King Solomon's Mines

Rating:
Summary: Poor!
Review: As generous as I have been handing out stars, I can't recommend this movie to anyone for any reason. Taking in to account it was produced in 1937, and the limited production capabilities then, it still doesn't warrant much. Do yourself a favor, look to enjoy some of the more modern versions.

Rating:
Summary: Poor!
Review: As generous as I have been handing out stars, I can't recommend this movie to anyone for any reason. Taking in to account it was produced in 1937, and the limited production capabilities then, it still doesn't warrant much. Do yourself a favor, look to enjoy some of the more modern versions.

Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Version of the Story!
Review: I had seen Richard Chamberlain's goofy Indiana Jones imitation in the 1985 version, which is not an entirely bad movie. It does have its funny moments, like when he bursts through the door to face at least a hundred rifles and says, "Great reflexes, guys!" As for the 1950 version with Stewart Granger, all I can recall is the words of one critic who described his performance as "hypervirile." I might also add that it was a little too 1950's, which is ok if that's what you're in the mood for (and sometimes I am!). I have to say, though, that my own favorite is the little known 1937 version with Sir Cedric Harwicke as Allan Quatermaine (the great White Hunter), the great Paul Robeson as Umbopa, and Anna Lee as the stereotypical Irish lass. For those of you who know her only from her performances in John Ford's movies, check out the brogue! Roland Young radiates dry humor as Commander Goode, R.N. ("retired!")and John Loder places the stereoptypically adventurous 19th century English nobleman. Harwicke is not as rugged as Granger, or as humorous as Chamberlain, but he displays a quiet credibility. The end is a little far stretched, the deus ex machina of all deus ex machinas. But I think it only adds to the charm of the film, in which the underlying implication is, "Off course the English can work their way out of anything!" It is Robeson, whose performance is both larger than life and yet subtly understated, who gives the film its power. He sings, he acts, he grins, he wins the day! It's a shame he had to go to England to get decent roles in films which were denied him in America because of his race. Watch this one, I think you'll like it!

Rating:
Summary: Quality Complaint
Review: The picture quality of this video can only be described as AWFUL.
After only a few minutes viewing I trashed it. It is disgraceful that this rubbish can be sold as new when it is obviously a copy of many back generations.

Rating:
Summary: The only good movie version of this book
Review: This is a superb film version of Rider Haggard's thrilling adventure story. The actors all perform their roles with zest and conviction, with Paul Robeson outstanding as the rightful chief of the tribe returned to claim his birthright. Best of all, the film has a satisfactorily evil and terrifying Gagool, because what is King Solomon's Mines without Gagool the Witch?She is unbelievably left out of the bland and boring Stewart Granger version. This is the only version of the film worth watching, I cannot believe another reviewer thinks that the later versions are better. He obviously wouldn't recognise a good film if he fell over it.

Rating:
Summary: Hey, it's not the best, but I had fun watching it.
Review: You can call this movie all the names in the book, but you can't change my mind about it. I liked it. It was bad, yeah, but that's what made it funny. So make sure that when you watch this movie, you watch it with a light heart and don't be to critical on it.