Conquest (1937 film)
Conquest (also called Marie Walewska) is a 1937 American historical-drama film directed by Clarence Brown and starring Greta Garbo, Charles Boyer, Reginald Owen. It was produced and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It tells the story of the Polish Countess Marie Walewska, who becomes the mistress of Napoleon in order to influence his actions towards her homeland. The supporting cast includes Alan Marshal, Henry Stephenson, Leif Erickson, Dame May Whitty, George Zucco, and Maria Ouspenskaya.
| Conquest | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Clarence Brown Gustav Machatý (uncredited) |
| Screenplay by | S. N. Behrman Salka Viertel Samuel Hoffenstein Talbot Jennings Zoë Akins |
| Based on | Pani Walewska 1933 by Wacław Gąsiorowski (book) Helen Jerome (play) |
| Produced by | Bernard H. Hyman |
| Starring | Greta Garbo Charles Boyer Reginald Owen Alan Marshal |
| Cinematography | Karl Freund |
| Edited by | Tom Held |
| Music by | Herbert Stothart |
Production company | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Distributed by | Loew's, Inc. |
Release date |
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Running time | 113 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2,732,000 US |
| Box office | $2,141,000 |
The movie was adapted by S.N. Behrman, Samuel Hoffenstein, Helen Jerome and Salka Viertel from the novel Pani Walewska by Wacław Gąsiorowski. An uncredited Gustav Machatý took over some of the direction. It was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Charles Boyer) and Best Art Direction (Cedric Gibbons and William A. Horning).
Its worldwide gross amounted to $2,141,000, but its massive budget led to a loss of $1,397,000.
MGM initially advertised the upcoming release of the film under the title Marie Walewska, but at the last moment changed the title to the more marketable Conquest when the movie arrived in theaters.
The Dad's Army episode "A Soldier's Farewell" starts with the platoon in the cinema watching this film.