costigan

as a BIG fan of REH, I owe a debt of gratitude to the likes of Mr. Weinberg, Donald Grant and Glenn Lord.  These scholars and enthusiasts have played an essential role in helping to keep Howard's work available and for enlightening us, the reading public, with well-researched insights.  As publishers and agents they've provided a literary "lifeline " between  the faithful and those wonderful creations born from the brain of REH. Many thanks!

my favorite...

"Believe green buds awaken in the spring,
That autumn paints the leaves with somber fire;
  Believe I held my heart inviolate,
  To lavish on one man my hot desire."
   --Song of Belit

the movie you'rethinking of is "The Losers"(aka "Hell's Angel In Vietnam") Remember the fight he had with Nick Nolte in "Rich Man, Poor Man"? Or better still the terrific drag-out battle with Rod Taylor in "Darker Than Amber" Things got out of control during this one, with both men really hitting the other guy. Taylor had his nose broken andI think Smith had a busted rib! On the merits of this brutal fight, both men were inducted into the Stuntmen Union as honorary members, the only time that's happened. What caught my attention in reading Smith's bio was hid proficiency in 5 languages. We all know Conan is also something of a linguist, as he picks up languages well enough to communicate in dozensof countries. Smith was also an undefeated boxer(as was Palance). Oh, what could have and should have been!

my choice for the brawling barbarian has always come down to two toughguys: Jack Palance and William Smith. Both are big men(6'3") Palance the leaner of the two, Smith a former bodybuilder. Both are famous for their meancing demeanors and capacity for violence. The pity is the passing of Time has made their playing what should have been their signature role impossible--except portraying Conan in his older years. These two look like they stepped out of a Frazetta painting, for cryin' out loud, so close in their look to artist's interpretation. Both are highly intelligent men and damn good actors! Here's some backgroundon William Smith who we all remember as Conan' father in the first movie.
William Smith

William Smith, born on a Missouri cattle ranch, was riding horses nearly before he walked. After losing everything to the Depression and the Dustbowl, the Smith family moved to California. Bill became a studio extra, appearing in many films as a child performer. After high school, Bill joined the Air Force. Being fluent in five languages, he was assigned overseas to the NSA Security Squadron, active in military intelligence during the Korean War.

After receiving a Purple Heart for his military duty, Smith studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, the University of Munich, and Syracuse University. Graduating cum laude at UCLA, he received a Masters in Russian Area Studies. With forty hours on his doctorate, he dropped out of academia and was put under contract by MGM.

In spite of his scholarly background, his dangerous good looks made him a natural to be cast in the black hat. Some of these more notable performances area s the outlaw in The Ultimate Warrior, as Gene Wilders' nemesis in The Frisco Kid and the Russian Colonel in Red Dawn. Taking screen villainy to new heights as Falconetti in Rich Man, Poor Man, Smith was nominated for an EMMY.

Now and then Bill does get to play a good guy, as with Kurt Russell in Mean Season, as Schwarzeneggers' awesome father in Conan The Barbarian and the fighter set up to do battle with Eastwood in Any Which Way You Can. He became a regular in such TV series as Laredo, The Asphalt Jungle, Zero One, Hawaii Five-O, and Wildside.

Smith soon gained recognition and went on to become one of Hollywood's best-known character actors. A true legend in the business, this World Arm Wrestling Champion, and sports record holder continues his acting career and has become an avid poet of note.

horror vs. fantasy
this can be foggy territory to navigate as the two often intersect and make use of each others traits.  I think the distinction  between the two can be made by determining the dominating drive or intent of the story.  If the main goal is to scare the reader, then, at least in the general sense, it qualifies as horror.  Fantasy is a little different as it draws upon a wider choice of circumstance, setting and resolution. Both Fantasy and Horror, at least in the rely on stock situations established by tradition and specific archetypes.  Fantasy DOES have a certain degree of fright attached to it, but scaring the audience is not the main or singualr intent.  Is "The Thing" a horror story or a sci-fi story?  Is "King Kong" a horror movie or a fantasy movie or an adventure film? How about "The Omega Man? or "Something Wicked THis Way Comes"? You can see how tricky it is to attach easy labels to these examples.  There's a lot of grey area being covered making it all the more difficult to put them into a covenient box.  Howard could write a chilling horror story like "Pigeons From Hell" and "Kelly The Conjure-Man", with the best of them, and there are plenty of scenes in both the Conan and Solomon Kane sagas that are horrific in their intent and effect.  The only explanation I can offer is that I know horror when I see or read it; likewise with fantasy or sword and sorcery.