One of the most refreshing things about King Solomon's Mines is its non-stereotypical treatment of the African people. Prior to its release in 1950, most Americans thought of Africa as the "dark continent", populated by savage indigenous natives who could only be saved by the "civilized" hands of "benevolent" white men. Films such as this did much to dispel the notion that Africans were some kind of monolithic entity bent solely on self-destruction without a rich cultural diversity so ably depicted here.
Set at the end of the 19th century, we're immediately shown that the European colonialists were not the honorable bunch they might have thought they were. Stewart Granger plays the experienced hunter/guide Allan Quartermaine who is nonplussed and significantly upset when a group of amateur white big game hunters kill an elephant unnecessarily on an expedition he's leading.
The main plot involves Quartermaine being hired by a woman, Elizabeth Curtis (Deborah Kerr) accompanied by her brother John Goode (Richard Carlson) to find her husband who disappeared in the unexplored African interior some years earlier while he was searching for the legendary King Solomon's Mines, rumored to contain untold treasures.
Quartermaine is completely reluctant to get involved and has been contemplating returning to England but changes his mind when Elizabeth promises to pay him an exorbitant fee to lead her and her brother on the dangerous journey.
Part of the narrative involves the burgeoning romance between Quartermain and Elizabeth. The film is similar to The African Queen starring Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. Both were filmed around the same time and are set in Africa. But the characters and romance between Bogart and Hepburn are way more developed than how they are depicted here.
The underdeveloped romance proves to be a two edged sword. On one hand, filmgoers in general clamor for a little more character development especially when it comes to romance. On the other hand, the headstrong Elizabeth's main adversary is not so much the irascible Quarterman but rather the harsh environment of the African interior.
And indeed it's the wonderful cinematography which highlights the obstacles the group encounters as they attempt to locate Elizabeth's missing husband. There are all manner of animals, reptiles and insects that Quartermain and his band of amateur explorers must contend with. Perhaps the best scene involving their bout with the harsh environment is one of an animal stampede in which they're almost trampled to death (two of the natives accompanying Quartermain end up dying after panicking at the sight of the stampeding animals).
The film is not without human conflict. There are two major threads here. First Quartermaine and his group encounter a white man Van Brun (Hugo Haas) living among natives in the hinterlands. After Quartermaine determines that Van Brun is a criminal and a fugitive wanted for murder, Quartermaine takes him hostage to escape the angry villagers. Van Brun ends up killing Quartermaine's trusted assistant but is gunned down by the intrepid guide.
The second major thread involves the mysterious native Umbopa (Siriaque) who joins the group but later is revealed to be a king who has been usurped by an evil rival.
The climax is somewhat anti-climactic. When Qurtermaine and his companions discover the mine, they end up only finding Elizabeth's husband's remains there. To cap it off, Umbopa kills his rival in a fight (equivalent to a duel) in which he regains his throne. As a friend of Quartermaine, Elizabeth and her brother, Umbopa permits safe passage for the group back to civilization.
Granger in his first American role, does well in depicting the competent guide, annoyed by a woman not used to the harsh environment but finally warming up to her. Kerr also does well but is saddled with a more one-note part of constant annoyance with her circumstances. Carlson as Goode is more of a sounding board for his sister and the role is not very memorable. Best of all is the broad range of native performers who ably chronicle the rich diversity of the local population.
King Solomon's Mines doesn't exactly have much of a payoff (no treasures are brought back nor is the man the group is looking for found alive) but the real star here is Africa itself--with its rich culture and stunning landscape populated with all manner of challenging obstacles an intrepid band of explorers must overcome.
Set at the end of the 19th century, we're immediately shown that the European colonialists were not the honorable bunch they might have thought they were. Stewart Granger plays the experienced hunter/guide Allan Quartermaine who is nonplussed and significantly upset when a group of amateur white big game hunters kill an elephant unnecessarily on an expedition he's leading.
The main plot involves Quartermaine being hired by a woman, Elizabeth Curtis (Deborah Kerr) accompanied by her brother John Goode (Richard Carlson) to find her husband who disappeared in the unexplored African interior some years earlier while he was searching for the legendary King Solomon's Mines, rumored to contain untold treasures.
Quartermaine is completely reluctant to get involved and has been contemplating returning to England but changes his mind when Elizabeth promises to pay him an exorbitant fee to lead her and her brother on the dangerous journey.
Part of the narrative involves the burgeoning romance between Quartermain and Elizabeth. The film is similar to The African Queen starring Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. Both were filmed around the same time and are set in Africa. But the characters and romance between Bogart and Hepburn are way more developed than how they are depicted here.
The underdeveloped romance proves to be a two edged sword. On one hand, filmgoers in general clamor for a little more character development especially when it comes to romance. On the other hand, the headstrong Elizabeth's main adversary is not so much the irascible Quarterman but rather the harsh environment of the African interior.
And indeed it's the wonderful cinematography which highlights the obstacles the group encounters as they attempt to locate Elizabeth's missing husband. There are all manner of animals, reptiles and insects that Quartermain and his band of amateur explorers must contend with. Perhaps the best scene involving their bout with the harsh environment is one of an animal stampede in which they're almost trampled to death (two of the natives accompanying Quartermain end up dying after panicking at the sight of the stampeding animals).
The film is not without human conflict. There are two major threads here. First Quartermaine and his group encounter a white man Van Brun (Hugo Haas) living among natives in the hinterlands. After Quartermaine determines that Van Brun is a criminal and a fugitive wanted for murder, Quartermaine takes him hostage to escape the angry villagers. Van Brun ends up killing Quartermaine's trusted assistant but is gunned down by the intrepid guide.
The second major thread involves the mysterious native Umbopa (Siriaque) who joins the group but later is revealed to be a king who has been usurped by an evil rival.
The climax is somewhat anti-climactic. When Qurtermaine and his companions discover the mine, they end up only finding Elizabeth's husband's remains there. To cap it off, Umbopa kills his rival in a fight (equivalent to a duel) in which he regains his throne. As a friend of Quartermaine, Elizabeth and her brother, Umbopa permits safe passage for the group back to civilization.
Granger in his first American role, does well in depicting the competent guide, annoyed by a woman not used to the harsh environment but finally warming up to her. Kerr also does well but is saddled with a more one-note part of constant annoyance with her circumstances. Carlson as Goode is more of a sounding board for his sister and the role is not very memorable. Best of all is the broad range of native performers who ably chronicle the rich diversity of the local population.
King Solomon's Mines doesn't exactly have much of a payoff (no treasures are brought back nor is the man the group is looking for found alive) but the real star here is Africa itself--with its rich culture and stunning landscape populated with all manner of challenging obstacles an intrepid band of explorers must overcome.