Genghis Khan (1965 film)
Genghis Khan is a 1965 adventure film directed by Henry Levin and starring Omar Sharif, depicting a fictionalized account of the life and conquests of the Mongol emperor Genghis Khan. Distributed in the United Kingdom and the United States in 1965 by Columbia Pictures, the film also features James Mason, Stephen Boyd, Eli Wallach, Françoise Dorléac and Telly Savalas.
| Genghis Khan | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) Theatrical poster by Frank McCarthy. | |
| Directed by | Henry Levin |
| Produced by | Irving Allen |
| Screenplay by | Beverley Cross Clarke Reynolds |
| Story by | Berkely Mather |
| Starring | Omar Sharif James Mason Stephen Boyd Eli Wallach Françoise Dorléac Telly Savalas |
| Music by | Dušan Radić |
| Cinematography | Geoffrey Unsworth |
| Edited by | Geoffrey Foot |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 120 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom West Germany Yugoslavia United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $4.5 million[1] |
| Box office | $2.25 million[2] |
A 70 mm version was released by CCC Film in West Germany. It was filmed in Yugoslavia with Technicolor and Panavision.
Plot
The young Temujin (Omar Sharif) sees his father tortured and killed by a rival tribe led by Jamuga (Stephen Boyd). Held prisoner, he is yoked into a large wooden wheel around his neck and tormented by the tribal children. He meets the young Bortai after an act of kindness to her, but is punished by Jamuga. Temujin then escapes and hides in the hills, followed by Geen and Sengal, who pledge their allegiance to the man vowing to unite all the Mongol tribes.
Raids along caravan routes gradually increase the size of his army, and then Temujin decides to capture as his wife the young Bortai. He does so, but then she is recaptured by Jamuga, who rapes her before Temujin can steal her back.
A stranded Chinese ambassador is helped out by Temujin, who accompanies the diplomat into China, where he is proclaimed "Genghis Khan, the Prince of Conquerors". His Mongol army stays in Peking for a long period, training, learning, and growing complacent. The imprisoned Jamuga escapes at one point. Finally, feeling trapped, the Mongols break out of their "captivity" and begin their conquest of Asia.
After laying waste to everything from Manchuria to Moscow, the Mongol army finally battles the Shah of Khwarezm, defeating him and capturing Jamuga one last time. Temujin and Jamuga fight one last battle, mano-a-mano, and although victorious, Temujin succumbs to his wounds soon after.
Cast
- Omar Sharif as Temujin, later Genghis Khan
- Stephen Boyd as Jamuga
- James Mason as Kam Ling
- Eli Wallach as Shah of Khwarezm
- Françoise Dorléac as Bortei
- Telly Savalas as Shan
- Robert Morley as Emperor of China
- Michael Hordern as Geen
- Yvonne Mitchell as Katke
- Woody Strode as Sengal
- Kenneth Cope as Subotai
- Roger Croucher as Massar
- Don Borisenko as Jebai
- Patrick Holt as Kuchiuk
- Susanne Hsiao as Chin Yu
- George Savalas as Toktoa
- Gustavo Rojo as Altan
Production
The film was shot over 125 days.[1]
Allen and Euan Lloyd (who worked in publicity) wanted to make a follow up called Clive of India based on a script by Terence Young but it was never made.[1]
References
- Scheuer, P. K. (1965, Jan 05). "Pat O'Brien takes new lease on life" Los Angeles Times
- Anticipated rentals accruing distributors in North America. See "Top Grossers of 1965", Variety, 5 January 1966 p 36