Arnold Schwarzenegger is not only remembered for his leading role in Terminator, but also in Conan the barbarian, a role that gave him worldwide fame and that was filmed -mostly- in Spain. After its release in 1982, the film is an adaptation of the stories by Robert E. Howard.
On his path as a bodybuilder, he made his way into Hollywood with this film and that is how his name gained recognition in the industry. Being Conan, the actor suffered one of his worst moments, as he revealed that bitten a dead vulture.
in his book Be useful: Seven tools for life, Arnold Schwarzenegger mentioned how this event happened in the Iberian Peninsula. With John Milius as director, he experienced not only multiple demands on the recordings but also being made to run in front of wild dogs.
Not only did the actor train for more than a year to climb ropes, ride horses and more, he even suffered a back accident that left him with 40 stitches. Despite everything, the bite a dead vulture It was the worst for him.
“I bit into a real dead vulture and had to wash my mouth with alcohol after each bite,” reads Arnold Schwarzenegger’s book. The scene that the artist points out in Conan the barbarian It’s at the end of the movie. While Conan is crucified on a tree, he bites the animal that was trying to attack him and kills it. The sequence was filmed in the dunes of the southeast coast of Almería and took three days to complete.
Luckily for the production, the actor’s sacrifice was not in vain, since the film was a success. It grossed around $79 million worldwide compared to its budget (20 million).
We recommend you
What is it about Conan the barbarian?
The story follows the life of Conan, a boy who becomes a slave after his village is destroyed and his parents are killed by Thulsa Doom and his followers. Conan grows up to become a powerful warrior, seeking revenge against Doom. The film combines elements of adventure, fantasy, and mythology, following Conan in his quest for justice and freedom.
The film was filmed primarily in Spain, in places such as Almería, Cuenca and the province of Madrid, which provided epic and varied landscapes. The soundtrack was composed by Basil Poledouris, and is considered one of the best fantasy film scores, enhancing the epic and emotional atmosphere of the film.
It received mixed reviews upon its release, but was praised for its visual style, Poledouris’ music, and Schwarzenegger’s physical performance. Over time, it has become a cult classic of the fantasy genre.
Arnold Schwarzenegger reveals that Hollywood turned its back on him in the beginning
Even though he is an icon in the film industry today, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s path to stardom was full of challenges. In his youth, he stood out as a renowned bodybuilder, but his ambition led him to explore the world of acting in the 1970s.
However, many producers, directors, executives and agents of the time did not share his vision and mocked his aspirations. According to Schwarzenegger, there were three main reasons why critics predicted his failure in hollywood.
According to the story of Arnold Schwarzeneggerthe first objection focused on its imposing physique. Many told him that viewers didn’t want to see muscular bodies on screen.
