bobj-3 Review of King Solomon's Mines

King Solomon's Mines (1950)

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

[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.