Conan the Destroyer *** (1984, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Grace Jones, Olivia d’Abo) – Classic Movie Review 7,841

Arnold Schwarzenegger successfully re-creates his role as the comic-book hero Conan in the likeable 1984 fantasy adventure film Conan the Destroyer – the more fun, less violence sequel to 1982’s Conan the Barbarian.

Director Richard Fleischer’s likeable 1984 fantasy adventure film Conan the Destroyer is a tighter, less grandiose and less impressive sequel to 1982’s Conan the Barbarian, with Arnold Schwarzenegger successfully re-creating his role as the comic-book hero Conan and Mako reprising his role as Akiro, the Wizard of the Mounds.

This time there is a conventional quest yarn – a newly concocted story by Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway that owes nothing to Robert E Howard’s tales, except for merely employing his characters. Conan’s quest is to rescue a princess, the lovely Jehnna (Olivia D’Abo), who has been snatched by a sorcerer, and to retrieve a magical gem from the evil Queen Taramis (Sarah Douglas).

The production looks good, but cut to a budget, and it is shot in lovely Technicolor by the veteran magic cinematographer Jack Cardiff, in his fourth film for Fleischer. And, for this one, the tone is right as the performances seem more tongue in cheek than in Conan the Barbarian or Red Sonja, with Schwarzenegger edging into self-parody as Conan and Grace Jones as a splendidly campy villainess, Zula.

Director Fleischer makes it intense, exciting, tidy and professional, and keeps the robust action coming. Less violent and more humorous than the original it may be, but there is plenty of nudity, violence and strong language.

Also in the cast are Wilt Chamberlain, Mako, Tracey Walter, Pat Roach, Jeff Corey, Ferdy [Ferdinand] Mayne, Sven-Ole Thorsen and Bruce Fleischer.

Sven-Ole Thorsen also returns from Conan the Barbarian, where he plays Thorgrim, but he has partly to cover his face with a mask, as he is playing a different character, Togra. It is the basketball player Wilt Chamberlain’s only film role (as Bombaata) and the debut of Olivia d’Abo (as petulant Princess Jehnna). D’Abo won Worst New Star at the 5th Golden Raspberry Awards. Professional wrestler Pat Roach plays crystal palace Man Ape/ sorcerer Toth-Amon.

The screenplay by Stanley Mann is based on a story by Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway, which is based on the character Conan the Barbarian created by Robert E Howard,

The score is composed, conducted and produced by Basil Poledouris, who scored Conan the Barbarian. It is performed by the orchestra Unione Musicisti Di Roma.

Carlo Rambaldi creates the Dagoth monster, played uncredited by André the Giant.

Fleischer had made Barabbas (1961) and Mandingo (1975) for Dino De Laurentiis, who suggested him to his daughter Raffaella De Laurentiis, who was producing Conan the Destroyer.

Dino De Laurentiis and Universal Pictures thought the R-rated Conan the Barbarian would have been even more successful if it had been less violent, so they toned down the violence in the sequel. Conan the Destroyer originally received an R-rating but the film was recut for a PG. Hence the sequel is less violent and more humorous than the original.

Conan the Destroyer is directed by Richard Fleischer, runs 103 minutes, is made by Dino De Laurentiis Company, Edward R Pressman Film and Estudios Churubusco Azteca SA, is released by Universal Pictures, is written by Stanley Mann, is shot in Technicolor by Jack Cardiff, is produced by Edward R Pressman, Raffaella De Laurentiis and Stephen F Kesten, is scored by Basil Poledouris, and is designed by Pier Luigi Basile.

Shooting took place in Mexico City from 1 November 1983 to 10 February 1984. Conan the Destroyer was released in US cinemas on 29 June 1984 by Universal Pictures. It grossed around $30 million in the US on a budget of $18 million (the original took about $40 million in the US).

Schwarzenegger, Fleischer and Raffaella De Laurentiis teamed up again to make Red Sonja a year later.

The cast are Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan the Destroyer, Grace Jones as Zula, Wilt Chamberlain as Bombaata, Mako as Akiro, Tracey Walter as Malak, Sarah Douglas as Queen Taramis, Olivia d’Abo as Princess Jehnna, Pat Roach as Thoth-Amon, Jeff Corey as Grand Vizier, Sven-Ole Thorsen as Togra, André the Giant as the Dagoth monster, Ferdy Mayne as The Leader and Bruce Fleischer.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7,841

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