lifelong smoking habit. I guess we may never know.

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