#134 - "Conan the Barbarian" (1982) with Gerry D & Laramy Wells
This '80s flick is one of our generation's defining fantasy films. Set in the harsh, mythic world of the Hyborian Age, the story follows an epic warrior on his quest for vengeance against the sinister Thulsa Doom. This necromancer destroyed his village and left him an orphan. Upon its release, the film garnered mixed reviews—praised for its stunning production design and thrilling action, but criticized for its heavy dose of violence and subpar acting performances. Despite this, it was a box-office hit and found lasting success in home video markets. So grab your steel weapon, prepare for battle, and watch out for snake arrows as Tim Williams and guest co-hosts Gerry D from "Totally Rad Podcast" and Laramy Wells from "Moving Panels Podcast" discuss “Conan the Barbarian” from 1982 on this episode of the 80s Flick Flashback.
Here are some additional behind-the-scenes trivia we were unable to cover in this episode:
- Arnold Schwarzenegger had retired from professional bodybuilding after winning the 1975 Mr. Olympia contest. While training for his role in "Conan the Barbarian," he got back into such good shape that he decided to enter the 1980 Mr. Olympia contest. He won the contest, although there was significant controversy over whether he deserved the victory.
- The brief scene featuring an older Conan sitting on the throne of Aquilonia was filmed in 1980, before most of the other filming. This footage was initially intended to serve as a trailer, but John Milius decided to use it as the film's opening sequence. Following concerns from the producers, the scene was moved to the end of the film.
Sources:
Wikipedia, IMDB, BoxOfficeMojo
https://movieweb.com/facts-about-conan-the-barbarian-you-didnt-know/
Some sections were composed by ChatGPT
We'd love to hear your thoughts on our podcast! You can share your feedback with us via email or social media. Your opinions are incredibly valuable to us, and we'd be so grateful to know what you enjoyed about our show. If we missed anything or if you have any suggestions for 80s movies, we'd love to hear them too! If you're feeling extra supportive, you can even become a subscription member through "Buy Me A Coffee". For more details and other fun extensions of our podcast, check out this link. Thank you for your support!
- https://linktr.ee/80sFlickFlashback
