King Solomon's Mines (1950)
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92% of critics liked it
(12 reviews) -
58% of users liked it
(3,133 ratings)
MGM's expensive remake of the 1937 British adventure film King Solomon's Mines stars Stewart Granger as fearless-explorer Alan Quartermaine, and Deborah Kerr as the spunky Irish lass who hires him on to locate her husband. Kerr's spouse has disappeared somewhere in Africa while… More MGM's expensive remake of the 1937 British adventure film King Solomon's Mines stars Stewart Granger as fearless-explorer Alan Quartermaine, and Deborah Kerr as the spunky Irish lass who hires him on to locate her husband. Kerr's spouse has disappeared somewhere in Africa while attempting to unearth the long-lost diamond mines of King Solomon. Quartermaine wants no part of so risky an undertaking until Kerr waves 5000 pounds of sterling under his nose. Coming upon a Watusi tribe, the explorers discover that their taciturn native bearer (Siriaque) is actually a deposed Watusi king, who intends to wrest the throne back from his usurpers. Quartermaine uses his wits to quell the natives and keep his party from being killed on the spot. The group finally reaches King Solomon's Mines, where rests the bones of Kerr's late husband. The ending of this version of King Solomon's Mines doesn't pack the same ironic punch as the climax of the 1937 version, but this MGMization is more concerned with the blossoming romance between the leading man and leading lady than with full fidelity to the H. Rider Haggard novel on which it is based. King Solomon's Mines was filmed on location in Africa, which proved an excellent decision in the long run: for several years afterward, MGM adventure films like Watusi (1959) and Trader Horn (1973) were able to economically lift huge chunks of Technicolor stock footage from King Solomon's Mines. The property would be remade once more in 1985, this time as an Indiana Jones rip-off starring Richard Chamberlain and Sharon Stone. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Andrew Marton, Compton Bennett
- Written By
- Helen Deutsch
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Nov 24, 1950 Wide
- Studio
- MGM Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Dated classic has colonial racial views.
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Of the half a dozen screen versions, MGM's 1950 remake of the 1937 British adventure is arguably the most lavish and entertaining, deservedly winning the Oscars for cinematography and editing.
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Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
A spectacular adventure story with a smidgin of romance, King Solomon's Mines is exciting enough and adventurous enough and wholesome enough for the whole family.
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Steven D. Greydanus, Decent Films Guide
Doesn't quite fulfill its promise, in part because the title destination is too obviously a MacGuffin in which the film ultimately doesn't even feign mild interest.
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Matt Bailey, Not Coming to a Theater Near You
It is pleasant to look at, but it no longer passes for action and adventure these days.
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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Stewart Granger
as Allan Quatermain
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Deborah Kerr
as Elizabeth Curtis
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Richard Carlson
as John Goode
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Hugo Haas
as Van Brun
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Lowell Gilmore
as Eric Masters
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Kimursi
as Khiva
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Corp. Munto Anampio
as Chief Bilu
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John Banner
as Austin
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Baziga
as King Twala
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Benempinga
as Black Circle
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Gutare
as Kafa
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Ivargwema
as Blue Star
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Henry Rowland
as Traum
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Siriaque
as Umbopa
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Skeryongo
as Chief Gagool
- Andrew Marton
