King Solomon's Mines (1937) - Engl.OF on DVD
King Solomon's Mines (1937) - Engl.OF
Most of the offered DVDs have the region code 2 for Europe and the PAL picture format. However, we also offer releases from the USA, which come on the market in NTSC format and with the country code 1. This is then indicated in our item details.
- Country of origin:
- USA, 1937
- Age release:
- Dieser Titel ist nicht FSK-geprüft.
Delivery to minors is not possible.
Infos zu Titeln ohne Jugendfreigabe - Item number:
- 3767451
- UPC/EAN:
- 5027626239244
- Release date:
- 13.3.2006
- Genre:
- Abenteuer
- Playing time ca.:
- 77 Min.
- Contributor:
- K
- German Title:
- König Salomons Diamanten (1937)
- Language:
- Englisch
- Picture:
- 4:3
Content
Working out of South Africa, Allan Quartermain (Sir Cedric Hardwicke – Richard III, The Ten Commandments) is hired to track down the missing brother of Sir Henry Curtis (John Loder – Eagle Squadron, Tin Pan Alley), who had entered the region looking for the fabled King Solomon’s Mines. He agrees to help for a share of the treasure – but has little hope of them returning as they are venturing into unsafe territories.
The party includes Irish adventurers Kathy O’Brien (Anna Lee – The Sound of Music, The Ghost and Mrs Muir), her father, Patrick O’Brien (Arthur Sinclair – The Show Goes On, Charing Cross Road) and British gents Curtis and Commander Good (Roland Young – Standing Room Only, They All Kissed the Bride), who are all seeking to uncover the truth about King Solomon’s Mines.
When their guide, Umbopa (Paul Robeson – Big Fella, The Proud Valley) brings them safely through the desert, they get captured by natives, led by Twala (Robert Adams – The Merchant of Venice, The Emperor Jones) and Gagool (an uncredited Sydney Fairbrother – Brewster’s Millions, The Private Secretary). A sinister plot is then uncovered and the expedition hangs in the balance…
Originally released in 1937, this is the definitive interpretation of H. Rider Haggard’s enduring masterpiece, as well as an important piece of cinema history in its own right. Robeson – a famous American stage actor and singer – had moved to England to secure better parts, yet still found himself face-to-face with actors ‘blacking up’; Sydney Fairbrother was in fact a famous white character actor who ‘blacked up’ for the role of Gagool the witchdoctor. However, Robeson would go on to be the first black person to play Othello, and be forever remembered for his powerful singing of songs such as ‘Old Man River.’
It was almost a prerequisite that Robeson would sing, and he finds himself singing three numbers in King Solomon’s Mines – ‘Walk! Walk!’, ‘Climbin’ Up’ and ‘Kukuwana’.
King Solomon’s Mines has been re-made on numerous occasions – yet this 1937 version, directed by the Oscar-nominated Brit Robert Stevenson (Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks) – still remains a firm favourite.
