KING SOLOMON'S MINES is a fairly typical historical adventure flick of the 1930s, this one's a British outing based on the novel of the same name by H. Rider Haggard. It's a well-mounted little movie involving a fated exploration party in deepest, darkest Africa, where the explorers encounter an ancient civilisation and some life-or-death peril. What follows is short and snappy, with lots of larger-than-life characters and a fairly authentic setting.

First of the Many Versions, this British Production is Somewhat Dated but not without Charm and Adventure. Once things get going it is Truly an Adventure Filled with Dangers and Diabolical Natives.This wasn't the Best of Prints and some of the Images looked Very Dark and Blurry but Enough Remained to be Watchable. The Final Act is Undoubtedly the Best with Standout Scenery and some really Scary Natives. Their Attire and Demeanor is Striking and Unsettling.Paul Robeson is Often Touted as Enhancing the Story with His Three Songs but they seem out of Place and Pretty Corny. "Mountain, you mountain, mountain, you mountain." But Even if You don't find that kind of Stuff Appealing there is Much to Like in this Rousing Adventure that has an Outstanding Climax.

Okay version of the classic tale has dated with the passage of time. Not the most action packed of the versions, most of this version is a straight forward journey to the mine. Things only get interesting towards the end when there is a battle for control of the kingdom guarding the mine, until then its mostly travel. For me the real problem is that hero Allan Quartermain is given very little to do but look stoic. To be certain Cedric Hardwicke is the perfect Quatermain, there is no doubt he is completely in control, no matter what is going on, the trouble is he doesn't do much to back up the stance (though to be fair I have no doubt he could do whatever he had to). Worth a look if you run across it, but not something one need search out

Respectable early entry in the King Solomon's Mines sweepstakes. (No need to recap the plot.) Except for a few scenic shots of the overland trek, the movie doesn't really come alive until the last half-hour, but from then on it's near-brilliant. The sweeping shots of warrior armies advancing across the veldt, the close-in shots of the defenders with their magnificent shields, the pageantry and tomfoolery of the royal court, but most of all, the ghastly assassination squad led by the whims of a hump-back hag who moves like a creeping disease. I've seen nothing like her (Sydney Fairbrother) before or since, but her crab-like crawl over the gateway rock may make you rethink the pace of evolution. Also, the white-hot caldera with the clinging ledge above amounts to a spine-tingling effect for any movie period. I'm not even sure Technicolor could have improved on the staging of these remarkable scenes.Now, there are no seams that I can spot during this stellar last half-hour. I couldn't tell whether the scenes were done on location in Africa or maybe even Great Britain. However the earlier scenes of the trek are marred by obvious inter-cutting between long-shot locations and close-in exterior sets poorly done. For me, this breaks the spell and indicates a curious lapse in an otherwise well produced adventure film. Lee and Robeson are spirited and commanding as central figures. However, I agree with a reviewer's observation that Loder would have made a more convincing Quartermain than the stiff-backed Hardwicke. Also, Hardwicke and Young behave more like they belong in a gentleman's smoking club than footloose in the wilds of Africa, while Young's wry asides are strictly a matter of taste and, in my view, a lame attempt at comic relief.Nonetheless, this 1937 production is definitely worth catching up with, especially for those who have never seen or heard the great Paul Robeson.