One of England's first adventure novels set in Africa was first adapted to the screen with sound in Gaumont British Pictures' June 1937's "King Solomon's Mines." Victorian writer Sir H. Rider Haggard's 1885 novel also originated the 'lost world' genre that proved popular in the ensuing years. The story of a group of treasure seekers searching for valuables in the remotest region of Africa was first produced in the now-lost 1919 silent of the same name. Several movies of "King Solomon's Mines," have followed, including its most famous, 1950's Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr version. The 1937's British production is called the most faithful to Haggard's work, though Gaumont took some liberties to make the white-knuckled adventure story even more spellbinding.
Patsy O'Brien (Arthur Sinclair) and his daughter Kathy (Anna Lee) meet hunter Allan Quartermain (Cedric Hardwicke) in Africa, where they come across Umbopa (Paul Robeson) and a dying man who has a map of a hidden treasure. Patsy takes off with the map in the middle of the night. Quartemain, knowing there's gold in them thar hills, collects a couple of other hunters before he discovers Kathy has taken his wagon to find her dad. Both parties ultimately find Patsy in the mountains with the treasure. One hitch they find is a rowdy native tribe intent on protecting the riches, and Umbopa is the only one who can save them.
Film reviewer Kris Davies says the film is "A well-paced adventure, the wonderful backdrop of Africa adding tremendous presence. The wonderfully deep voice of Robeson also adding as much presence." The baritone singer Robeson belts out a couple of songs. The African movie was shot mostly in Gaumont's London studio, which was augmented by a second unit's footage filmed in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, using stand-ins for long shots. A rousing battle between Umbopa and his allies against the tribe protecting the riches towards the end of the movie has been likened to the 1964 British epic "Zulu."
Variety loved "King Solomon's Mines," gushing, "With all the dramatic moments of H. Rider Haggard's adventure yarn, and production values reaching high and spectacular standards, here is a slab of genuine adventure decked in finely done, realistic African settings." Robert Stevenson handled the London studio direction, a year before David O. Selznick hired him and Alfred Hitchcock to direct in Hollywood. Stevenson later worked for Walt Disney, where he directed 1964's "Mary Poppins." Actress Anna Lee was married to Stevenson when she appeared in "King Solomon's Mines." She later made several John Ford-directed movies, including 1941's "How Green Was My Valley." She ended up acting in the television soap opera General Hospital from 1979 to 2003 in the character of Lila Quartermain, selecting the last name of the hunter in the 1937 classic.
Patsy O'Brien (Arthur Sinclair) and his daughter Kathy (Anna Lee) meet hunter Allan Quartermain (Cedric Hardwicke) in Africa, where they come across Umbopa (Paul Robeson) and a dying man who has a map of a hidden treasure. Patsy takes off with the map in the middle of the night. Quartemain, knowing there's gold in them thar hills, collects a couple of other hunters before he discovers Kathy has taken his wagon to find her dad. Both parties ultimately find Patsy in the mountains with the treasure. One hitch they find is a rowdy native tribe intent on protecting the riches, and Umbopa is the only one who can save them.
Film reviewer Kris Davies says the film is "A well-paced adventure, the wonderful backdrop of Africa adding tremendous presence. The wonderfully deep voice of Robeson also adding as much presence." The baritone singer Robeson belts out a couple of songs. The African movie was shot mostly in Gaumont's London studio, which was augmented by a second unit's footage filmed in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, using stand-ins for long shots. A rousing battle between Umbopa and his allies against the tribe protecting the riches towards the end of the movie has been likened to the 1964 British epic "Zulu."
Variety loved "King Solomon's Mines," gushing, "With all the dramatic moments of H. Rider Haggard's adventure yarn, and production values reaching high and spectacular standards, here is a slab of genuine adventure decked in finely done, realistic African settings." Robert Stevenson handled the London studio direction, a year before David O. Selznick hired him and Alfred Hitchcock to direct in Hollywood. Stevenson later worked for Walt Disney, where he directed 1964's "Mary Poppins." Actress Anna Lee was married to Stevenson when she appeared in "King Solomon's Mines." She later made several John Ford-directed movies, including 1941's "How Green Was My Valley." She ended up acting in the television soap opera General Hospital from 1979 to 2003 in the character of Lila Quartermain, selecting the last name of the hunter in the 1937 classic.