Mon 25 May 2015
A Movie Review by Jonathan Lewis: THE MONGOLS (1961).
Posted by Steve under Action Adventure movies , Reviews[6] Comments
THE MONGOLS. France Cinéma Productions, Italy-France, 1961. Original title: I mongoli. Jack Palance, Anita Ekberg, Antonella Lualdi, Franco Silva, Gianni Garko, Roldano Lupi, Gabriella Pallotta, Gabriele Antonini. Directors: André De Toth, Leopoldo Savona, Riccardo Freda (the latter uncredited).
They don’t make them like this anymore, or not at least without CGI. Call it what you will: costumer, sword-and-sandal, or an historical adventure pic. But know whatever you call it, know that The Mongols appears as if designed to resemble a big picture, epic in scope, with a cast of hundreds, if not thousands.
Directed by Andre De Toth, The Mongols features Jack Palance as the warlike Ogatai, son of Genghis Khan, who is determined to conquer Poland. At his side is Swedish model-actress, Anita Ekberg, who portrays Hulina, a woman perfectly capable of matching him in deviousness and treachery.
The story follows the Mongols, lead by Ogatai, as they attempt to conquer the Polish stronghold of Cracow. The Poles, wary of the approaching Mongols, send Stefan of Cracow (Franco Silva) to negotiate a peace arrangement with Genghis Khan. But Ogatai, lustful for blood and territory, isn’t about to let that happen.
There’s a B-story in here too. Stefan of Cracow enters into a love-hate relationship with a Polish village girl, who ends up believing – falsely, it turns out – that Stefan murdered her would-be betrothed.
But really, The Mongols isn’t a love story. It’s about wide shots of men on horseback ready to do battle and the final, epic showdown between the Mongols and the Poles. Palance is at his menacing best here, although truthfully, he really doesn’t do all that much in this picture.
In many respects, Ekberg’s character has significantly more depth than his, and this makes her a more compelling screen presence. But at the end of the day, this film really isn’t about the characters as much as it is about the spectacle. And while it is no Spartacus, The Mongols is no cheapie, either. While it’s perfectly entertaining, it gives the viewer little to think about once it’s all over. And in this case that’s not necessarily such a bad thing.
May 25th, 2015 at 2:57 pm
He is a Chinaman, so why does he want to conquer Poland? And what would they do with it if they had successful. The ISIL terrorists of their time. Pointlessly violent.
May 25th, 2015 at 3:25 pm
And, before correction, I do know that they — the Mongols, were not Chinese, just from that neck of the world. And that there were multiple invasions of Poland, but to what end, politically and cinematically? Palance earlier had played Attila the Hun in Sign of the Pagan, a marginally better picture.
May 25th, 2015 at 5:33 pm
Barry, I know it was a joke. Just a little history if anyone is interested. Yeah, I know, fat chance.
Actually the Mongols struck far into the West before they stopped and Cracow was always a favorite place to hit for Cossacks, Tartars, and the Teutonic Knights not to mention Germany and Russia because it is the gateway to the West. Take Cracow and the way is open to Germany, France, Scandiavia, Latvia, Estonia, and points south not to mention Russia and points East.
This is why in modern times Putin is so threatened that we let Poland in NATO. Eastern Europe and its complex history and politics were my beat with State and we always gauged Soviet policy by their paranoia about Poland and Germany in the Cold War. Keep in mind it was the Poles who showed up at Waterloo and determined the final victory for Wellington and the Allied powers (yes, they used the same name in WWI and WWII).
In addition the reason Slavic races have the high cheekbones and distinctive features that the Nazi’s called sub human was the influx of Mongol blood during the time of the Khans.
It’s also why the American Indian has his distinctive features as Mongols ventured across the land bridge that is now the Bering Strait into this continent that had no native primates of its own.
While they have many mixes and minority branches there are only five races. Caucasian (and not everyone Caucasian has light skin), Negro (sorry, that’s the term and not everyone with black or dark skin is Negro), Mongoloid (that’s the correct term as well, biology and anthropology picked these, not me), Polynesian, and Aborigine. There are some questionable groups like Spain’s Basque who may be Aborigine or perhaps even a surviving group of Neanderthal ancestors.
The Moors, Semites, and East Indian are all Caucasian, as are many Eithiopians and most of ancient Egypt save for the black pharaohs. Hispanics are also Caucasian in terms of anthropology whatever cultural differences all the groups have. Anglo Saxon may become a minority in this country, but Caucasian will never be.
World history owes a great deal to the Mongols and Genghis Khan who not only conquered the world he spread a great deal of culture along the way aside from the bodies and body parts. He probably also brought the plague and the clap as well.
The Chinese are descendants of the Mongol, but the Mongols are not Chinese as Barry points out.
I know, I know, who cares?
THE MONGOLS is a bit of fun, but Palance’s Attila has a better cast including Jeff Chandler and is closer to the legend if not the history. I think MONGOLS is still available on YouTube.
Meanwhile more tornadoes more rain, and my housemate’s still haven’t started the ark.
May 25th, 2015 at 10:23 pm
David,
A greatly appreciated encapsulation of Mongol history which proves something I have always believed: No matter how lousy the movie, the secret of education is to ask relevant questions, and find answers to same. Following up with more. I, of course, was just being a fresh kid, but I suppose you understood that, and put me in my proper place, with dignity and erudition. Wish there was more of that around.
May 26th, 2015 at 3:35 am
The great William K. Everson gave THE MONGOLS a couple of mentions in his classic THE BAD GUYS (Citadel, 1964) but slighted SIGN OF THE PAGAN. And speaking of slights, my hillbilly forebears and I are ticked off at being omitted from your categories of racial/ethnic groups. Trust me, we are indeed a people unto our own.
May 26th, 2015 at 2:24 pm
Barry,
I never put friends in their place, and I got the joke and enjoyed it, I’m just naturally pedantic.
Dan, actually there is a unique racial/ethnic group in the South, whose members likely include Abe Lincoln and Ava Gardner. The Mellugin are Caucasians but from Turkey originally and known for being dark and somewhat dish faced.
Most hillbilly is of course Scots/Irish, but as you say unique. In parts of the Ozarks you can find language spoken much as it was in Elizabethan times even today, though of course it is dying out.
I’m Norman French, Scots, English, and Cherokee — if we can’t conquer it or invade it we rebel against it. My ancestors managed to be not only in two revolutions, the Stuart revolt in Scotland, all three French and Indian Wars, and a bit of privateering in the 18th century alone.
And having Cherokee ancestry (no I’m not technically Native American, too many removes I’m one percentage point too little) I also have Mongol ancestors, so look out we may not be the Golden Horde, but the Red Tide is waiting.
As Tonto said to the Lone Ranger as they were being overwhelmed by Apache warriors: “Who you calling Kemo Sabe, white boy?”