The Mongols (1961)

Genghis Khan and his Mongol army invade Poland and lay siege to the city of Cracow. The Polish king tries to make peace in order to save his city, and Genghis Khan seems amenable to that. ... See full summary »

Directors:

André De Toth, Leopoldo Savona

Writers:

Ottavio Alessi, Alessandro Ferraù

Stars:

Jack Palance, Anita Ekberg, Antonella Lualdi

Cast

Cast overview:
Jack Palance	...	Ogatai Khan
Anita Ekberg	...	Hulina
Antonella Lualdi	...	Amina
Franco Silva	...	Stepen of Crakow
Roldano Lupi	...	Genghis Khan
Gabriella Pallotta	...	Lutezia
Pierre Cressoy	...	Igor
Gabriele Antonini	...	Temugin
George Wang	...	Subodai
Lawrence Montaigne	...	Prince Stefan's ally (as Lawrenc Montaigne)
Gianni Garko	...	Henry de Valois

Storyline

Genghis Khan and his Mongol army invade Poland and lay siege to the city of Cracow. The Polish king tries to make peace in order to save his city, and Genghis Khan seems amenable to that. However, his son Ogotai is itching for war, and his mistress eggs him on to defy his father and take the city.

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Plot Keywords:

mongol | army | whipping | independent film | 

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Taglines:

The World's Fiercest Men and a Woman to Match Them!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama

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Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

31 August 1961 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Mongols

Filming Locations:

Centralni Filmski Studio Kosutnjak, Belgrade, Serbia

Company Credits

Production Co:

France Cinéma Productions, Royal Film (I)

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Popularized by John Green's Crash Course YouTube series (3-second raid scene) every time he uses the phrase "The Mongols".

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Goofs

During an invasion of the Mongols a character is seen dressed in a sleeveless jacket defending another nailed to a wheel. Ogotai (Jack Palance) drags him down with his whip, only this time the character has lost his sleeveless leather jacket, and is wearing only a wide shirt.

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Connections

Featured in Crash Course: World History: Christianity (2012)

User Reviews

Shared interests in turkey farming

When Jack Palance signed on to do The Mongols an Italian produced epic shot in Yugoslavia he merely took out his former performance of as Attila The Hun ratcheted it up exponentially. When you're in a turkey like this all you can do is gobble gobble at the moon.

The only names we Americans will recognize are that of Palance playing Ogatai son of Genghis Khan and his lovely blond amazon wife played by Anita Ekberg. I will say this the writers did make provision for the fact that she clearly does not look like a Mongol and did mention that she was from a captive people. Perhaps a Viking settlement somewhere in Eastern Europe might explain it. I'll say this with that massive endowment of her's Anita looks good even in that Mongol armor. One fill figured girl she was.

When Palance is on there isn't a stick of furniture left standing. He is having one great old time overacting against the background of these continental cast members who sound stiff as usual with their dubbed voices. The Europeans have decided to sue for peace and have sent the film's nominal hero Franco Silva playing Stephen of Cracow as a peace emissary.

But Palance really gets his jollies with all the blood and guts and he doesn't want to stop the fighting. In this he's aided and abetted by Anita. So nice when husband and wife have a mutual interest. He and Anita do what they can to sabotage a cease fire.

In the end it's pulled out and western civilization itself is saved by a seasoned soldier taking home town advantage of the elements.

Jack Palance fans should get a real charge out of this film watching their guy dine on the scenery. The Mongols will give you quite a few unintentional laughs.