Desertman84 King Solomon's Mines is a British adventure film that was the first of five film adaptations of the 1885 novel of the same title by Henry Rider Haggard.It stars Paul Robeson, Cedric Hardwicke, Anna Lee, John Loder and Roland Young.This 1937 film is about the events that happen when an expedition was organized by Anna Lee to locate her father who disappeared in the wilderness of Africa while searching for King Solomon's mines,a well-known legendary diamond repository.Added to the plot is how Alan Quatermaine and his troupe has managed to locate it.No question about it that the film has been more than 75 years ago.It was obviously dated particularly the special effects and production values as compared with today's films and especially the remakes that were made after it.But compared with those recent remakes,this version remains closest to the version of the novel and arguably remains the best among them.If one is able to get a copy of it,it will definitely be worth watching.

dimplet Note to Thinker: If a movie begins with a semi-naked guy banging a gong, it's a British movie, if with a virgin holding a torch, it's from Hollywood. To spell it out, this is a Gaumont British Picture Corporation picture, studio of Hitchcock's The 39 Steps and The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934), as well as Supersonic Saucer, Transatlantic Tunnel, Mister Hobo, and First a Girl, which all sound absolutely fascinating. They really do. British movies of the 30s generally didn't have the budget or polish of Hollywood productions, and it shows here in the weak editing of early scenes and the slender script. However, they've assembled a first rate cast, except for an annoying Anna Lee. Gaumont did two things you would not have seen in a Hollywood movie of the time: Location shooting in Africa and giving a black man lead billing. It was a joy seeing Paul Robeson starring in a dignified role. And the African footage is probably better done than the studio scenes. Britain had regularly scheduled flying boat routes to Africa carrying British Imperial mail and passengers in luxury, so the producers would have felt more comfortable shooting in Afria than their California counterparts. This is the sort of movie I would have watched as a kid on a black and white TV. The slow pace would have benefited from the commercial breaks -- six minutes an hour back then, unlike today when the movie provides a break from the commercials. As a kid I did not feel compelled to rate everything I watched, but if I did, I would have rated it "It's OK." I wonder if kids could bear to sit through it today?However, there is a reason that adults should watch this, and a way to get kids interested, maybe. King Solomon's Mines (1937) -- and the book -- is the granddaddy of all those adventure, lost world movies, like the Indiana Jones franchise. Watch this and then Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) back to back. Then consider what they have in common, and you will find the secret formula, kids. (No, I'm not going to spell it out, it's a secret.) As a follow up, ask the kids which is better, and why, and not just the latter's colour and special effects. Now if you really want to get creative, ask the kid to write a story based on the secret formula. Who knows? H. Rider Haggard wrote this story on a five shilling wager with his brother that he couldn't write a story half as good as Treasure Island, which I haven't read lately, so I can't judge whether King Solomon's Mines is, indeed, half as good. No word on whether his brother paid up. But maybe you will raise the next Spielberg. King Solomon's Mines is no gem, but it is historically significant. I have noticed of late (say, the last 15 years or so) many British posters complaining about American movies on the slightest pretext, if they are war movies, because they don't provide sufficient credit to British soldiers for whatever battle is portrayed, and if they are the story of an American horse, that they don't mention British horses (or Australian horses, if the reviewer is an Australian). One British reviewer had the gall to call Seabiscuit "American imperialist propaganda." Perhaps I am missing something here, such as when it was that America became imperialist holders of colonies, and what this has to do with a race horse in the Great Depression?Of course, King Solomon's Mines is not British "imperialist propaganda." Britain is not an imperialist power that holds colonies around the world, and never was. Britain never waged war to protect its colonies against rebellion and revolution, and it certainly never killed innocent, unarmed men, women and children engaged in peaceful protest. Instead, this movie shows how noble and kind these rich British non-imperialists were, at heart, unlike the poor Irishman who would have stolen the treasure map from a dying man, and the poor Irish woman, who was a chronic liar and thief, not to mention the homicidal maniac tribal chief. Umboba was a good man, but then he was educated by the British and knew how to speak English (with a Jersy accent), so he was civilized. But even so, he only was able to gain his rightful throne with the help of the British noblemen. No, King Solomon's Mines is not British imperialistic propaganda. It just fell through a wormhole.This, however, does not solve the problem. The only solution is for Britain to ban the importation and viewing of all American movies, because, according to a consensus of British viewers, they are all "American imperialist propaganda," no matter what they are about. While we are waiting, if you are British, please, please, please stop watching Hollywood movies. You obviously don't enjoy them. May I suggest some classic British gems like: Leave It to Smith, Britannia of Billingsgate, East Lynne on the Western Front, A Cuckoo in the Nest, and Turkey Time?As a footnote, the documentary series Queen Victoria's Empire - 2001 (an excellent programme) has some scenes of traditional African native dancing. It is at night around a campfire, so it is hard to see the details, but the costumes have some of the elements shown in King Solomon's Mines, and the drum rhythms are very similar.

dbborroughs Okay version of the classic tale has dated with the passage of time. Not the most action packed of the versions, most of this version is a straight forward journey to the mine. Things only get interesting towards the end when there is a battle for control of the kingdom guarding the mine, until then its mostly travel. For me the real problem is that hero Allan Quartermain is given very little to do but look stoic. To be certain Cedric Hardwicke is the perfect Quatermain, there is no doubt he is completely in control, no matter what is going on, the trouble is he doesn't do much to back up the stance (though to be fair I have no doubt he could do whatever he had to). Worth a look if you run across it, but not something one need search out

Ron Oliver In darkest Africa, so legends say, lies the secret location of KING SOLOMON'S MINES, a great mountain full of heaps of diamonds. Surrounded by a seemingly impassable desert, it is said no white man has ever set foot there. Africa's greatest hunter & guide, Allan Quartermain, does not believe the mines exist, but he is forced against his better judgment to lead a small party over the desert ... and right into a fierce tribal civil war. This is a very fine adventure film, with much to recommend it. Plenty of excitement, a little romance, and a few well-sung songs help push the plot along. Footage shot in Africa enhance the atmosphere of this Gaumont-British film.Sir Cedric Hardwicke is a sturdy, stoic Quartermain, just the sort of no-nonsense fellow you would want guiding your expedition. American opera star Paul Robeson has marvelous presence as a mysterious native who seems to know a bit too much about the lands they are seeking. Arthur Sinclair & Anna Lee are the two Irish treasure seekers who spark much of the action. John Loder & Roland Young (very droll) nicely play the two English chaps who finance the trek. Robert Adams is the nasty tribal usurper who gets in their way.Strangely receiving no screen credit, stage actress Sydney Fairbrother is nothing short of terrific as the ancient, filthy witch doctor Gagool, `older than the memory of the oldest man.' The scene in which she stalks about, calmly choosing those to instantly die, is a classic of mounting terror.Mr. Robeson uses his magnificent voice in three songs: `Walk! Walk!', `Climbin' Up' & `Kukuwana'.