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Review
Archives
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Today's
Date is:
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King
Solomon's Mine
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Reviewed
by: |
B.
Lou Goodwin |
| Genre: |
Action |
| Video: |
Full
Screen |
| Audio: |
Dolby Digital:
Mono |
| Language: |
English |
| Subtitle: |
French, Spanish
|
| Length: |
1 hour 20
minutes |
| Rating: |
Not-Rated |
| Release
Date: |
9-18-01 |
| Studio: |
MGM
|
| Commentary:
|
None |
| Documentaries:
|
None |
| Featurettes:
|
Yes |
| Filmography/Biography:
|
None |
|
Interviews: |
None |
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
None |
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
None |
| Music
Video: |
None |
| Other:
|
None |
| Cast
and Crew: |
Paul Robeson,
Cedric Hardwicke, Roland Young |
| Screenplay
by: |
Adapted from
the Novel by: H Rider Haggard |
| Produced
by: |
A Gaumont British |
| Directed
By: |
Robert Stevens |
| Music: |
NA |
| The
Review: |
King Solomon's
Mines is an old-fashioned adventure novel that is reminiscent
of the old Tarzan movies. From the smoky caverns to the stereotype
of the native tribes, King Solomon's Mines is dated by its era.
It is the typical 'Indiana Jones' film of the 1930's. A great
white hunter, a beautiful girl, a lush setting, and rich prize
compose what is an ordinary plot without distinction. If you
are incredibly fond of classic adventure movies, this is a great
pick but the story does not hold up well in modern times. The
acting is overdone, the plot is predictable, and the special
effects are out-dated. If I enjoyed any of this film, it was
that it did bring me back to the bygone days of youth when I
would watch the cheesy black and white action films on Sunday
mornings. The nostalgia is tempting. The movie is not. As for
the music, I am sure that it will probably offend someone somewhere.
Many of the songs that are performed by the 'native' tribe are
heavy reminders of the spirituals sung in the early South in
America. How this fits in Africa, I have no idea. The rest of
the music is the same canned adventure tripe that you can hear
in a thousand other films made in this time period. On a purely
historical note, real Zulu warriors from South Africa worked
as extras during the dancing, war, and witchcraft scenes of
this film. I just didn't like it enough to recommend it to anyone
but a film historian. Overall, this is a B- movie. |
| Image
and Sound |
The
audio experts cleaned the film up the sound to where it is clean
and crisp. You will have to keep the volume at a slightly higher
decibel than if you were watching a modern DVD. The sound seems
to run at a more hushed tone than I am used too. The picture
is shadowy, overpowered and so dim in some areas that it masks
the action. Bring a flashlight. The biggest highlight is that
the picture doesn't roll and the sound does not completely bow
out. Overall, I give the sound and picture a C+. |
| The
Extras |
The
only extra feature included in this film is the subtitles. |
| Commentary |
N/A |
| Final
Words: |
Just say no. This movie is clear
of profanity and violence. Unfortunately, it also lacks punch
or verve. King Solomon's Mines was made in 1937 and I can
only imagine that aspiring film historians would be the only
people still interested in sitting through this not-so-classic
old movie. Its clean enough for children but I believe they
will be bored enough to prefer doing their homework. For its
time, its an OK B-movie, I don't love it, I don't like it,
and I can't recommend it. If you want to watch, go ahead but
just rent it. You won't want to watch it over and over again
unless you suffer from insomnia.
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