The Conquerors (1932)

A newlywed couple journeys west to make their fortune, and begins a banking empire.

Director:

William A. Wellman

Writers:

Robert Lord (screen play), Howard Estabrook (from a story by)

Stars:

Richard Dix, Ann Harding, Edna May Oliver

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Richard Dix	...	Roger Standish / Roger Lennox
Ann Harding	...	Caroline Ogden Standish
Edna May Oliver	...	Matilda Blake
Guy Kibbee	...	Dr. Daniel Blake
Julie Haydon	...	Frances Standish Lennox
Donald Cook	...	Warren Lennox
Walter Walker	...	Thomas B. Ogden
Wally Albright	...	Roger Standish - One of the Twins
Marilyn Knowlden	...	Frances Standish - One of the Twins
Harry Holman	...	Stubby
Jason Robards Sr.	...	Lane (as Jason Robards)
E.H. Calvert	...	Doctor

Storyline

A newlywed couple journeys west to make their fortune, and begins a banking empire.

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Plot Keywords:

family relationships | reference to the wright brothers | world war one | wedding | war hero | 

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Taglines:

Out of the Smoke of its Chimneys,Out of the Sweat of its Fields, Out of the Faith of its People The Unconquerable Soul of America Marches On! (Print Ad- Decorah Public Opinion,((Decorah, Iowa)) 1 December 1932)

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Genres:

Drama | Western

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 November 1932 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pioneer Builders

Filming Locations:

Cooperstown, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Richard 'Skeets' Gallagher had a major supporting role which wound up largely deleted before the film's release. He does appear, albeit uncredited, in the final film.

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Goofs

As the stacks of coins tumble and fall, support rods can be seen moving behind them, assisting their collapse.

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Connections

Features Four Heads Are Better Than One (1898)

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Soundtracks

Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! (The Boys Are Marching)
(1864) (uncredited)
Music and Lyrics by George Frederick Root
Played by the band at Fort Allen

User Reviews

Crowded with incident, certainly

In less than an hour and a half, we get: young love, courtship, robbery, shooting, hanging, alcoholism, banking, multi-generation family drama, railroads, tragic accident, childbirth, suicide, the dawn of cinema, the stock market crash -- all supporting a theme of westward expansion and hanging tough when the economy turns rotten, which must have been a comfort to a Depression-weary audience. I'm a sucker for these early-talkie near-epics with loudly American themes (other worthy, less-known titles: "Silver Dollar," "The World Changes"), and this one is handsomely produced, well acted, and blessed with vibrant characterizations, most notably Edna May Oliver, indispensable as always, in one of her best roles. Also, Ann Harding, always so womanly and sympathetic without becoming cloying, like Irene Dunne with more backbone. And Richard Dix, a bit thick around the middle, but ably personifying the era's idea of the solid American male. With William Wellman's virile direction and some eye-filling montages by Slavko Vorkapich, it's handsomely shot, and supported by an obvious but stirring Max Steiner score. The continuity doesn't quite add up -- the horseless carriage appears on a Nebraska street circa 1894, a bit early, and Edna May's character would have to be about 120 by the fadeout. But it's rousing entertainment.