Killing John Wayne, Ryan Uytdewilligen
Killing John Wayne, Ryan Uytdewilligen
List: $17.99 | Sale: $12.59
Club: $8.99

Killing John Wayne
The Making of the Conqueror

Author: Ryan Uytdewilligen

Narrator: Peter Berkrot

Unabridged: 9 hr 13 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/01/2021

Synopsis

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 it, eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes’s final cinematic vision, to life! Starring all-American legend John Wayne in full Fu Manchu make-up as Mongol madman Genghis Khan and sultry seductress Susan Hayward as his lover, The Conqueror is possibly 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.

About Ryan Uytdewilligen

Ryan Uytdewilligen earned his degree in broadcast journalism from Lethbridge College, which led to work in radio anchoring, reporting, and media coordinating for the prestigious Vancouver International Film Festival. After writing-producing his first short film, he has worked as a script doctor/writer for hire, optioned two feature film scripts, and published his first nonfiction work, a film-history examination of coming-of-age movies. He currently resides in Vancouver.

About Peter Berkrot

Peter Berkrot is a veteran of both stage and screen, having appeared in Caddyshack, Brotherhood, Unsolved Mysteries, and more. A prominent acting coach and a regular contributor to the award-winning news program Frontline, he was the director of narration for the Emmy-nominated The Truth About Cancer. His voice can be heard on television, radio, video games, documentaries, and industrials. An Audie Award nominee and the winner of multiple Earphones Awards, he has recorded over 170 audiobooks.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Chandler on February 25, 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 regardin......more

Goodreads review by Mariana on 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 r......more

Goodreads review by Malcolm Davis on 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......more

Goodreads review by mabuse on May 06, 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 p......more

Goodreads review by Mark on 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......more

Add to Cart
Add to Wish List