This article is primarily about the 1950 MGM adaptation of Rider Haggard’s novel. For the news about the discovery of potentially authentic King Solomon’s Mines in Jordan in October 2008, skip to the end of the article.
Never mind cold, snow, and chilling winds – that coveted hot spot can surface at the place most unusual. Take Birmingham Christmas Market that resides between the Town Hall, the Museum and Art Gallery, and the old Post Office. These wooden safari ‘tropheys’ are hardly on the list of usual Xmas presents, let alone festive merchandise. But in the midst of the UK’s another multicultural city this kind of market stall takes you back to your summer memories…
…or perhaps even reminds you of that animal stampede scene in King Solomon’s Mines
where the protagonists are hiding behind the stones from what seems like the all-African sprint of zebras, antilopes, and giraffes. The 1950 film starring Deborah Kerr and Stewart Granger was shot entirely on location in the former British colonies in Equatorial Africa, and in the Belgian Kongo. As Eric Harper of DVD Verdict remarks, “Haggard’s novel did more than any other work of fiction to entrench the mysteries of deepest Africa in the public mind. The movie version, more safari travelogue than coherent narrative, does much the same thing with the exotic animals of Africa… The wildlife footage is undeniably impressive, and must have been a treat on the big screen. The film is like a child’s picture book or Noah’s Ark set brought to life. The efforts involved in capturing such footage border on heroic. MGM sent their cast and crew on a 14,000 mile safari in temperatures in excess of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The filmmakers also faced rampant tropical diseases, insects, and poisonous snakes, as well as a violent encounter with several Masai extras who got a bit carried away performing traditional war rituals for the film”.
Another reviewer, Holly E. Ordway of DVD Talk notes that the film is “predictably sexist”, judging by such phrase as “any woman who wants to go on a safari must have something wrong with her”. I wouldn’t call this sexist, if applied to myself, because I would love to go on a safari, and there is nothing wrong with me as a woman. The very idea of a safari, however, implies that there should be something ‘wrong’ with the person, for why would we break out from our routines precisely in such an ‘outrageous’ way?
Ordway goes on to highlight the animal deaths, but perhaps most importantly, the treatment of Africans in the film:
“The presentation of the native African characters is probably the best-handled part of the film. All the Africans speak in their own languages, whether amongst themselves or talking with Quartermain, who is portrayed as speaking several African languages. This is infinitely better than the sadly typical “foreigners speak in English with funny accents” approach, both in terms of being respectful and in terms of making a more exciting movie. This respectful style isn’t limited to the handling of dialogue, but extends throughout the film: we see Africans not just working as bearers (and even then it’s clear that Quartermain respects them as comrades) but also as warriors and kings. With the one exception of a ludicrous dance and combat at the very tail end of the film, the use of native African songs, dances, customs, and attire is very nicely done and certainly adds interest to the film.”
What all reviewers seem to agree about is the slow pace of the film and the practically total absence of a plot. David Chen writing for Chud.com observes on the impeccable hairstyles of actors even at the times when no hairstyle could be perfect (but this the 1950s Hollywood, after all!). As David’s parents were born after 1950 and he had grown up watching contemporary films, he admits that it is harder for him to appreciate the film for the same reasons as guided the 1950s audiences.
If you want more interesting details about the film, not mentioned in the abovementioned reviews, head to Jeremy Arnold’s article on TCM website. You will find out why the film had two directors; when and where the first ever film version of the celebrated novel had been made; not to mention the insight into technical and logistic struggles that might just put Star Wars in the shadow: “For example, 60,000 pounds of equipment had to be shipped to Mombasa, including seven specially constructed trucks and a snowplow, since some footage was to be shot on 17,000-foot Mt. Kenya”. Do remember, we are talking of 1950s…
As for me, I’d seen King Solomon’s Mines in 2006, and like many others, was left speechless by the animal stampede scene. Arnold stresses that acting was hardly mentioned in the press – the latter gave it all to the technical achievements, which are probably what continues bringing audiences to this film, even if it is too sexist or impeccable for the Noughties. In this, I must be that part of the audience that gets enchanted by the sight of Africa, very much like the author of The Rush Blog who fails to find any significant fault with the film.
Finally, here is the latest archaeological news that the coveted mines might have been found… and not in Africa, but in the Faynan region of Jordan. Better still, the fictional mines contained diamonds, gold and ivory: this very well explains why the late 19th c. explorers and hunters, fresh from the Golden Rush, would find the King Solomon’s Mines so attractive – or perhaps, this may explain why Haggard came up with his idea in the first place. But the real mines (which appear to date back to the 10th c. BC, the time when King Solomon ruled Israel) were seemingly providing the Israeli kingdom with copper. The team of archaeologists led by Thomas Levy of the University of California and Mohammad Najjar of Jordan’s Friends of Archaeology made the discovery at Khirbat en-Nahas (Arabic for “ruins of copper”). goes on to highlight the elucidating effect the discovery has had on Biblical studies. Since 1930s, the sight of Khirbat en-Nahas used to be linked to the Kingdom of Edom, but the statement was taken critically. Thanks to the recent discovery, however, we may be in for some serious rethinking.
To round this up, a few YouTube links: King Solomon’s Mines 1950 trailer and the University College of San Diego report about the discovery at Khirbat en-Nahas: “High Precision Carbon Dating and Historical Biblical Archaeology in Southern Jordan”.