King Solomon's Mines (1937)
Average Rating: 6.9/10
Reviews Counted: 7
Fresh: 7 | Rotten: 0
No consensus yet.
Release Date: Jul 26, 1937 Wide
liked it
Average Rating: 3.1/5
User Ratings: 1,576
My Rating
Movie Info
The first of three talkie versions of H. Rider Haggard's adventure novel King Solomon's Mine was produced by British Gaumont. While Cedric Hardwicke plays the nominal leading role of explorer Alan Quartermaine, top billing goes to African-American singing-star Paul Robeson, who plays dauntless native- guide Umbopa. The plot gets under way when Anna Lee organizes an expedition to locate her father, who has disappeared in the wilds of Africa while searching for King Solomon's Mines, a legendary
Drama, Action & Adventure, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics
Robert Stevenson , Paul Robeson
Michael Hogan, A. R. Rawlinson, Roland Pertwee, Ralph Spence, Charles Bennett
Jul 26, 1937 Wide
Sep 18, 2001
American Pop Classics
Cast
-
Paul Robeson
Umbopa -
Cedric Hardwicke
Allan Quatermain -
Roland Young
Commander Good -
John Loder
Henry Curtis -
Anna Lee
Kathy O'Brien -
Makubalo Hlubi
Kapsie -
Sydney Fairbrother
Gagool -
Ecce Homo Toto
Infadoos -
Robert Adams
Twala -
Frederick Leister
Wholesaler -
Alf Goddard
Red -
Arthur Sinclair
Patrick O'Brien -
Arthur Goullet
Sylvestra
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All Critics (10) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (7) | Rotten (0)
A witty script.
Dated [but] still of interest… production values and special effects are impressive for the period… makes good use of authentic African locations and performers.
Fascinating to compare this with more famous remake.
Fairly engaging adventure yarn with good songs.
Audience Reviews for King Solomon's Mines
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Foreign Titles
- King Solomon's Mines (1950) (DE)
- King Solomon's Mines (1950) (UK)
Another part of the production that doesn't work for me is Paul Robeson. Not to take away from his wonderful voice, but his singing in this film completely stops the film (he does four songs), and the music is more minstrel than tribal, and totally inappropriate for the type of film.
For an adventure film, this thing is pretty dull, although it does pick up in the last 20 minutes or so. Some of the scenes -- the long trek through the desert, for instance -- appear to be done on a soundstage. I know this is standard for a film of this vintage, but it's not always this obvious. I was expecting to see the players cast shadows on the matte background.
The only agreeable thing I could find in this film was Roland Young. He is the comic relief, and delivers the best lines, all seemingly off-the-cuff statements on the various predicaments the group gets into.
I'm a big fan of the 1950 film, and I know I will continue to be. This is one example of a very few where the remake outshines the original.