King Solomon's Mines (1950)

Starring: Deborah Kerr, Stewart Granger, Richard Carlson, Hugo Haas, Lowell Gilmore
Directed by: Compton Bennett, Andrew Marton
Rating: Not rated
Genre: Action, Adventure, Romance
1950

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Hunter Allan Quartermain (Stewart Granger) reluctantly agrees to help a woman (Deborah Kerr) find her missing husband in the unexplored area of Africa, where he was searching for King Solomon's Mines.

Review:

Tim: The 1950 version of King Solomon's Mines is a vast improvement over the 1937 version. It's actually a pretty great movie all around. I know some people complain because it gets a little repetitive, but I was a huge fan of how the story unfolded. This is a pretty exceptional adventure movie.

One of the best aspects of this film is that it was all filmed in Africa. The importance of this cannot be overstated. The African landscape becomes an incredibly essential aspect of the story- the amazing cinematography allows us to be transported to this dangerous, exotic, faraway place. The African continent is unlike anywhere else (I've been there, so I have some experience with it), and the way it was presented on screen makes all the difference in the world. In the wilds in Africa, danger lurks around every corner. I really liked how the dangerous wildlife was depicted on screen- our protagonists face this danger constantly. Its easy to criticize much of the film for being one life-threatening wildlife encounter after another. I admit I laughed a few times when it just seemed a little too obvious. However, it really conveyed this sense of great danger, far more than the 1937 version. The shots of the animals and the landscape were one of my favorite parts of the entire film.

The main story is simple but effective- A brother and sister enlist the help of Allan Quatermain to search for the sister's missing husband, who was searching for the fabled King Solomon's Mines. The three embark on a dangerous quest through uncharted African territory. Along the way, they encounter a wide myriad of deadly animals, inspects, and landscapes. It's a simple story, but it's a powerful one, especially as the frightening encounters continue to add up. It makes you wonder at the courage and grit of these characters, as lesser people would have undoubtedly turned back. It's a story of bravery, for sure. I liked when the film explored the real reasons behind these brave acts- people don't always do things for the reasons we first expect.

The cast is good. Stewart Granger makes a good Allan Quatermain- he's certainly a rugged man's man with a chip on his shoulder. I liked that he really came across as intelligent, as opposed to just tough and brave. Deborah Kerr was good as well, giving a mostly good performance. It was a little annoying how she was portrayed at various times as strong and fragile, but she does elevate the character. I don't even want to mention the ridiculous hair-cutting scene, because the less that is said about that, the better.

King Solomon's Mines is a very influential film- from the beautiful cinematography filmed in Africa, to the exciting adventure story, this is a film that influenced many others to follow. The lavish production is what truly sets this movie apart. I also like that the sometimes plodding plot gave the impression that great periods of time were passing. The 1937 version didn't do this as well. In this movie, you feel a little exhausted by the end of the journey- like you've traversed thousands of miles right along with our heroes. The way that was portrayed on screen was incredible.

The film does have its flaws. In addition to the repetitive animal encounters and the absurd hair-cutting scene, the movie didn't do quite as good of a job on depicting the trek through the desert. In the 1937 version, I really felt the dire situation they were in- my own mouth started to get parched, so realistically was the journey through the desert portrayed. This version glosses over those scenes- that was a big missed opportunity to ratchet the suspense up another level.

While flawed, I have to admit that I became completely immersed in this African adventure. It was a thrilling, entertaining journey. The best movies transport you out of your living room and to somewhere else- in this case, King Solomon's Mines moves you to the wilds of Africa. This is a journey I won't soon forget. I really do consider this a great movie.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: King Solomon's Mines (1937)