It may not be one of the best "sub-epics" that aim for the prestige and grandeur of Ben-Hur or El Cid, but there are still enough battles and historical histrionics here to while away a wet Sunday afternoon. Omar Sharif glowers manfully as the Mongol invader, riding across Yugoslavian locations and hacking extras to bloody bits in Henry Levin's slow-moving film; Jack Palance would have been a better choice. A superior supporting cast does, however, offer a few diversions: James Mason and Robert Morley are especially silly as Chinamen, and Ben-Hur villain Stephen Boyd is almost as nasty here as Genghis Khan's archenemy Jamuga.

This is the story of the shy Mongol boy Temujin who,during the 13th century, becomes the fearless Mongol leader Genghis Khan that unites all Mongol tribes and conquers India,China,Persia,Korea and parts of Rusia,Europe and Middle-East.