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.
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.