Conan the Barbarian: The Secret History of Basil Poledouris's Monumental Soundtrack

Some musical scores transcend the big screen to enter cinematic legend. Released in 1982, John Milius's Conan the Barbarian shaped the codes of cinematic Heroic Fantasy. Beyond Arnold Schwarzenegger's iconic performance, it is the towering score composed by Basil Poledouris that truly forged the film's soul.

A Visual and Musical Opera

From the very beginning, director John Milius envisioned his feature as a nearly silent fresco where music dictated the narrative. The first thirty minutes unfold almost entirely without dialogue, leaving the symphony to carry the story. This radical approach turned the film into an enduring pagan ritual, inspired by the orchestral weight of Richard Wagner.

The Art of the Forge and Resisting the Studios

This collaboration originated from the filmmakers' college years at USC. Involved long before shooting began, Poledouris composed the main themes ahead of time. Despite pressure from producer Dino De Laurentiis, who wanted pop or rock music to appeal to teenagers, Milius stood firm, demanding drums, horns, and titanic choirs for a timeless feel.

From the hammering of the anvil on the legendary Anvil of Crom theme to the apocalyptic choral arrangements of Riders of Doom, the composer built a symphonic masterpiece. Recorded in Rome with a 90-piece orchestra and a 24-voice choir, this soundtrack remains an absolute pinnacle of film history over forty years later.