King Solomon's Mines (1950) User Reviews (94)

Rousing adaptation lavishly produced by Sam Zimbalist about H. Rider Haggard's classic adventure novel

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 31 July 2008]

The screenplay follows the British version by Robert Stevenson but the screenwriter Helen Deutsch changed the plot, as introducing a female character, the brotherhood relationship for matrimonial relation and eliminating the fantastic elements. Two English actors starred, Stewart Granger as the famous Allan Quatermain and Deborah Kerr as Elizabeth Curtis, hiring the great white hunter and accompanied by her brother John performed by Richard Carlson. At the time was announced as starring Errol Flynn , though he renounced for performing 'Kim' by Victor Saville. The safari led by Stewart Granger set out in search for her husband and the king Salomon's treasure mines. The brave hunter and the elegant lady become fast friends, confronting risks and danger in search of legendary diamonds mines.The African native is played by a real Watusi ethnic, Sinaque, reclaiming his rights over throne.In 1937 version was the supreme role performed by the singer Paul Robeson who proved his singing faculties.

The filming started in Africa 1949, running time five months. The crew travelled by hundred miles in planes and trucks across Kenia, Uganda, Congo Belgian, Lagoon Victory, Falls of Murchisin and north of lagoon Tanganika where live the Watusi. Polished and coloristic production design by the veteran Cedric Gibbons. Heat and ills affected the crew and main actors but Deborah Kerr surprised for her resistance. There had confronting between Stewart Granger and Compton Bennett and Andrew Marton directed the second unity. Then, Metro Goldwyn Mayer dismissed Compton and Marton finished the picture. It was nominated for best movie and won Academy Award for cinematography by Robert Surtees and edition. Had several take-out with no use and later Metro Goldwyn Mayer utilized for its follow-up.

The picture is followed by a sequel, rapidly made, created with excess footage previous, titled 'Watusi'(1959) by Kurt Neumann with George Montgomery and David Farrar. An inferior version directed by J.Lee Thompson(1985) with Richard Chamberlain and Sharon Stone; and a TV adaptation directed by Steven Boyum with Patrick Swayze and Alison Doody, among others.

Classic Adventure; Unpretentious, Epic in Feel, Plus a Mature Romance

[silverscreen888 · 8/10 · 30 June 2005]

When this production was mounted for Stewart Granger, with Deborah Kerr and Richard Carlson as his co-stars, no one could have imagined how imitated, influential and important the film would become. It has an epic quality about it that is earned by African on-site locales, fine cinematography and direction of the film, and the discovery-aspect of the narrative as the participants learn along about a fascinating continent and its people with the viewers. H. Rider Haggard's venerable novel find to b a curious mixture of Victorian angst, adventure, romance, mystery evoked by an expedition storyline. The fine acting by Stewart Granger as Alan Quartermain the white hunter, Deborah Kerr as a woman seeking her missing husband, Richard Carlson as her brother, and Hugo Haas as a back-sliding villain works exceptionally to increase the believability of the film. The simplest incident on this dangerous expedition--sitting down in the wrong place, turning over a leaf, wearing the wrong weight or textile of garment, cutting one's hair, hearing a sound, anything--can trigger a learning or a dangerous experience... This was a lavish MGM production, with participation by legendary artists and technicians such as Cedric Gibbons as art director, Edwin B. Willis as set decorator, Robert Surtees as cinematographer, Douglas Shearer in charge of sound and many others. But the real star of the film apart from the actors is Andrew Marton and Compton Bennett's realization of Helen Deutsch's interesting modernization of the original novel. Wjite hunter Alan Quartermain does not really care to live any longer; he has just seen one of his best "boys" die in a hunting accident, having been hired to please a bloodthirsty imperial's whim to kill wildlife; and Deborah Kerr comes along just then in need of a guide, trying to convince herself that she still cares about the cold husband who disappeared in search of a fabled treasure, the gold mines of King Solomon of Israel.. Obviously the two are ready to fall in love during the dangerous search for her lost mate, one that takes them into unknown country, among dangerous tribes, and into adventures that include helping a deposed seven-foot-tall monarch regain his throne by a rite of combat, incidentally saving their lives in the process. The most exciting sequence in the film is a grass fire that causes animals to stampede toward the expedition, who must taken shelter crouched low behind a makeshift low barrier; it has been imitated, never duplicated, and was later used in several other films. The film is occasionally leisurely, never dull; its makers play with time very intelligently. For once, the viewer gets the sense in a film of an arduous trek, of time passing, time for changes to happen and motivations for the same. The actors are grand, especially the mature intelligent leads; all-in-all, this simple storyline in the right hands was turned into what is all-but-universally acknowledge to be a classic adventure-romance.

One of the best films of the '50s.

[ctrout · 8/10 · 3 June 2004]

The film follows an excellent hunter (Granger) who is payed to go on a safari to find the lost husband of Deborah Kerr and Richard Carlson. He reluctantly agrees. Along the way they run into different perils. Including many tribes that want the group dead.

The film is very exciting. And you feel for the characters when they come into contact with danger. I wish more action films could make you do that. The performances are the reason behind this. It's too bad that the actors and actresses in the film weren't nominated for Oscars. I doubt they deserved to win, but they deserved to be up.

The script is also very good. It strays away from the book just a little bit. But I have no problem with that because the film, by itself, is very good.

The cinematography and editing are flawless. And they rightly won Oscars. The film was also nominated for Best Picture. It's one of the better adventure films.

Still a Treat

[dougdoepke · 27 February 2011]

I remember the movie played in our little town's premier theatre to considerable fanfare— See Darkest Africa As It Really Is in Dramatic Technicolor!— you know, that sort of thing. In fact it was a treat to see all the wild animals and fearsome natives, plus an exciting adventure story. I expect MGM made back its expenses and then some.

Of course, that was before TV brought the world into living rooms everywhere. The movie may have lost that long ago novelty, but it's still a good story set in what was then colonial Africa, with a first-rate cast, including the exotic Umbopa, the prince in exile. Then there's that thundering stampede whose mighty numbers still impress.

Like many reviewers, I cringe now at the elephant kill. I'm sure I didn't at the time, but then this ecological type change reflects a newer awareness, and one I think for the better. Actually, Quartermain (Stewart) is also bothered by big game kills, one reason he's ready to give up his hunting safaris.

Happily, Stewart's persuasive as the experienced white man, while Kerr does nicely as the British gentlewoman able to adapt her well-bred ways. (However, MGM, ever the glamour studio, refuses to de-glamorize her no matter how rough the going). I do feel a little sorry for tag-along John (Carlson) who, nevertheless, hangs in there. On the other hand, I'm still curious about the van Brun (Haas) role. Was that episode in the book or was it added to diversify and perhaps pad the storyline.

No, those old promotionals about Africa in Color wouldn't work now. But the movie's still an eyeful with a good adventure yarn and a fine cast, and those are film features that do endure.

A step forward in the use of authentic locales for Africa...

[Doylenf · 6/10 · 29 December 2006]

H. Ryder Haggard's adventure tale has been transposed to the screen with professional polish, given authentic African locales for all the background color, and uses no music on the soundtrack except for the chants of African tribes. As such, it's a stunning film to look at in gorgeous Technicolor and nicely played by STEWART GRANGER as the burnt by the sun Safari guide and DEBORAH KERR in another of her prim leading lady roles.

Kerr is actually seeking the best of guides so she can hunt for her husband, so she takes along her good friend RICHARD CARLSON. Naturally, a romantic attachment to Granger gradually develops once Kerr starts to melt under the African sun.

All of the scenes involving actual native tribes are beautifully staged and handled with a sense of excitement and adventure, as are the scenes of wild animals. But it's basically a showcase for MGM's new property, Miss Kerr, and their new leading man, Mr. Granger.

It kept fans happy when it opened at New York's Radio City Music Hall in the summer of '50, but today it's largely forgotten among the many gems that came out that year. It did win a couple of Oscars, one for the beautiful color cinematography.

Very good, but of its time

[neil-476 · 7/10 · 9 July 2011]

H Rider Haggard was a visionary author. He wrote a series of Africa-based fantasy and adventure novels which took his Victorian audience into the most exotic places - even when those places were real (and they weren't always!) they were totally outside the experience of the reader.

This 1950 film adaptation of one of those novels has the same sort of impact on its pre-TV cinema audience. Although it takes a number of liberties with Haggard's source material, it delivers action, adventure, colour, and exotic locations to an audience which was, for the most part unfamiliar with the African locations used here.

Watching it now, 60 years later, it still entertains although it now comes over as rather on the quaint side. The TV generations are now only too familiar with locations all over the globe, so what was once eye-catchingly different is now somewhat familiar (although still quite eye-catching).

Where this film is still unusual is in its use of Masai in acting roles.

Great, Rare Color Footage of African Villagers etc

[seanmoliver64 · 9/10 · 6 May 2013]

This 1950's version of King Solomon's Mines is unusual in a couple ways. First, there's no symphonic music score whatsoever. Film music is typically used to tell us what we as the audience should feel about activity on screen, and also tell us what the characters themselves are supposedly feeling. In this way both audience and characters share the same emotional reactions. Music on film is such a common and natural expectation (or substitute?) for an audience's emotions, that some reviewers here think the movie was bland and boring!

Secondly, the MGM crew of about 30 people and 7 cargo trucks spent months in 1949 filming this on the Dark Continent itself, at locations hundreds of miles from civilization in eastern Africa instead of the usual Hollywood lots. They enlisted the inhabitants of remote villages as actors, asked them to perform communal dances, and took many close-up shots of their faces, hair, headgear, jewelry and body paint. This amounts to some of the most magnificent - and rare - color and sound footage of "old" untouched African culture I've seen.

Not long after this, during the 1950's-1960's these villages gradually became part of the modern world, and by the 1980's, remote tribesmen were filmed as they hunted with spears - wearing "Michael Jackson" t- shirts.

The movie is generally pretty good, but the Africans steal the show.

Dark Continent.

[rmax304823 · 7/10 · 3 July 2012]

This movie marked the end of Africa as the Dark Continent, as it was seen in the 19th century. In the movies of the period, there were always blank spots on the map -- Terra Incognita and Hereabouts There Be Dragons. The movies treated Africa as a kind of theme park designed for viewers who had only seen lions and giraffes in the zoo, if they saw them at all. "King Solomon's Mines", like the films that preceded it, contain a kind of colorful travelogue in which the narrator -- here, the protagonist Stewart Granger as the Great White Hunter -- explains to us what we're about to see.

"And now the natives in their colorful garb celebrate a religious ritual with an exotic dance. Afterward they sit down to a feast. The fact that the roast gnu still has hair on it doesn't seem to interfere with their appetites!" After "The African Queen" this Dark Continent model more or less disappeared from the screen. There wasn't a single lion or rhinoceros in "The African Queen," and the worst living menace that Bogart and Hepburn faced were an apparently limitless cloud of biting gnats.

Yet, "King Solomon's Mines" is more than just a travelogue. That old-fashioned element is gotten out of the way rather quickly, and what follows is a tip-top adventure story of a long and dangerous journey in search of a missing husband and a fortune in diamonds -- and the "natives" are treated with respect.

It was a popular picture in its time. I was sick and missed the class visit to its premier at Radio City Music Hall. It's well acted, as well as nicely plotted. Stewart Granger is a disillusioned white guide who manages to sport a nice Malibu sun tan. His melodious and theatrical voice was impressive. Deborah Kerr in, I think, her first American film is breath-takingly beautiful in a winsome way that makes you want to take care of her between nuzzles. Richard Carlson is his standard screen persona with a slight British accent.

The novel on which the film is based was written by H. Rider Haggard, 1856 to 1925, who had lived in South Africa and knew how to write cracking good adventure stories. I was addicted to them in adolescence. This was perhaps his most popular; this and "She", which gave us the phrase, "She who must be obeyed," which I don't like to remember because it reminds me of my marriage. I read some of Haggard's work more recently and -- well, I think it helps to be a teen ager to get the most out of them.

The location shooting was done partly in Africa, most of it by a second-unit crew, and it's convincingly African -- even the parts that were shot in California.

The film was hugely popular in 1950 and it's worth watching now because it still glows with some of the old magic.

Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr

[NewEnglandPat · 9/10 · 28 June 2003]

This colorful outdoor story is great entertainment and has excellent work by Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr. The spare plot involves a search for a woman's missing husband which leads eventually to a diamond mine in a distant province. The safari braves assorted dangers along the way from wild animals and savage tribesmen, and the film captures the beautiful vistas of the African plains and exotic animals in their natural habitat. Richard Carlson is along as a member of the safari, as are two natives who provide fine characterizations as the plot unfolds. This picture doesn't have a music score but does have instead the drums and chants of the tribesmen that provide an authentic accompaniment to the film. Robert Surtees received an Academy Award for his excellent cinematography for this movie.

Realistic African adventure with Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr

[Wuchakk · 7/10 · 29 September 2014]

"King Solomon's Mines" tells the story of a woman (Deborah Kerr) and her brother (Richard Carlson) who hire a white hunter (Stewart Granger) in central Africa in the late 1800s to track down her missing husband who went in search of the fabled mines.

It should be understood that this classic 1950 adventure film is just that – a realistic adventure film and not an action movie, although there are some brief action scenes, of course. I say "realistic" in the sense that the story is taken seriously; there's no Tarzan or Indiana Jones and practically everything that happens is within the realm of possibility.

The film was shot in central Africa – Congo, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania –with desert scenes shot at Death Valley and nearby Lone Pine, CA, and the cave scenes at Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. The locations are incredible, to say the least, but the desert scenes beg the question: What desert did they run into in the jungles of central Africa? The only possible answer is that they went so far south they hit the Kalahari Desert.

Like I said, this is a realistic adventure film (there's a slight romantic subplot but it's hardly worth mentioning). As such, be prepared for a cool hike into remotest Africa and the various fascinating tribes and animals thereof. Some criticize the film for showcasing too many animals, as if it's a zoological tour as much as a story, but the film was shot in 1949 and deepest Africa was still a mystery to the average person outside of Africa, which is why it's known as the "dark continent." Speaking of which, this was before Western Civilization reached (or infected) all the tribes in the interior and so the tribespeople appear authentic. If you were to go there today you'd see them walking around with tennis shoes, jeans and AC/DC shirts.

Speaking of authenticity, the filmmakers made the wise decision to omit a conventional score and utilized percussion-oriented tribal music. This keeps the film from being unnecessarily dated with one of those horrible old-fashioned scores from the period.

As far as the tribespeople go, the towering Watutsi are magnificent and the sequences at their awesome kingdom are a highlight.

Lastly, you have to take into consideration that the story is condensed into a 103-minute time frame and certain segments of the story take much longer than shown, like the cavern sequence or the hike across the desert. The filmmakers obviously didn't want the film to bog down with overlong sequences.

BOTTOM LINE: This is a great film for when you're in the mood for a realistic old-fashioned African adventure without Tarzan, Cheeta or Indiana Jones. Granger stands out as the uber-masculine hunter and Kerr is striking as the adamant redhead, but she's revealed as too weak at times, which isn't cool today.

GRADE: B+

A National Geographic special + a predictable romance

[LCShackley · 4/10 · 13 October 2008]

The problem I had with this film is that it can't seem to make up its mind whether it's an adventure story or a travelogue. The director pads the film with pictures of every conceivable African beast, and some glorious scenery, but the story is weak, and the romantic development is of the highest cliché factor imaginable. (And unfortunately, many of the spliced-in animal scenes were obviously filmed by different crews or just borrowed from someone else's film.)

Anyone who has sat through INDIANA JONES or even ROMANCING THE STONE will be asleep by the third reel. And of course, critics who lean toward the PETA crowd, or dislike imperialism and paternalism, will be offended about once every five minutes by the slaughter of animals and the male>female interaction. (Brave man repeatedly saves screaming, helpless woman.)

Granger reminded me so much of Steve Coogan, that I couldn't help but wish they'd remake this as a spoof.

If you want an glimpse into what Africa looked like 60 years ago, this would be a wonderful way to spend an hour. Unfortunately, it goes on much longer than an hour, with its paper- thin plot. Read the book if you want real adventure.

Simply a great movie!

[FabD1 · 9/10 · 16 September 2005]

Aaron Copland believed great art goes hand in hand with simplicity. This movie is simple and great. I was browsing on the internet when I discovered some reviews of the R-1 DVD which heavily criticize the movie (and not just the DVD). I gave a quick look at IMDb to discover that, quite amazingly to me, the movie has only a 6.8 rating, that it has only been rated by less than a thousand viewers and that many viewer apparently found it boring. Let me just emphasize what should be obvious: this version of 'King Solomon's Mines' is not an action movie. It is probably best described as an invitation to Africa, combined with a reflexion on various aspects of what it means to be human. It many respects, it foreshadows and complements Clint Eastwood's 'White Hunter, Black Heart'.

Let me mention just one striking 'detail': what's going on on screen is SO fascinating that no music has been added to the various sounds emanating from the country or from the music instruments of the African people themselves. This was a daring move, especially at the time, but it enriched the movie enormously.

I will end this quick review with a piece of advice: Your mind should be as free as possible from everyday's life various troubles if you want to enjoy this movie. Pick up a night when you are already rather relaxed, and immerse yourself gently into the atmosphere created by the filmmakers. You won't regret it.

The only way out of this is... suffocation.

[hitchcockthelegend · 6/10 · 12 May 2009]

H. Rider Haggard's classic story about African adventurer/guide Allan Quartermain, who after agreeing to search for Elizabeth Curtis' missing husband. Finds himself on the trail of the fabled diamond mines of King Solomon.

A road movie in African locations? Well yes it is, but if exotic locations and jungle japery is your thing? Then King Solomon's Mines is the film for you. MGM shelled out a then staggering $3.5 million to make this piece, and not a penny is wasted as it's one of the finest productions from the adventure genre. Robert Surtees rightly bagged the Academy Award for his cinematography, the jungle, mountains and swamps all brought vividly to life by the adroit Surtees. Yet as good as it is technically, and as epic as Haggard's source is, the film still doesn't quite reach the heights to compliment the other aspects.

It's not so much the cast, who had to contend with searing heat and numerous jungle infections, it's just the characters they play are plain and uninteresting. The burgeoning romance between Stewart Granger's Quartermain and Debora Kerr's Curtis is fine, and helps the trip zip along, but they are devoid of expression, secondary to the scenery around them. Granger {stepping in after Errol Flynn dropped out} does look the part of an adventurer, but a hint of heroism is badly missing, while Kerr plays the prim mistress act as if in her sleep. It's almost as if the technical aspects of the film took precedence over character substance, and that's a shame because this should have been a total benchmark for the action/adventure genre.

Unusually for films around this era, the African tribes are afforded respect, and actually are the most interesting characters on show, and although a whiff of imperialism is hard to ignore, it never suffocates the actual story, mainly because of the air of daftness that is driving it all along. It's basically a technically excellent film {fake creatures aside} that sadly underachieves on its human characterisations. But with that said, now comes my disclaimer that it's a film I have constantly revisited over the years, I get a kick out of it, as I'm sure many others do. If only they had..........well I can't go on about it can I? 6.5/10

Not close to the book

[ncmike1 · 5/10 · 30 March 2011]

It's Quatermain, not Quartermain. I had just finished reading the book, and the film doesn't follow it at all except in a very few places. However, the film still stands out as a good adventure, with excellent photography and views of Africa not seen before including the animals and the natives. Wonderful for its time, I guess, but doesn't really hold up for today's audiences. I still enjoyed it for what it is. The stampede scene was, however, pretty darn good. I have no idea how they got that to happen especially with so many different kinds of animals. What made me laugh, though, was the giant spider. It was so fake. And why was it even called King Soloman's Mines? They spent about 1 minute looking at the gems, and then went on with the unrelated story. Overall, it was just OK.

Fascinating filming of the stampede

[JuguAbraham · 6/10 · 25 January 2002]

I was not impressed by anything in the film except for the shooting of the stampede scene. Until I saw this film, I was convinced the most authentic stampede was in "How the west was won".

I give full marks to Robert Surtees for filming this sequence with fleeing animals surrounding the actors. I wonder what special effects were employed. There were no credits for special effects, so I guess much of it was real. It really made me sit up to try and figure out how they did this magnificent sequence. Surtees deserved the Oscar!

The rest of the film was average.

The location shooting in Africa make this an epic adventure film.

[bobj-3 · 21 January 2000]

I saw this film when I was ten years old and its impact was deep and lasting. It stemmed less from the story or the acting of the principals as from the environment and context of the film, set as it was in east Africa. I believe this film to be one of the first to be shot virtually entirely on location in Africa, and the results are stunning. Shots of stampedes that are clearly not drawn from stock footage are awesome, but even more gripping are the scenes of the Masai and Kikuyu tribespeople, playing themselves and doing so absolutely unselfconsciously. The tribal dancing of these magnificent people is moving (and at times terrifying). I understand that in filming them it was terrifying for cast and crew as well, for the spearthrowing got out of hand, at one point driving Deborah Kerr up a tree! In any case, this version of "King Solomon's Mines" is one for the ages.

"Hasn't this trip been penance enough?"

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 22 April 2016]

It was fairly clear to me that Elizabeth Curtis (Deborah Kerr) had no real intention of finding her husband once the expedition started. The only thing we needed to learn was why and it was answered about mid-way through - she didn't love him and treated him badly, so it was guilt all along that provided her motivation. The story would have been helped out if all those tentative glances between Quatermain (Stewart Granger) and Ms. Curtis were acted upon more deliberately, but the chemistry between the two actors never did seem to gel for me, even though they reportedly did carry on an affair for a time.

Considering all the misery endured by the trio of adventurers during their trek, I would have expected the reveal of King Solomon's fortune to be a bit more lavish. What was that - a crate of colored glass? One was led to believe that there would be an entire cave filled with gems to make the expedition worthwhile, even if the original explorer was never found. Man, I had a chuckle over that one.

I don't know, it's not often my summary line can also be used to characterize a movie but I think it fits. Notwithstanding the excellent cinematography, the film just didn't seem to offer a spark for this viewer. The Watusi actually had a name for it - 'yeer saba'. It describes a pointless, endless game. Whadda you know?

The film that changed America's view of Africa

[bkoganbing · 10/10 · 30 August 2005]

I've always maintained that this version of King Solomon's Mines along with The African Queen changed forever the face of Africa for the American audience. Our ideas of Africa were mainly developed by the Africa we saw created on studio back-lots for 20 years.

MGM had tried before to show a realistic Africa in Trader Horn, but the cost was prohibitive and the film never recouped the expense of making it, especially during the Depression. Audiences after World War II wanted a little more realism in their cinema. Fantasy they got from that machine they starting staring into in 1947 in their living rooms.

They also selected an excellent book to film. H. Rider Haggard had spent some years in the British Colonial Service in Africa. He was a pretty good observer of what was around him, even though his writing is tinged with the white man's burden attitude so common in the 19th Century.

The film is not a faithful adaption of Haggard's work, but it's pretty close to it. Deborah Kerr is a woman looking to hire Stewart Granger who's the best reputed guide in Africa. She's looking for her husband, not sure if he's dead or alive. Granger agrees to take her on safari along with one of her husband's friends played by Richard Carlson.

This allows for a certain amount of sexual tension between Granger and Kerr and in fact the two of them had an extra marital affair. Carlson's part is essentially colorless. I think he's along mainly to provide a sounding board for Kerr and her changing attitudes about Africa and Granger.

The jungle photography is fabulous, the film is worth it for that alone. Granger and Kerr create some good characterizations and the native Africans are good in their roles.

King Solomon's mines had such an impact that even the later Tarzan films had a more realistic look about them. An absolutely must see item.

Despite lack of satisfying payoff, the cultural diversity and fascinating topography full of obstacles proves gripping

[Turfseer · 7/10 · 21 October 2021]

One of the most refreshing things about King Solomon's Mines is its non-stereotypical treatment of the African people. Prior to its release in 1950, most Americans thought of Africa as the "dark continent", populated by savage indigenous natives who could only be saved by the "civilized" hands of "benevolent" white men. Films such as this did much to dispel the notion that Africans were some kind of monolithic entity bent solely on self-destruction without a rich cultural diversity so ably depicted here.

Set at the end of the 19th century, we're immediately shown that the European colonialists were not the honorable bunch they might have thought they were. Stewart Granger plays the experienced hunter/guide Allan Quartermaine who is nonplussed and significantly upset when a group of amateur white big game hunters kill an elephant unnecessarily on an expedition he's leading.

The main plot involves Quartermaine being hired by a woman, Elizabeth Curtis (Deborah Kerr) accompanied by her brother John Goode (Richard Carlson) to find her husband who disappeared in the unexplored African interior some years earlier while he was searching for the legendary King Solomon's Mines, rumored to contain untold treasures.

Quartermaine is completely reluctant to get involved and has been contemplating returning to England but changes his mind when Elizabeth promises to pay him an exorbitant fee to lead her and her brother on the dangerous journey.

Part of the narrative involves the burgeoning romance between Quartermain and Elizabeth. The film is similar to The African Queen starring Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. Both were filmed around the same time and are set in Africa. But the characters and romance between Bogart and Hepburn are way more developed than how they are depicted here.

The underdeveloped romance proves to be a two edged sword. On one hand, filmgoers in general clamor for a little more character development especially when it comes to romance. On the other hand, the headstrong Elizabeth's main adversary is not so much the irascible Quarterman but rather the harsh environment of the African interior.

And indeed it's the wonderful cinematography which highlights the obstacles the group encounters as they attempt to locate Elizabeth's missing husband. There are all manner of animals, reptiles and insects that Quartermain and his band of amateur explorers must contend with. Perhaps the best scene involving their bout with the harsh environment is one of an animal stampede in which they're almost trampled to death (two of the natives accompanying Quartermain end up dying after panicking at the sight of the stampeding animals).

The film is not without human conflict. There are two major threads here. First Quartermaine and his group encounter a white man Van Brun (Hugo Haas) living among natives in the hinterlands. After Quartermaine determines that Van Brun is a criminal and a fugitive wanted for murder, Quartermaine takes him hostage to escape the angry villagers. Van Brun ends up killing Quartermaine's trusted assistant but is gunned down by the intrepid guide.

The second major thread involves the mysterious native Umbopa (Siriaque) who joins the group but later is revealed to be a king who has been usurped by an evil rival.

The climax is somewhat anti-climactic. When Qurtermaine and his companions discover the mine, they end up only finding Elizabeth's husband's remains there. To cap it off, Umbopa kills his rival in a fight (equivalent to a duel) in which he regains his throne. As a friend of Quartermaine, Elizabeth and her brother, Umbopa permits safe passage for the group back to civilization.

Granger in his first American role, does well in depicting the competent guide, annoyed by a woman not used to the harsh environment but finally warming up to her. Kerr also does well but is saddled with a more one-note part of constant annoyance with her circumstances. Carlson as Goode is more of a sounding board for his sister and the role is not very memorable. Best of all is the broad range of native performers who ably chronicle the rich diversity of the local population.

King Solomon's Mines doesn't exactly have much of a payoff (no treasures are brought back nor is the man the group is looking for found alive) but the real star here is Africa itself--with its rich culture and stunning landscape populated with all manner of challenging obstacles an intrepid band of explorers must overcome.

This lost-civilization adventure continues to be a favorite among those who love a thrilling tale...

[Nazi_Fighter_David · 9/10 · 6 September 2005]

There are many reasons why people like classic movies, but often those reasons are quite sentimental in their nature... Perhaps the reason for its enduring appeal is that it intends nostalgic trip to the past, where such films spawned juvenile imagination with breathtaking locations, exotic hidden societies, and characters with strange powers...

Like all trips into the African wild, "King Solomon's Mines" proceeds through all kinds of land-forests, swamps, desert sands, lush meadows and rugged mountains... The film is filled with exciting scenes, and some rather effective looks at human motivations in the face of impossible odds...

The color photography of Robert Surtees, greatly increases the visual impact of the outdoor scenes and almost overpowers the plot drama at times... Surtees' landscapes are gorgeous—vista after vista of jungles, dunes, high peaks, river rapids and waterfalls...

Stewart Granger was talented enough in playing the dashing romantic leading man... He created a human hero who is the ideal concept of the white hunter—suave, tough, courageous, and strongly British...

Deborah Kerr, the 'lady with the flaming hair,' had a charming weakness that was strong and feminine at the same time...

This lost-civilization adventure continues to be a favorite among those who love a thrilling tale... "King Solomon's Mines" is a well-cast version filled with qualities close to the human heart: thrilling, adventurous, and amusing...

Great adventure film not much action

[LeroyBrown-2 · 7/10 · 6 August 2004]

This film is a pure adventure film as oppose to being an action/adventure film. It really doesn't have much action but it is a great travelogue to an Africa that is now vanishing. Since the movie was released in 1950 it was probably shot in '49 anyway what's on the screen is an Africa that was still relatively unspoiled by guerrilla warfare or modern times. Producers for the National Geographic channel could only wish to shoot such pristine beauty. But on to the film, the story is familiar, a Great White Hunter reluctantly agrees to guide a woman and her brother into the wilderness in search of her husband. Along the way they meet tribes, and we are shown some of the tribes doing ritual dances. Also we get to see the wonder of, I think, Victoria falls before it became a tourist spot. The pacing of the movie is rather leisurely there's no real action except for the stampede which I found very exhilarating. Stewart Granger looked good as Alan Quartermain and has a manly presence in the role, although I preferred Clark Gable in "Mogambo" as the Hollywood white hunter. Deborrah Kerr looked lovely and her make up looked perfect the entire time. Their acting tend to be a little flat, as a matter of fact the acting in general felt flat, although Miss Kerr did a good job showing concern and panic. Hers might be the best performance of the movie. The two main leads just didn't have the joy of performance that the two leads in "The African Queen" had. And as for the final fight scene between for the tribal throne. I don't expect Jackie Chan vs. Jet Li, but this fight seems to have been done by amateurs with maybe a half hour of rehearsal. A great adventure and travelogue with not much action, overall a good film.

Going for gold

[Prismark10 · 5/10 · 31 July 2013]

If you have seen the Indiana Jones films and expect rip roaring adventures then steer clear.

Stewart Granger is in his element as a rather world weary game hunter who is offered a shed load of money from Deborah Kerr who wants to find her missing husband who went looking for treasure and has never returned.

Although boasting extensive location footage that takes in the jungle, Savannah, desert and mountains. Not a lot happens but a lot of trekking, some encounters with shifty white men, some shifty tribes and the usual wild animal and reptile escapades.

There is a budding romance and maybe for the first time we see some authentic tribal music and dancing in a western mainstream film.

The choreography and editing of the final fight looks strange, as if the stunt coordinator seemed clueless as to stage manage a tribal fight scene.

The film is credited with two directors because Granger fell out with the first one, but it certainly lacks action.

A Great, Under-Appreciated Adventure Movie!

[2001Rulz · 10/10 · 21 March 1999]

I *LOVED* the Book "King Solomon's Mines" by H. Rider Haggard, and thought I should see the movie. I was warned to stay away from the 1985 remake, so I went with this one. This is a very good movie, especially for 1950, although characters and parts of the book were either left out or switched around. Stewart Granger is good as the hunter Allan Quatermain, and Deborah Kerr, although her character has nothing to do with the book what-so-ever, played her part well as Elizabeth Curtis. I was surprised to find out this film was shot entirely on location in Africa. It also has some great nature shots. This movie is hard to find or see on TV, so spring for the chance to see it if you get one! Even if you're not an adventure fan, this is still a good one. (It was nominated for best picture.) 4 out of 4 stars for "King Solomon's Mines!" But, don't stop there--READ THE BOOK!!!!!

great location

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 30 March 2019]

It's Africa 1897. Allan Quatermain (Stewart Granger) is a tired guide for rich white big game hunters. One of those arrogant idiotic hunters get his beloved native guide killed. He reluctantly leads Elizabeth Curtis (Deborah Kerr)'s expedition to find her husband Henry who has gone missing in his search for King Solomon's Mines. Joining them is her brother John Goode.

Despite being an action adventure flick, the action adventure isn't very thrilling. The action directing isn't there yet. What saves it is the African locations. Quite frankly, it's the African animals and the Africans. The movie opens by killing an elephant or two. Sadly, it looks like real killing. The realism of the exotic location is great especially considering the era. It exceeds many movies of that time. It doesn't get much better than the African tribe in the last act. It's no small thing that the final battle is not with one of the white characters. The whole tribe and the royal enclosure is amazing. If only they could figure out how to shoot an exciting action scene.

Dull, especially by modern standards

[grantss · 5/10 · 8 July 2018]

East Africa, 19th century. Alan Quartermain, a veteran guide, is hired to take Elizabeth Curtis to search for her husband in unexplored territory. There is another reason for her expedition: to search for a treasure beyond imagination...King Solomon's Mines.

Based on H. Rider Haggard's famous novel, this is a fairly conventional linear adventure tale. Basically a matter of walk - meet dangerous obstacle/foe - defeat it - walk - next problem. Makes for dull viewing. Might have been novel for its time, with grand outdoor vistas and rare wildlife, but is quite tame by today's standards.

Not all bad. Some of the adventures are reasonably interesting. The cinematography is great (it would have to be, considering the setting!), the chemistry between Stewart Granger (as Quartermain) and Deborah Kerr (as Elizabeth Curtis) is good and the romantic angle isn't overdone.

Ultimately, a bit so-so.