Conan the Barbarian (1982)

The 1982 film 'Conan the Barbarian' was directed by John Milius and co-written by Oliver Stone. It famously stars Arnold Schwarzenegger in his breakout role as the iconic titular character created by Robert E. Howard. The cast also includes James Earl Jones as the villainous Thulsa Doom and Sandahl Bergman.

The film follows Conan's journey from a young boy enslaved by a warlord to a fierce, wandering warrior seeking revenge for his parents' murder. He eventually tracks down Thulsa Doom, the cult leader responsible for destroying his village. Alongside his companions Subotai and Valeria, Conan infiltrates the cult's mountain stronghold.

Arnold Schwarzenegger performed the vast majority of his own physical stunts and sword fighting in the movie, heavily utilizing his real bodybuilding background. He trained extensively with swords and even handled live vultures for certain scenes. His dedication to the physical demands of the role helped cement his status as an action star.

While John Milius captured the brutish strength of the character, the film takes significant liberties with the lore established by writer Robert E. Howard. In the original stories, Conan is a cunning and articulate warrior, whereas the 1982 film portrays him as a stoic, muscle-bound slave turned gladiator. The film also invented entirely new origin stories for his parents and his quest for revenge.