THE CONQUEROR — World Premiere Tour 1956

In our last Journal we featured the attendance of John Wayne and Ward Bond at the World Premiere showings of the classic western ‘THE SEARCHERS’ in four different US Cities during May,1956. In this Journal we look at another Premiere Tour by John Wayne, four months earlier in January 1956 and this time to four different European Capitals... 12th January 1956 marked the start of a personal appearance tour by John Wayne when he sailed for Europe from New York on the liner United States-The tour would take him to four  European capitals in connection with a series of world-wide charity premieres of RKO’s $6 million film THE  CONQUEROR, in which Wayne co-starred with Susan Hayward. Wayne would personally attend the first of the premieres in Paris, France on January 20th followed by Berlin, Germany on January 28th, Rome, Italy on January 30th and London, England on  February 2nd.

Above: An impressive front foyer display at The Marignan Theatre, Paris which marked the Premiere Mondial for THE CONQUEROR.

THE PARIS PREMIERE– January 20th, 1956.
The World premiere of RKO’s film THE CONQUEROR starring John Wayne was acclaimed by a glittering parade of French stars who attended the Charity showing. Luminaries of the entertainment, diplomatic, government and social worlds– in addition to 50 beautiful French models– turned out at the opening of the film which depicts the conquests of Genghis Khan.
Before the performance began, the lobby of the huge Marignon Theatre buzzed with many languages-Among those present were Prince Aly Khan and model Bettina, his frequent companion. Prince Eristove, reputedly a direct descendent of Genghis Khan, John Wayne and French Film stars Odile Versois, Vivian Romance, Gisele Pascal, Dominique Willm and American born Eddie Constantine..
The opening was turned into a fashion show by the models representing a score of Paris’ great fashion houses.They wore the latest gowns and creations.proceeds from the first performance went to workers in the French needle industry– the women who have spent years skilfully plying the needles that have turned out some of the world’s most beautiful clothes.

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