King Solomon's Mines (1950)

King Solomon's Mines

King Solomon's Mines is truly one the best movies about Africa. The scenery is spectacular. The story seemed to be a never-ending confrontation with wild animals however it was interesting to see the
the variety. The native tribes were also interesting, especially the very tall Watusi and their dance. The actors portrayed believable roles and the movie deserved the two Oscars it received. I will watch it again and again. August 22, 2008

More Hollywood than Haggard, but still a terrific yarn

Written as a bet that he couldn't come up with a better adventure story than Treasure Island, H. Rider Haggard's King Solomon's Mines has proved itself a hardy perennial over the years without ever getting a particularly faithful screen adaptation. MGM's 1950 version more or less keeps to the bare bones of the story, but changes the reason for the quest and those on it - not a pure treasure hunt but a search for Deborah Kerr's missing husband who may or may not have met his end searching for the fabled mines. Stewart Granger's fine as her reluctant guide Allan Quatermain (a role originally intended for Errol Flynn, who wasn't physically up to the rigors of difficult location shooting), going purely for the money but gradually thawing enough to start hoping that Kerr really is a widow.

Most of the novel's action is missing, though the climax is still present and correct, but it's still a surprisingly entertaining star vehicle that holds up much better than its reputation might lead you to believe. The film's big selling point is that it was actually shot on remote African locations, quite an achievement with the unwieldy Technicolor cameras of the day. As a result there's a travelogue feel to much of the film as it goes out of its way to stress that they're not on the backlot even though there is a fair bit of back-projection in the big stampede sequence. (MGM had enough footage left over for another three films, with Watusi, the dire 1959 Tarzan the Apeman and the 1973 remake of Trader Horn all making much use of it to keep their costs down.) It may perhaps be a little tame for those raised on Indiana Jones, but if you're not expecting a cliffhanger every reel you'll find a lot to enjoy.

The only extra is a trailer, which boasts a score by Miklos Rozsa (the film has no score at all beyond local African chants).
July 25, 2008

King Solomon's Mines

What can I say? It's a classic, and I love it. The stampede scene is worth the price all by itself.
July 22, 2008

A Vehicle For Its Stars

Hollywood kept very little of author Sir H. Rider Haggard's plot in this version of his book. In actuality, so much is changed that the movie bears little resemblance to the original. For instance, Deborah Kerr's character is not in the original. It is Sir Henry Curtis' brother, along with a friend, Capt. Good, who convince Mr. Quatermain to conduct their safari. The love interest in Haggard's original involves an inter-racial affair between an indiginous girl, Faulata (who, unfortunately does not survive the adventure), and Capt. Good. Two other major differences - - in the original the party helps itself to pocketfuls of diamonds when departing the treasure chamber (more in keeping with the true colonial spirit that you take what you can), and Sir Henry's brother is found alive (but for a broken leg he might have walked out on his own)!

Obviously, you don't watch this movie to see a faithful adaptation of the novel. We watch it because of its two main stars, Kerr and Granger. Enough of the period, location and the rigors of the expedition is captured to provide context for the love story /adventure film this movie was engineered to be. As it is, it is an enjoyable, wonderfully filmed (in Technicolor) "matinee" movie, made interesting more by Kerr and Granger than by anything associated with the mission that obstensively brought them together in the first place. But be warned, kids! No one should ever write a book report based on what you see in this film! April 11, 2008

One of Greatest Dance Sequences Ever on Film!

I first saw this film when I was a boy and never, ever forget the Watusi warrior dances. It is one of the most beautiful dance sequences ever filmed. The drums, the outfits and the ecstatic joy of the dancers themselves a kind of male grace and a warrior's pride in lilting wonderful movement interspersed with those stunning leaps. One feels as though one were in the presence of a superior and lordly race! January 19, 2008

More reviews at Amazon.com ...