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Killing John Wayne: The Making of the Conqueror
Behold the history of a film so scandalous, so outrageous, so explosive it disappeared from print for over a quarter century! A film so dangerous, half its cast and crew met their demise bringing eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes’ final cinematic vision to life! Starring All-American legend John Wayne in full Fu Manchu make-up as Mongol madman Genghis Khan! Featuring sultry seductress Susan Hayward as his lover! This is the true story of The Conqueror (1956), the worst movie ever made. Filmed during the dark underbelly of the 1950s—the Cold War—when nuclear testing in desolate southwestern landscapes was a must for survival, the very same landscapes were where exotic stories set in faraway lands could be made. Just 153 miles from the St. George, Utah, set, nuclear bombs were detonated regularly at Yucca Flat and Frenchman Flat in Nevada, providing a bizarre and possibly deadly background to an already surreal moment in cinema history. This book tells the full story of the making of The Conqueror, its ignominious aftermath, and the radiation induced cancer that may have killed John Wayne and many others.
264 pages, Hardcover
Published October 1, 2021
2 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Ryan Uytdewilligen
10 books20 followersBorn in Lethbridge, Alberta and raised on the family farm outside the town of Coaldale, Uytdewilligen studied Communication Arts with a major in Broadcast Journalism at Lethbridge College – leading to work as a radio news anchor, television reporter, and copywriter.
He later studied Writing for Film and Television at Vancouver Film School where he wrote and produced the short films Tea Time and Even the Devil Swiped Right.
His first novel, Tractor, was published in 2016 by Sartoris Literary. Taking inspiration from Jack Kerouac and Larry McMurtry novels, the story follows a teenager in the early 1960s drive a tractor across the American south.
Uytdewilligen’s second novel, Akela, was published in 2019 by BHC Press – earning numerous accolades including a nomination for the Pushcart Prize. It followed the century-spanning life of an adventurous sea turtle that becomes entangled in historical events as he searches for his long lost love.
He is also the author of numerous non-fiction works including the film history book 101 Most Influential Coming of Age Movies and The History of Lethbridge, a look at the unique story of his hometown.
He currently has several feature film screenplays in development with Hollywood producers and has served as a script doctor and writer for hire.
His latest work, Killing John Wayne: The Making of The Conqueror, tells the story of how the worst movie ever made, a 1956 epic starring John Wayne and produced by Howard Hughes, became a deadly disaster. It was published by Rowman and Littlefield.
His first children’s picture book will be published by KidsCan Press in 2023 while his third novel.
His writing has appeared in numerous publications including Sessions X, Quirk Magazine, The Babe Report, InFocus Film School, The Toronto Star, The Chicago Tribune, and Taste of Cinema while his weekly column, Ryan’s Regards, maintains a popular readership in the B.C. Lower Mainland.
Armed with an encyclopedic knowledge for film history, Uytdewilligen can eagerly name you every Academy Award winner in case you ever wanted to know.
He later studied Writing for Film and Television at Vancouver Film School where he wrote and produced the short films Tea Time and Even the Devil Swiped Right.
His first novel, Tractor, was published in 2016 by Sartoris Literary. Taking inspiration from Jack Kerouac and Larry McMurtry novels, the story follows a teenager in the early 1960s drive a tractor across the American south.
Uytdewilligen’s second novel, Akela, was published in 2019 by BHC Press – earning numerous accolades including a nomination for the Pushcart Prize. It followed the century-spanning life of an adventurous sea turtle that becomes entangled in historical events as he searches for his long lost love.
He is also the author of numerous non-fiction works including the film history book 101 Most Influential Coming of Age Movies and The History of Lethbridge, a look at the unique story of his hometown.
He currently has several feature film screenplays in development with Hollywood producers and has served as a script doctor and writer for hire.
His latest work, Killing John Wayne: The Making of The Conqueror, tells the story of how the worst movie ever made, a 1956 epic starring John Wayne and produced by Howard Hughes, became a deadly disaster. It was published by Rowman and Littlefield.
His first children’s picture book will be published by KidsCan Press in 2023 while his third novel.
His writing has appeared in numerous publications including Sessions X, Quirk Magazine, The Babe Report, InFocus Film School, The Toronto Star, The Chicago Tribune, and Taste of Cinema while his weekly column, Ryan’s Regards, maintains a popular readership in the B.C. Lower Mainland.
Armed with an encyclopedic knowledge for film history, Uytdewilligen can eagerly name you every Academy Award winner in case you ever wanted to know.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 26, 2024
Sneaky good history of Hollywood in this book, specifically the early years of Hollywood and Howard Hughes. If you like movies, this gives so much context to all the big movers and shakers of the movie industry. Also if you like john Wayne like I do, sad story for him but an important story regarding his life
January 23, 2022
Amazing book for everyone who loves film history! I particularly enjoyed learning more about the atomic bomb era and how it affected everyone working in the Conqueror movie.
It's obvious that the author did lots of research, as it has compelling and detailed information making the book very fun to read.
It's obvious that the author did lots of research, as it has compelling and detailed information making the book very fun to read.
October 26, 2022
Preposterous, ill-conceived book that has little to do with John Wayne or subtitle and mostly is about the history of Hollywood and nuclear bombs! Seriously. This misleading writer thinks we'll all be shocked by his repeated claims that a John Wayne movie that no one has ever heard of somehow changed Hollywood and killed most of the people involved with it, including causing Wayne's cancer. The problem is most of this is outdated rehash, filled with unfounded speculation, glosses over the heavy smoking of many of the cancer victims, and includes few facts to back the conclusions.
Very little of this book has to do with the actual "making of" The Conqueror. He wastes most of the first part of the book on the history of RKO and the nuclear bomb. Then there's a short middle section about the film before switching to the author's lengthy subjective analysis, including things that have nothing to do with the subject of the book. He often draws conclusions that are merely his unsubstantiated suspicions, even claiming to know why John Wayne did something or what the actor was thinking.
There is little reason for this book--it might have made an interesting magazine article, but near the end we discover that's exactly what was done by People magazine...back in the 1980s! So this author is merely resurrecting previously published rumors, claiming to set the record straight. But instead he can't prove anything and it might even show that The Conqueror's location shooting near a nuclear bomb site had little or no impact on participants. And he certainly fails trying to prove the film had any impact on movie history.
In the end he preaches at us about the use of nuclear power. Is that why he wrote the book--to state the obvious by rehashing rumors from a minor Hollywood movie? Or is it to propagandize? To call the book "Killing John Wayne" is deceptive hype and the book should have been killed instead.
Very little of this book has to do with the actual "making of" The Conqueror. He wastes most of the first part of the book on the history of RKO and the nuclear bomb. Then there's a short middle section about the film before switching to the author's lengthy subjective analysis, including things that have nothing to do with the subject of the book. He often draws conclusions that are merely his unsubstantiated suspicions, even claiming to know why John Wayne did something or what the actor was thinking.
There is little reason for this book--it might have made an interesting magazine article, but near the end we discover that's exactly what was done by People magazine...back in the 1980s! So this author is merely resurrecting previously published rumors, claiming to set the record straight. But instead he can't prove anything and it might even show that The Conqueror's location shooting near a nuclear bomb site had little or no impact on participants. And he certainly fails trying to prove the film had any impact on movie history.
In the end he preaches at us about the use of nuclear power. Is that why he wrote the book--to state the obvious by rehashing rumors from a minor Hollywood movie? Or is it to propagandize? To call the book "Killing John Wayne" is deceptive hype and the book should have been killed instead.
July 14, 2022
This book deals firstly with Howard Hughes acquisition of RKO Radio Pictures.Contrary to what he claims,Rank was only interested in the theatre chain.He then goes on to deal with RKOs faltering production schedule.Not mentioning the Wales -Krasna team who eventually walked away from their 50 picture pact.Then he deals with the abortive sale of RKO and then on to the making of The Conqueror,which though truly awful was the 11 th most successful film of the year.
The final part deals in detail with the fallout from the atomic tests.
Whilst there must be every likelihood that the tests caused many of the illnesses,the issue of heavy smoking clouds the issue.
An interesting book in parts,it doesn't come to a definitive answer.
The final part deals in detail with the fallout from the atomic tests.
Whilst there must be every likelihood that the tests caused many of the illnesses,the issue of heavy smoking clouds the issue.
An interesting book in parts,it doesn't come to a definitive answer.
May 6, 2024
A really fascinating look at the making and aftermath of one of the most infamous movies of all time (the conqueror (1956)!
The book "killing John Wayne" is essential reading for film fans,history buffs, and cult movie fanatics! A brutally honest yet fair look at the the main players of this cursed production that still manages to be a fun read for the most part as well!
It does a good job at trying to shift the facts from the legend for a film that is almost 70 years old at this point which is quite respectable! One of my new favorite books about the behind the scenes of a movie!
The book "killing John Wayne" is essential reading for film fans,history buffs, and cult movie fanatics! A brutally honest yet fair look at the the main players of this cursed production that still manages to be a fun read for the most part as well!
It does a good job at trying to shift the facts from the legend for a film that is almost 70 years old at this point which is quite respectable! One of my new favorite books about the behind the scenes of a movie!
May 21, 2024
The “killing” part of the title results from the tentative thesis that radiation exposure during the filming of the Conqueror caused John Wayne’s and his fellow cast, crew, and hangers on’s cancer. Possible, of course. In all, an interesting book detailing the making of the movie, including the lead up. Lots on Howard Hughes and RKO.
February 8, 2023
Really interesting and very well written and researched. Of course, now I have to see the movie.
March 2, 2024
John Wayne, Howard Hughes, the Hollywood Studio system, nuclear testing, and everything interesting since 1928. I really recommend this book.
July 15, 2022
Great look at RKO, Howard Hughes, and one really bad movie.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews