Genghis Khan Flicks ?

[billy bentley]

My youngest boy (14) has just finished studying some Asian history, that included Genghis Khan. I thought it might be fun to watch a 50/60's style "Epic" on Genghis, I know they will be wildly inaccurate, but that could be part of the fun. I don't think he's up for a serious/accurate sub-titled realistic take, but both Omar Sharif and John Wayne look like they might be entertaining. Any opinions/ suggestions ?

[will.15]

The John Wayne is a good unintentional comedy.

[dpgmel]

The Omar Sharif is a typical 60's epic e.g. full of spectacle and not terribly accurate.

If he decided he did want something a bit more historically accurate then I'd recommend Mongol which concentrates on Genghis Khan's early life. I watched this quite recently and was hooked.

Mongol - The Rise To Power Of Genghis Khan DVD 2008: Amazon.co.uk: Tadanobu Asano, Odnyam Odsuren, Sun Honglei, Khulan Chuluun, Sergei Bodrov: DVD

[CaptainWaggett]

I think his grandson Kublai Khan has probably been better served by the movies because of the Marco Polo connection, though there don't seem to be any 1950s epics with him.

[dpgmel]

Tenuous I know but Orson Welles played a Mongol warlord in The Black Rose which is good fun.

[Windthrop]

The 60s Sharif flick is good fun with bizarre casting like Robert Morley as the Emperor of China - in certain shots you can see he is wearing grey flannels and brogues under his costume

[orpheum2]

Of course The Conqueror had the curse on it as so many of the aactors and crew died young from cancer,possibly from nuclear fallout.

[Steve Crook]

I like Genghis Khan starring Omar Sharif and with James Mason as the Chinese ambassador, Robert Morley as the Chinese Emperor and Michael Hordern as the Mongol mystic. It's very dubious historically, but it's good fun

Steve

[bruiser15]

I have to agree with Steve, Omar Sharif's Genghis Kahn is a lot of fun in a "don't worry about the facts enjoy the spectacle way"



More obscurely there was a 50's Turkish movie about Kahn which I have seen, which covers his rise in a similar style to the early peplum [Italian Sword & Sandals] films, good fun as well. Red Plume - Genghis Khan (1952) - IMDb

[GRAEME]

He turns up in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure!

Bill: It is indeed a pleasure to introduce to you a gentleman we picked up in medieval Mongolia in the year 1269.
Ted: Please welcome, the very excellent barbarian...
Ted, Bill: ...MR. GENGHIS KHAN!
[All the students applaud wildly for Khan]
Ted: This is a dude who, 700 years ago, totally ravaged China, and who, we were told, 2 hours ago, totally ravaged Oshman's Sporting Goods.

[billy bentley]

Robert Morley as the Emperor Of China ! Now that's pretty hard to resist ! Thanks To you all - Britmovie what a crew !

[didi-5]

I love the Omar Sharif version. A load of old hokum but yes, James Mason and Robert Morley as Chinamen, Francoise Dorleac in a rare English language role, and Stephen Boyd being a nasty piece of work. Well worth a watch for the entertainment value :)

[Steve Crook]

I love the Omar Sharif version. A load of old hokum but yes, James Mason and Robert Morley as Chinamen, Francoise Dorleac in a rare English language role, and Stephen Boyd being a nasty piece of work. Well worth a watch for the entertainment value :)

It is fun isn't it? Poor old Omar seems to be the only one taking it at all seriously

Steve

[will.15]

There is a Chinese TV limited series that is a complete bore. They take their Khan too seriously.

[billy bentley]

According to IMDB "The Omar" also features Eli Wallach, Telly Savalas and Woody Strode !!!

[Steve Crook]

According to IMDB "The Omar" also features Eli Wallach, Telly Savalas and Woody Strode !!!

Indeed, it's a great cast and they have great fun with it. I really like Michael Hordern as the Mongol mystic

Steve

[Windthrop]

According to IMDB "The Omar" also features Eli Wallach, Telly Savalas and Woody Strode !!!

Don't forget Kenneth Cope (as Khan's general and strategist) complete with liverpudlian accent !