Review of King Solomon's Mines (1950) by Ben L — 01 Nov 2017

The basic story structure of King Solomon?s Mines is very familiar, in fact I might have seen some other adaptation of the story before (or might have read the book.) Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr are good leads for the film because they have some subtle chemistry, and can also bicker with one another convincingly.

I definitely enjoy this type of adventure story, when it?s told right. The unfortunate thing is that this adaptation seems more interested in exploring the unique aspects of Africa instead of the actual treasure hunt that they should be going on.

They spend time with shots of wild animals, including some disturbing footage of some animals actually being shot and killed (the ASPCA would never sign off on this movie.) The camera glories in the big beautiful landscapes it is capturing, and the customs of African tribes takes center stage in the plot.

In fact the discovery of the titular mines and the person they are seeking is almost an afterthought that brings no feeling of resolution to the story. There were certainly good aspects in King Solomon?s Mines, but I don?t think it was the best way to adapt this story, even if they had some good actors and beautiful scenery.