"The Conquerors" is a multi-generational movie. I do not like multi-generational movies. They tend to be dull, and this one is dull too.
"The Conquerors" is one of a couple of patriotic, pro-business, and pro-bank movies released in 1932. The other was "American Madness." I think FDR directed these himself to help get the economy moving again.
The principal characters in this movie were Roger Standish (Richard Dix) and Caroline Ogden Standish (Ann Harding). Roger was a bank teller when he married Caroline. The two went west to Nebraska during an economic downturn and started Standish Bank. From there we got to see the two of them grow old, become grandparents, and build Standish Bank into a behemoth.
They survived a few economic downturns with the Great Depression being the last one. What was distasteful about this movie, like "American Madness", is the idea they promote that the bank (essentially all banks) was a necessary tool for the economy and that it cared as much, if not more, about the welfare of the common man than anyone. When a regular working man demanded his money back from the Standish Bank, Roger Standish told him that his money was out there working; building buildings and railroads, keeping men employed. It was such a load of BS I could've vomited right then.
It's like Taco Bell imploring its customers to donate to "insert-charity-here" when Taco Bell is the multi-billion dollar company and its customers are regular Joes just trying to get an affordable meal.
Imagine going to Chase Bank of American Fargo and asking for all of your money because you were worried about its security and they told you that your money was out there helping the country run. I seriously doubt you would feel guilty for asking for your money and leave.
Who dreams up these fanciful tales?
The guy in the movie asking wanted his $10 and Standish didn't have it. Only a fool would believe that his simple $10 was essential for the country. And only a fool would be worried about the "country" when he has a family to take care of.
Then we were to believe that Standish was some kind of hero (just like the protagonist in "American Madness") because he was going to liquidate everything he owned to pay back the bank depositors.
Naturally, Standish bounced back and became richer every time. In the end his own grandson (also played by Richard Dix) had to pull a similar move as his grandfather because he, too, was selfless and patriotic. As the Great Depression was going on he asked his gramps for his $5 million trust so that he could cover the Standish Bank customers. His request came with a most patronizing speech:
"Why, the whole world will pull out of this depression. And through it will come a greater era of prosperity and happiness," Roger Lennox (Richard Dix) said while peering at the camera.
I'm sure the writer was beaming with pride at this speech which couldn't have been more tone deaf. The last thing people want to hear is a rich boy in his ivory tower preaching about how the country is going to bounce back. I said this about "American Madness": hey Hollywood, stay out of the business of making banks and rich bankers sympathetic characters in your movies. No one wants to see that.
Free on YouTube.
"The Conquerors" is one of a couple of patriotic, pro-business, and pro-bank movies released in 1932. The other was "American Madness." I think FDR directed these himself to help get the economy moving again.
The principal characters in this movie were Roger Standish (Richard Dix) and Caroline Ogden Standish (Ann Harding). Roger was a bank teller when he married Caroline. The two went west to Nebraska during an economic downturn and started Standish Bank. From there we got to see the two of them grow old, become grandparents, and build Standish Bank into a behemoth.
They survived a few economic downturns with the Great Depression being the last one. What was distasteful about this movie, like "American Madness", is the idea they promote that the bank (essentially all banks) was a necessary tool for the economy and that it cared as much, if not more, about the welfare of the common man than anyone. When a regular working man demanded his money back from the Standish Bank, Roger Standish told him that his money was out there working; building buildings and railroads, keeping men employed. It was such a load of BS I could've vomited right then.
It's like Taco Bell imploring its customers to donate to "insert-charity-here" when Taco Bell is the multi-billion dollar company and its customers are regular Joes just trying to get an affordable meal.
Imagine going to Chase Bank of American Fargo and asking for all of your money because you were worried about its security and they told you that your money was out there helping the country run. I seriously doubt you would feel guilty for asking for your money and leave.
Who dreams up these fanciful tales?
The guy in the movie asking wanted his $10 and Standish didn't have it. Only a fool would believe that his simple $10 was essential for the country. And only a fool would be worried about the "country" when he has a family to take care of.
Then we were to believe that Standish was some kind of hero (just like the protagonist in "American Madness") because he was going to liquidate everything he owned to pay back the bank depositors.
Naturally, Standish bounced back and became richer every time. In the end his own grandson (also played by Richard Dix) had to pull a similar move as his grandfather because he, too, was selfless and patriotic. As the Great Depression was going on he asked his gramps for his $5 million trust so that he could cover the Standish Bank customers. His request came with a most patronizing speech:
"Why, the whole world will pull out of this depression. And through it will come a greater era of prosperity and happiness," Roger Lennox (Richard Dix) said while peering at the camera.
I'm sure the writer was beaming with pride at this speech which couldn't have been more tone deaf. The last thing people want to hear is a rich boy in his ivory tower preaching about how the country is going to bounce back. I said this about "American Madness": hey Hollywood, stay out of the business of making banks and rich bankers sympathetic characters in your movies. No one wants to see that.
Free on YouTube.