King Solomon's Mines (1937): A dusty, clunky relic that is weirdly charming

Is it worth watching?

Honestly, only if you’re a total nerd for film history. If you go in expecting a polished, modern thrill ride, you are going to hate it. It’s slow, a bit stiff, and the way it handles Africa is… well, very 1937. But if you have a soft spot for guys in pith helmets shouting about maps, you might get a kick out of it. 🧭

Cedric Hardwicke plays Allan Quatermain with this weird, clipped energy. He’s always squinting at the horizon like he’s trying to spot a plot point that hasn’t been written yet. It’s not exactly subtle, but it works for the vibe.

The Paul Robeson factor

Paul Robeson is the real reason to sit through the slower parts. He’s got this booming, effortless presence that makes everyone else look like they’re acting in a high school play. Whenever he’s on screen, the movie actually feels like it has a pulse.

There’s this one scene where they’re trekking through the bush and the camera just lingers way too long on the scenery. It feels like a travelogue that lost its way. I actually checked my phone for a second, which is never a great sign. 📱

Compared to the rest

It’s a far cry from the snappy, snappy rhythm you see in Midshipman Easy. That movie had a bit more of a cheeky personality. Here, everything feels a little more weighed down by the 'importance' of the expedition.

• The fake-looking backdrops are actually kind of endearing.
• The dialogue sounds like it was written by people who had never been outside, let alone to Africa.
• The pacing is basically: walk, walk, walk, look at a map, walk, big reveal.

I found myself wondering if anyone actually read the script before filming started. Some of the lines are so dry they could serve as sandpaper. 🌵

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s not even close. But there’s a certain weird magic to how much effort they put into the sets when the script was barely holding together. It’s the kind of movie that feels like a rough draft for a much better film that would eventually show up decades later.

Watch it for the history, skip the parts where they start talking about 'civilizing' the locals. It hasn't aged well in that department, at all. 🙄