MovieChat Forums > Conan the Barbarian (1982) Discussion > Still holds up, Valeria and versions

Still holds up, Valeria and versions

posted 6 years ago by SteveG (1370)
1 reply | jump to latest

I find this film just as enjoyable to watch now as I did when I was 15 seeing it in the theater. This is one of the strongest female characters ever. She is equal to every modern strong female lead such as Ripley, Black Widow, Sarah Connor etc. If this movie were to come out now fans would be demanding a Valeria stand-alone film. I really love her character here and I hate the part when she dies because she is such an enjoyable part of the story. Its a shame Sandahl Bergman's acting career didnt play out better cause I thought she was very impressive in this role. I dont see any "extended" or "director" cuts of this title only 2 different versions one being the international and the other being the domestic or American, with both being 2 hours and 9 minutes long. I just watched the international version for the first time and the difference was negligible and did not add any depth to the story. Although I did like the talk between Conan and Subotai prior to the final battle at the mounds I found it an odd place to insert this scene considering the climax was at hand. So in that regard I prefer the American version which excludes that scene and gets right into the battle preparation. If there actually is an extended/directors cut longer than the 2 existing versions which are both 2 hours and 9 minutes I would like to know about it but I dont see one out there.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 5 years ago

Yeah, there is, I have it on Region 1 Blu-ray. It does not expand on Valaria’s story, but does include more of the brainwashed princess’s story.

Sandahl was a FANTASTIC lead Broadway dancer who appeared in the Bob Fosse biopic, All That Jazz, and in 2 films more-or-less akin to Conan: She, and Red Sonjya. Neither film deserved her, but she ennobled them both. A friend whom I value tremendously and who has a keen and canny eye for dance saw her dance on Broadway and met her afterwards. She told Sandahl, “The other dancers might as well take a cig break when you do a solo.”

Everyone focuses on Arnie’s muscles and the musical score for this movie, but the passionate love between Valaria and Conan is what makes it a classic. “I have never had so much as now. . . . All the gods, they cannot sever us. If I were dead, and you still fighting for life, I’d come back from the DARK, from THE PIT OF HELL, to fight at your side.”

Sandahl Bergman has all that she needs: talent, grace, fluid artistry and immortality among us who value Fantasy film. No heroine in Fantasy film history will ever surpass Valaria, Queen of Thieves. I dare say none thus far in history has equaled her.