Man of Conquest *** (1939, Richard Dix, Joan Fontaine, Gail Patrick, Edward Ellis, Victor Jory, Robert Barrat, George Hayes, Ralph Morgan, Robert Armstrong, C Henry Gordon) – Classic Movie Review 12,034

Joan Fontaine plays Eliza Allen.

In the 1931 Western film Cimarron, Richard Dix plays Yancey Cravat, who is based on real-life lawyer and gunfighter Temple Houston – the son of Sam Houston, whom Dix plays here in Man of Conquest (1939) and on whom the 1960s Western TV series Temple Houston is based.

Director George Nicholls Jr’s 1939 Republic Pictures black and white Western film Man of Conquest is a standard biopic of the life of Texan revolutionary hero Sam Houston (Richard Dix), soldier, politician, statesman and first president of the Republic of Texas. The screenplay is inspired by Marquis James’s 1929 Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of Sam Houston and centres on Houston’s relationship with Andrew Jackson (Edward Ellis), seventh US President from 1829 to 1837, and on Houston’s role in the Texas Revolution.

It stars Richard Dix, Joan Fontaine, Gail Patrick, Edward Ellis, Victor Jory, Robert Barrat, George Hayes, Ralph Morgan, Robert Armstrong, and C Henry Gordon.

This typical 1930s historical Western drama is expensive looking, with Republic Pictures pushing the boat out for the production, and it is enlivened by some strong set pieces. But sluggish handling and some fairly dull performances from an interesting acting team let it down a little.

Still, Dix is pretty solid in the star role, though Edward Ellis makes the best impression as Andrew Jackson. Robert Barrat plays Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier, Robert Armstrong is Jim Bowie, Victor Jory is William Travis and C Henry Gordon is Santa Ana. Joan Fontaine plays Eliza Allen and Gail Patrick plays Margaret Lea.

Also in the cast are Janet Beecher, Pedro de Cordoba, Max Terhune, Ferris Taylor, Kathleen Lockhart, Leon Ames, Charles Stevens, Lane Chandler, and Sarah Padden.

The film was nominated for Oscars for Best Score (Victor Young), Best Sound (Charles L Lootens), and Best Art Direction (John Victor Mackay).

Man of Conquest is directed by George Nicholls Jr, runs 104 minutes, is made and released by Republic Pictures, is written by Wells Root and E E Paramore Jr, based on a story by Wells Root and Harold Shumate, is shot in black and white by Joseph H August, is produced by Sol C Siegel, is scored by Victor Young, and is designed by John Victor Mackay.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,034

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