The Film:
King Solomon's Mines is one of those quintessential British films that everyone must see. Directed by Robert Stevenson (Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks), King Solomon's Mines starts off by introducing us to an out of luck father and daughter team who are in South Africa looking for diamonds and gold to make their fortunes. After thinking they had found a large diamond they take it straight to the diamond dealer who tells them it is just a crystal and isn't of any value. With this, the father, Patrick O'Brien (Arthur Sinclair - The Show Goes On, Charing Cross Road) and daughter Kathy O'Brien (Anna Lee - The Sound Of Music, The Ghost and Mrs Muir) decide to try and hitch a lift to the coast with Allan Quartermain (Sir Cedric Hardwicke - Richard III, The Ten Commandments) who had been hired to search for the missing brother of Sir Henry Curtis (John Loder - Eagle Squadron, Tin Pan Alley). Well, four weeks into travelling they come across a man by in a coach along with one of his guides. He is severely ill and they find out from the man about the location of the fabled King Solomon's Mines, a place full of gold. Patrick leaves his daughter and Allan Quartermain to try and find the gold and when Kathy and Allan get to a town, and meet up with Allan's friends Sir Henry Curtis and Commander Good (Roland Young - Standing Room Only, They All Kissed The Bride), they decide to go after him and help find the gold for a cut in the money. As their guide brings them safely through the desert (Paul Robeson - Big Fella, The Proud Valley) they get captured by natives and this where the fun really begins. As I said in the first line of this review, the film is something that all must see and it has a real sort of Indiana Jones feeling to it. Buy it and buy it now.
The DVD:
Video:
Network have provided us with the OAR of 4:3 and what a fantastic picture it is. We must remembr that the film is almost seventy years old, yet it has just a good a picture as some 1960's black and white films released by Warner or MGM. An absolutely sterling job. Unfortunately however, Network have once again decided against adding English subtitles to the disc.
Audio:
The original English track in Dolby Digital 2.0 Dual Mono is provided here and there are no complaints. The dialogue is clear and sound levels consistent.
Extras:
None.
