When Nuke Tests Killed John Wayne
Part of Heroes and Hiccups: True Stories about Nuclear Weapon Risks
A toxic movie set
In 1956, The Conqueror was shot in the Utah desert, downwind of a nuclear testing site. The film starred John Wayne as Genghis Khan and was critically reviewed as one of the worst films of all time.
Nearly half of the film’s cast and crew later developed cancer, including Agnes Morehead, Susan Hayward, and John Wayne himself, who died of the disease. Cancer rates among local Native Americans who performed as extras were never tracked.
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Killing John Wayne by Ryan Uytdewilligen and Documentary explores legacy of ‘The Conqueror’ and radiation exposure
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Nukes on Screen: The Entertainment Industry’s Go-To Resource on Nuclear Weapons
NTI's Critical Mass Project supports the creative community to tell stories about nuclear risks in film and television.
When Yeltsin Reached for the Nuclear Briefcase
