''Genghis Khan'' (or ''Ang Buhay ni Genghis Khan'') is a 1950 Filipino
biopic film
A biographical film or biopic () is a film that dramatizes the life of a non-fictional or historically-based person or people. Such films show the life of a historical person and the central character's real name is used. They differ from docudr ...
directed by
Manuel Conde
Manuel Conde (born Manuel Pabustan Urbano; October 9, 1915 – August 11, 1985) was a Filipino actor, director and producer. As an actor, he also used the screen name Juan Urbano during the 1930s aside from his more popular screen name.
Early ca ...
, based on the life of Mongol ruler and emperor
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan (born Temüjin; ; xng, Temüjin, script=Latn; ., name=Temujin – August 25, 1227) was the founder and first Great Khan (Emperor) of the Mongol Empire, which became the List of largest empires, largest contiguous empire in history a ...
.
It was the earliest film to depict the Khan's life.
''Genghis Khan'' is considered a classic, The film was given a technical achievement citation upon its debut at the
1952 Venice Film Festival. It also was shown at the 1952 Edinburgh Film Festival.
Cast
*
Manuel Conde
Manuel Conde (born Manuel Pabustan Urbano; October 9, 1915 – August 11, 1985) was a Filipino actor, director and producer. As an actor, he also used the screen name Juan Urbano during the 1930s aside from his more popular screen name.
Early ca ...
as
Temujin
''Chinggis Khaan'' ͡ʃʰiŋɡɪs xaːŋbr /> Mongol script: ''Chinggis Qa(gh)an/ Chinggis Khagan''
, birth_name = Temüjin
, successor = Tolui (as regent)Ögedei Khan
, spouse =
, issue =
, house = Borjigin
, ...
/ Genghis Khan
*Elvira Reyes as Lei Hu
*Inday Jalandoni as
Burchou
*Jose Villafranca
*
Lou Salvador as Burchou
*Don Dano as Darmo Acosta
*
Africa Dela Rosa
*Ric Bustamante
*
Ely Nakpil
*Johnny Monteiro
*
Andres Centenera
Andrés Centenera (born 1914, date of death unknown) was a Filipino character actor. He was the grandfather of Filipino singer Rafael Centenera. He appeared in films from 1937 to 1979.
Andres Centenera, born in Goa, Camarines Sur. He was the so ...
*Leon Lizares
Directional credit
As seen in the original posters,
Manuel Conde
Manuel Conde (born Manuel Pabustan Urbano; October 9, 1915 – August 11, 1985) was a Filipino actor, director and producer. As an actor, he also used the screen name Juan Urbano during the 1930s aside from his more popular screen name.
Early ca ...
shares directional credit with
Lou Salvador as a concession to the actor for agreeing to shave his head for his villain role as Burchou. Despite this, Conde had the full control in directing the film and Salvador didn't have a single directional input towards the film. New re-releases of the film now remove Salvador's directional credit and only bear Conde's name in the posters.
Production
''Genghis Khan'' was directed by
Manuel Conde
Manuel Conde (born Manuel Pabustan Urbano; October 9, 1915 – August 11, 1985) was a Filipino actor, director and producer. As an actor, he also used the screen name Juan Urbano during the 1930s aside from his more popular screen name.
Early ca ...
and was produced under his own studio Manuel Conde (MC) Productions. The film had a limited budget and equipment used for production was outdated even at that time. Due to cost-cutting measures, Conde used
calesa
A kalesa or calesa is a two-wheeled horse-drawn carriage used in the Philippines. It is commonly vividly painted and decorated. It was a primary mode of public and private transportation during the Spanish colonial era of the Philippines, though ...
horses which had smaller built compared to horses used in Western films.
The film was made in black and white and has a duration of 88 minutes.
Conde as Manuel Urbano also did the film's screenplay.
, who is better known for his murals, was also involved in ''Genghis Khan'' as its production designer.
[{{cite news , last1=Cruz , first1=Marinel , title=Classic film ‘Genghis Khan’ made more accessible to movie buffs , url=https://entertainment.inquirer.net/187445/classic-film-genghis-khan-made-more-accessible-to-movie-buffs , access-date=20 November 2021 , work=Philippine Daily Inquirer , date=10 January 2016 , language=en] Other members of the production team include Emmanuel Rojas (cinematographer), Rex Heinze (editor), Flaviano Villareal (sound) and Juan Silos Jr. (music).
Release
''Genghis Khan'' was released at the 1952
Venice Film Festival
The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival ( it, Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival h ...
.
Reception
''Genghis Khan'' was praised for its technical aspects although it was also found to be too graphic and violent by critics of that time.
Conde was praised for being "authentic" by devising small-built horses which was believed to be closer to the actual breed of horses used by Genghis Khan which is now extinct.
See also
*
List of Asian historical drama films
Historical or period drama is a film genre in which stories are based on historical events and famous persons. Some historical dramas attempt to accurately portray a historical event or biography, to the degree that the available historical researc ...
References
External links
Genghis Khan at IMDB
1950 films
Philippine epic films
Films set in Mongolia
Philippine biographical films
Depictions of Genghis Khan on film
Films set in the 12th century
1950s biographical films
Philippine black-and-white films