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:

year 1873 | 1890s | year 1929 | panic of 1873 | economic depression | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

RKO borrowed director William A. Wellman from Warner Bros. for this picture, which was billed as a follow-on to Cimarron (1931).

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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

Yankee Doodle Boy
(1904) (uncredited)
Music and Lyrics by George M. Cohan
Played by a band at the armistice parade

User Reviews

They Never Gave Up

Roger and Carolyn Standish head west to give themselves a chance at a future after her father dies. On the way they are robbed and Roger is shot. While recovering from the gunshot wound the town they settle in is robbed. Roger leads the town after the robbers. Then they start a bank. Over the next 50 years they face a series of successes, failures, and successes. In spite of everything that happens to them they never give up.

I think the idea behind this movie is that over time, we will face many ups and downs and that we must keep our faith that there is a future and that it will be better than the past. This film contains many cliches about the building of America. There are several scenes of a hugely growing economy followed by a crash then pessimism then more growth. This was obviously aimed at depression-era audiences to give them hope in the future. And, I think, it was also intended to give a brief overview of what it took to build our country.

No question that it tends to be somewhat melodramatic at times. But it is also uplifting and tells an interesting story and keeps a good pace throughout. Well worth seeing.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 November 1932 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Pioneer Builders

Filming Locations:

Cooperstown, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$619,000 (estimated)

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