King Solomon's Mines Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		4.0

King Solomon's Mines Blu-ray Movie Review

Do the Watusi.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III June 9, 2023

As the third of seven film adaptations of Henry Haggard's landmark 1885 adventure novel, MGM's well-received 1950 production of King Solomon's Mines is perhaps the most enduring of the lot. Highlighted by solid lead performances and stunning on-location footage captured in exotic Africa (not to mention the invaluable participation of native tribes), it's still an entertaining ride that should captivate the interest of seasoned fans and newcomers alike. Those hoping for full-on cave exploration might walk away disappointed, as it should perhaps be more accurately titled Walking Slowly to King Solomon's Mines, but this one's more about the journey than the destination... and the romance, too.

"It's not the years, honey. It's the mileage."

Not that there's an immediate spark between rugged safari guide Allan Quatermain (Stewart Granger) and Elizabeth Curtis (Deborah Kerr): he's grown weary of his trade and she simply lures him out of retirement to the tune of £5,000. The mission? To guide her and her brother John Goode (Richard Carlson) to a particularly remote part of Africa where a fabled diamond mine reportedly exists. The wealth doesn't interest Elizabeth; she's just seeking the whereabouts of her estranged husband Curtis, with only a crude map and fancy clothes to her name. Though reluctant to travel with such a handicap, Allan agrees to the deal... but he's getting paid whether they find Henry or not. Along with an ever-dwindling caravan of "bearers" (locals hired to tote their supplies), the three explorers begin their journey.

Seasoned film fans have already picked up on its similarities to later films like Raiders of the Lost Ark and even Star Wars (along with their many imitators), with the assumed eventual spark of romance between polar opposites adding to adventure set against an exotic backdrop. Yet while said romance was never part of Haggard's novel -- although it's existed in the majority of filmed adaptations -- this element plays a crucial part of audience interest. Will they find what they're looking for? Has Henry survived more than a year in the wilds of Africa? If the estranged husband and wife are able to reunite, will Elizabeth and Allan go their separate ways? It's a potent series of eventually answered questions that makes King Solomon's Mines such an engaging ride for first-time viewers, yet it can still be appreciated on repeat viewings for the stunning location footage, interactions between its main characters and African tribespeople (many of whom speak in their native tongues without any supportive subtitles), and tense showdowns with dangerous wildlife, from a massive zebra and gazelle stampede to a herd of lions and one really, really fake giant spider.

Perhaps the story's most refreshing turn of events occurs shortly after its admittedly early climax: fresh from certain doom inside a seemingly inescapable cave, surviving party members return to the village of their former captives with a friend -- and his fellow rebels -- in tow. Taking a backseat as mostly silent observers during a one-on-one showdown for control of the village, it only cements the lasting charm of King Solomon's Mines: though certainly dramatized and a little dated in its portrayal of third-world inhabitants, it's about as respectful as you can get for a major studio film shot almost entirely on a continent that most American audiences of 1950 had never seen first-hand.

Followed by the decently successful but less impressive 1959 sequel Watusi AKA Return to King Solomon's Mines, the original still feels like an engaging adventure even though we've had regular exposure to primitive and modern African culture for decades. While the glow of discovery has faded, that doesn't dull what's essentially a well-crafted romantic adventure captured in glorious Technicolor. As expected, the format shines on Warner Archive's dazzling new Blu-ray, led by an outstanding 4K-sourced restoration of the original negative and a few short but valuable extras.

King Solomon's Mines Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Filmed in glorious Technicolor (but without the advantage of widescreen, which was only a few short years away), the expertly-shot King Solomon's Mines was likely quite the theatrical spectacle for 1950 audiences. That sense of wonder and majesty still shines through on Warner Archive's great-looking new Blu-ray, which features an absolutely gorgeous 1080p transfer sourced from a new 4K scan of the original Technicolor negatives. The majority of King Solomon's Mines is attractively filmed with special attention paid to the varying color palettes of its many locations, from lush plateaus to the sun-bleached savanna and, later, darkened cave interiors lit by fiery orange torches. (That one's a set.) Fine detail and textures are top-notch and make quite an impact, with razor-sharp close-ups and wide shots strengthened even further by the occasional insertion of grainier stock footage during a handful of wildlife encounters as well as a couple of questionable "day for night" scenes. Stray amounts of what looks like ringing could be spotted on a few specific wide shots, yet these are few and far between. Unquestionably, this Blu-ray offers a consistently great-looking image that clearly exceeds previous home video editions -- and maybe even original theatrical showings -- by a wide margin, with Warner Archive's careful restoration and precise disc authoring leaving virtually no room for error.

King Solomon's Mines Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Not to be outdone -- and in some respects, more impressive than its visuals -- is WAC's DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix. Restored from the original nitrate optical soundtrack, it offers a perfect replication of King Solomon's Mines' frequently impressive sound design that begins with thunderous drums and features plenty of crisp sonic touches along the way. From background effects like native wildlife, rustling leaves, and location echoes to crystal-clear dialogue presented in English, Swahili, and multiple other African dialects -- many of which are appropriately not subtitled, although several conversations are translated by guides -- this is an effective audio presentation that draws viewers in just as much as the location footage. No obvious or distracting age-related damage was heard along the way, rounding out what's essentially a sonic experience that's about as perfect as you can get for this audio format and era.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are offered during the main feature only -- not the extras, unfortunately.

King Solomon's Mines Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in a standard keepcase with attractive vintage poster-themed cover art and no inserts. Bonus features are minimal but help to at least provide a bit of historical context.

• Jungle Safari (9:48) - This vintage promotional behind-the-scenes featurette -- which was clearly sponsored by Dodge and/or Coca-Cola, and could've been a commercial for either one -- is nonetheless an invaluable little slice of film history, detailing the crew's trip through rugged African wilderness to meet natives and offer them a cold drink before shooting began. Definitely worth a once over, as it provides more than a few interesting bits of trivia that help viewers appreciate both the uniqueness of this production and the difficulty of recording it. A few short unrestored clips also let us see the extent of Warner Archive's restoration efforts too.

• Theatrical Trailer (3:31) - This appropriately epic promotional piece can also be seen here.

King Solomon's Mines Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The strongest filmed adaptation of its durable source material, Compton Bennett and Andrew Marton's King Solomon's Mines is a lavishly-produced adventure that introduced a generation of filmgoers to African culture and customs via its impressive on-location shooting. Though a few deviations from the original novel don't always work completely in its favor, this is such a well-crafted film that it's almost impossible not to be fully entertained on every leg of the journey. Warner Archive's long-awaited Blu-ray serves this production extremely well with another outstanding A/V restoration and the bonus features add a touch of appreciated depth and context. Highly Recommended.