SerpApi.Org
Few movies in Hollywood history have generated as much controversy — or as many lingering questions — as 1956's The Conqueror.
Originally envisioned with Marlon Brando in the lead role, the historical epic ultimately starred John Wayne as Genghis Khan in what has since been widely regarded as one of the most infamous casting decisions in film history. But decades later, the movie became known for something far more tragic: its connection to a cluster of cancer cases among members of its cast and crew.
Marlon Brando Passed on the Lead Role
When producer Howard Hughes began developing The Conqueror, the role of Genghis Khan was reportedly written with Marlon Brando in mind following his Oscar-winning performance in On the Waterfront.
Brando ultimately declined the part because he was under contract with another studio, opening the door for Wayne to take the lead.
The casting immediately drew criticism. Wayne, whose career had been built on playing rugged American cowboys and soldiers, was considered an unusual choice to portray the 12th-century Mongolian ruler. Over time, The Conqueror developed a reputation as one of Hollywood's most notorious misfires, with Wayne even receiving a Golden Turkey Award years later for one of the worst casting decisions in movie history.
The Film Was Later Linked to a Cancer Tragedy
While The Conqueror struggled to win over critics, its legacy took a far darker turn in the decades that followed.
Much of the movie was filmed near St. George, Utah, roughly 137 miles downwind from the Nevada Test Site, where the U.S. government had conducted numerous above-ground nuclear weapons tests in the years leading up to production.
According to later reports, 91 of the film's approximately 220 cast and crew members were eventually diagnosed with cancer, and 46 died from the disease. Among them were Wayne, director Dick Powell, and co-star Susan Hayward. Actor Pedro Armendáriz Sr., who was diagnosed with terminal cancer years after filming, died by suicide in 1963.
Medical experts have cautioned that it is impossible to definitively prove any individual's cancer was caused by radiation exposure during filming. Wayne himself questioned the connection later in life, noting that he and several others involved with the production were longtime smokers.
Even so, the unusually high number of cancer diagnoses fueled decades of speculation and helped draw national attention to the dangers faced by so-called "downwinders" — communities exposed to radioactive fallout from Cold War-era nuclear testing.
