John Walsh’s series of books about the creation of some of the most iconic cult films continues with this look at John Milius’ adaptation of the Conan story. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Robert E. Howard’s sword-swinging warrior, the film pushed boundaries regarding violence in what would usually be a ‘boy-own’ fantasy adventure.
The book covers every aspect of the production, opening with a section on Howard and the character’s origin, which would be a hit in novel and comic book form before hitting the big screen in 1982. The fight to get Conan onto film began much earlier, though, and Walsh digs deep into the archive to present some of the trials and tribulations the team had to get through to realise the project. Some stunning artwork from the legendary Frank Frazetta is presented beautifully in full-page reproductions that show how the character was envisaged for the sixties book covers.
Other stunning illustrations come from production designer Ron Cobb’s paintings and illustrations that helped the film look so distinctive. Likewise, all aspects of the film’s creation – and those that made the magic come alive – are covered with some rare reproductions of sketches and the like.
The entire book is lavishly illustrated with artwork, on-set photos, and movie imagery. Some of the screenshots are a little fuzzy, but this does not detract from the enjoyment of being immersed into the ancient fantasy world of Conan. It’s a must-have for any fan of the film, but lovers of fantasy cinema will also find it hard to put it down.
CONAN THE BARBARIAN: THE OFFICIAL STORY OF THE FILM is out now.
