Action fantasy starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as a sword-fighting hero that sets out to purge the world of the evil, shape-shifting sorcerer Thulsa Doom (Jones), the head of a mysterious snake cult.

Having witnessed the savage killing of his parents and the rest of the village, Conan - just a boy at the time - is taken away and treated like a beast of burden until he's old enough to be sold as a slave.

His master trains him to be a warrior, making a fortune by using him in fights and after years in the slave camp, Conan has grown into both a formidable fighter and a human ox!

On obtaining his freedom, Conan seeks revenge and resolves to gain access to the dark wizard's underground lair, making some powerful friends and dangerous enemies along the way.

Director John Milius, notorious for his contribution to the scripts of Dirty Harry and Apocalypse Now, also wrote Magnum Force (more tough-guy antics from Clint Eastwood as Harry Callahan) and directed Red Dawn.

Enjoy his classic adaptation of Robert E. Howard's sword and sorcery adventures, which made the Schwarzenegger name and had the big man doing all his own stunts as no suitable body double could be found.

Dominic Bloch