Is The Conqueror Of The Useless Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1966)

📖 The Core Premise

With the release of The Conqueror Of The Useless (1966), audiences are invited back into the world of Documentary. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "Biography of ski instructor, mountain guide, mountaineer and filmmaker-lecturer Lionel Terray. Film-portrait of an emblematic figure of French mountaineering in the 1950s and 1960s, reconstructing the life, the great races and the expeditions of the "conqueror" of the most difficult walls and summits of Europe, the Himalayas, the Andes and North America. Marcel Ichac produced in 1966, the day after the Gerbier accident, this illustrated tribute by bringing together personal archive documents, unpublished animated sequences or extracts from expedition images as well as comments taken from the autobiographical texts of Lionel Terray " The Conquerors of the Useless" and "Battle for Jannu". This film, presented at the Cannes Film Festival, has won numerous awards at specialized film festivals, including the Trente Festival and the Banff Festival."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. In The Conqueror Of The Useless, Lionel Terray delivers a performance that anchors the emotional weight of the film. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Documentary. The cinematography and score further amplify the experience, creating a truly immersive atmosphere.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is The Conqueror Of The Useless worth your time? If you appreciate Documentary films that take risks, this is likely a must-watch. It stands out as one of the stronger entries of 1966, offering enough depth to satisfy critical viewers while remaining accessible to casual audiences.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, The Conqueror Of The Useless is a solid addition to the genre. With a runtime of 31 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Definitely Watch.