Williamsburg Regional Library

The conquerors, RKO Radio Pictures, Inc. ; executive producer, David O. Selznick ; director, William Wellman ; writer, Robert Lord ; story, Howard Estabrook

eng

videorecording

The conquerors

videorecording

709732545

RKO Radio Pictures, Inc. ; executive producer, David O. Selznick ; director, William Wellman ; writer, Robert Lord ; story, Howard Estabrook

90

Archive collection

"During the economic prosperity of 1873, New York bank clerk Roger Standish dreams of marrying his boss's daughter, Carolyn Ogden. When Carolyn's father catches her alone with Roger, however, he fires Roger and banishes him from Carolyn's life. Soon after, a depression hits, and the Ogden bank is destroyed. Bankrupt, Ogden collapses and dies, leaving Carolyn penniless but free to marry Roger. The broke but happy newlyweds leave New York to start fresh in the West, but while in Nebraska are ambushed by outlaws. In the struggle, Roger is shot, then is taken to the nearest town, Fort Allen, to be treated by Dr. Daniel Blake, an alcoholic but competent physician. During Roger's recovery, Carolyn moves in with Daniel and his tough but generous wife Matilda, who runs the town hotel. After Roger incites the townspeople to defeat the marauding outlaws, he is urged by the pregnant Carolyn to start a bank, and the Standish Bank is born. Years later, after Carolyn has given birth to twins, Frances and Roger, Jr., Roger and Carolyn persuade a transcontinental railroad company to run their line through Fort Allen. On the day of the line's christening, a drunk Daniel accidentally crashes his buggy on the tracks, and both he and Roger, Jr. are crushed by the oncoming train. Although devastated by their son's death, Roger and Carolyn persevere and rear Frances to beautiful maturity. As Frances, who has married bank clerk Warren Lennox, is about to give birth, another economic crisis rocks the bank. Because of Warren's carelessness, the Standish Bank loses most of its assets, but Roger vows to repay all of his panicking customers. Warren commits suicide, but his son Roger grows up and becomes an aviation hero during the World War. During her grandson's homecoming parade, the proud but frail Carolyn collapses and dies. Soon after the stock market crash of 1929, the younger Roger asks his elderly grandfather to dissolve his five-million dollar trust fund so that he can invest in the Standish Bank and protect the customers' savings. Impressed by his grandson's brave dedication to the American dream, Roger happily signs over his inheritance"--AFI catalog, 1931-1940

general

live action