King Soloman's Mines(1950) won Academy Awards for Best Cinematography, Colour and Best Film Editing and was nominated for Best Picture.

King Solomon's Mines (1950). Won Academy Awards for Best Cinematography, Color and Best Film Editing and was nominated for Best Picture. On March 29,1950 at the RKO Pantages Theatre, Hollywood, California, Hosted by, Fred Astaire.

King Solomon's Mines (1950). A Adventure, loosely based on the 1885 novel King Solomon's Mines by Henry Rider Haggard. Cast: Deborah Kerr, Stewart Granger and Richard Carlson. Directed by Compton Bennett and Andrew Marton and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.



The film starts out with Quatermain, guiding a group of men on a safari when they come across a herd of elephants and one is shot and killed. We watch as the other elephants try to protect the dead elephant.

When he gets back to the compound, he finds that Elizabeth Curtis and her brother have made the long journey from England to Africa in search of her missing husband who has come to the Africa in search of King Solomon's diamond mines.

Still upset about the last safari, he is not ready to go back to work, but.. he needs the money and they have a map to lead the way.

A tall, mysterious native, Umbopa, joins the safari.

At first Quartermain and Elizabeth, find it hard to like each other... but, after living through a wildfire and a animal stampede, they begin falling in love.

They happen to cross paths with the fugitive Van Brun, a lone white man living with a tribe. After, Allan recognizes him, they fear for their lives and take him hostage to leave the village safely. Van Brun, wanting to escape from them tries to shoot Allan, killing Khiva. Which causes the villagers to go on the war path.

When they reach the mines, they are met by people who look like thier new freind, Umbopa. They discover that he is royalty and has returned to dethrone the evil King Twala. Umbopa leaves with his friends, while Allan, Elizabeth and John, stand before, Twala with out the protection of Umbopa.

With his last bullet, John kills a attacker, stopping the other natives. The king's right hand man Gagool, tells them that they have seen Curtis and leads them to a cave that contains the diamonds and the skeletal remains of Curtis. Gagool, takes the opportunity to trap them inside the cave. Will they find a way to escape with their lives or will they fall to the same fate as Curtis?

The film entirely shot in Africa and you can see why King Solomon's Mines won Academy Awards for Best Cinematography, Color and Best Film Editing. King Solomon's Mines one of the most amazing adventures ever filmed. You will never forget the scenes involving wild animals. Especially, the stampede scene. The different natives shown in their own land make this film specially interesting. The Watusi tribe, is the most beautiful tribe I have ever seen.

Fun Facts:

Filming took place at the following locations in Africa: Murchison Falls in Uganda; Astrida, "the land of giant Watusis"; Volcano Country and Stanleyville in the Belgian Congo; Tanganyika; and Rumuruti and Machakos in Kenya.

The film marked the beginning of Eva Monley's career as a Hollywood location scout and producer, specializing in Africa.

The film won Academy Awards for Best Cinematography, Colour and Best Film Editing and was nominated for Best Picture.

The only thing at all musical in the film is some African chanting and drums.

Errol Flynn was originally cast as Quartermain, but turned it down, as he did not desire to sleep in a tent on location in Africa. Instead he did Kim, which was filmed in India, but the accommodations for the actors were at a local resort.

The same introductory African drums and chanting were used again two years later in Mogambo.

Happy Birthday: Stewart Granger!

Stewart Granger (6 May 1913 – 16 August 1993). His first starring film role was in the film, The Man in Grey (1943). A British film melodrama made by Gainsborough Pictures, which are a series of period costume dramas. Directed by Leslie Arliss and adapted by Doreen Montgomery from the novel, The Man in Grey by Eleanor Smith. It starred Margaret Lockwood, Phyllis Calvert, James Mason, Stewart Granger and Martita Hunt, which put together a successful "women's pictures" for the time. Granger, went on to perform in the films:

The Magic Bow(1946). British Musical, based on the life of the Italian violinist and composer Niccolo Paganini. Directed by Bernard Knowles.

Madonna of the Seven Moons (1945). A young woman grows up to marry and have a have a family of her own. Because of a earlier trauma in her life, she develops amnesia and lives her life as a gypsy, possessed by a wild, free-living spirit. A pair of golden earrings with seven dangling moons are her most prized possession.

Saraband for Dead Lovers (1948). British historical drama film directed by Basil Dearden and starring Stewart Granger and Joan Greenwood. It is based on the novel by Helen Simpson. Set in seventeenth century. The story is about, Sophie Dorothea who is looking for comfort from Count Philip Konigsmark, when her husband Prince George Louis, later to become King George I of Great Britain, wants nothing to do with her. The lovers are brought down by a jealous Countess Platen.

In 1949, Granger made Adam and Evelyne, starring with Jean Simmons. The story, about a much older man and a teenager who he realises is no longer a child but a young woman and had obvious parallels to Granger's and Simmons's own lives. Granger had first met the very young Jean Simmons when they both worked on, Caesar and Cleopatra (1945). They married the following year in a wedding ceremony organised by Howard Hughes, in one of his private aircraft flew the couple to Tucson, Arizona, where they were married.



Granger performed in one of my favorite films, King Solomon's Mines (1950). A Romance/adventure film based on the 1885 novel Henry Rider Haggard. Cast: Deborah Kerr, Stewart Granger, and Richard Carlson. Directer: Compton Bennett. The movie won Academy Awards for Best Cinematography, Color and Best Film Editing and was nominated for Best Picture. In this film version, it changes Haggard's plot to include a female lead. In 1959, a sequel titled Watusi was made by the same studio.

The story takes place in, Africa(1897), white hunter and guide Allan Quatermain is through with his passion for adventure after the death of his native friend in an elephant stampede. Englishwoman Elizabeth Curtis, wants to hire him to take her and her brother John Goode, on a expedition through Africa to find her missing husband Henry. Who has disappeared in the unexplored part of Africa, on an adventure to find the legendary mines. Allan needs money to send to his son in England, so he agrees to lead them on safari. Allan, is given a 400 year old map to King Solomon's diamond mines, Henry's final destination. They then begin their journey, a spectacular adventure across the African desert. One of my favorite scenes, is a Amazing stampede of zebras, giraffes and other wild animals forces the expedition members to take cover. Will they find Elizabeth's lost husband?

Granger followed with the film, Soldiers Three. A series of stories of adventures in far off places. The story opens with General Brunswick (Walter Pidgeon) reminiscing about his days as a colonel. Due to his height and stately voice, he was always given the role of admiral, senator, or grandfather. His soldiers are played by David Niven, Stewart Granger, Robert Newton, and Cyril Cusack. Niven received an Oscar for "Separate Tables", but is probably best known for "Around the World in Eighty Days" or "Pink Panther". We follow them through their adventures during their military maneuvers. Filming locations show Utah and California.



Soon after he filmed the remake of, The Prisoner of Zenda (1952), a film version of the classic novel of the same name by Anthony Hope and a remake of the famous 1937 film version. Directed by Richard Thorpe and produced by Pandro S. Berman. The film stars Stewart Granger, Deborah Kerr and James Mason with Louis Calhern, Robert Douglas, Jane Greer and Robert Coote.

Scaramouche(1952) Romantic adventure film based on the 1921 novel Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini as well as the film version starring Ramon Novarro. The film stars Stewart Granger, Eleanor Parker, Janet Leigh and Mel Ferrer. It was directed by George Sidney.

Green Fire(1954). The story begins when, Rian Mitchell discovers an emerald in South America. He tricks his partner, Vic, into returning to the site. While there, he meets Catherine and Donald Knowland, brother and sister who run a coffee plantation. Rian, finds himself torn between his love for Catherine or finding the emeralds.

Moonfleet (1955), Granger was cast as an adventurer, who rules a gang of cut-throat smugglers until he is softened by a 10-year-old boy who worships him and who believes only the best of him.

Footsteps in the Fog(1955), was the third and final film Granger and Jean Simmons made together. Simmons played a housemaid who finds that her employer (Granger) has poisoned his rich wife in order to inherit her wealth.




Bhowani Junction (1956), was adapted from a John Masters novel about colonial India on the verge of obtaining independence. Ava Gardner played an Anglo-Indian caught between the two worlds of the British colonials and the Indians. It was a routine thriller with Communist villains.



The Little Hut (1957), 1957 British-American romantic comedy film, directed by Mark Robson, produced by Mark Robson and F. Hugh Herbert. The cinematography was by Freddie Young and costume design by Christian Dior. The film starred Ava Gardner, Stewart Granger and David Niven, with Walter Chiari and Finlay Currie. It was shot at the Cinecittà Studios in Rome.

Gun Glory (1957). Grainger plays a family man who has become a gunfighter. He eventually returns to his ranch, only to find that his wife has died and his son wants no part of him. He hires Rhonda Fleming to keep house for him, and she tries to bring father and son together.

North To Alaska with John Wayne. The story begins when Sam and George, strike gold in Alaska. George sends Sam to Seattle to bring George's fiancé back to Alaska. Sam finds she is already married, and returns with Angel. Sam, after trying to get George and Angel together, finally romances Angel. Frankie is a con man trying to steal the partner's gold claim. This was the last Hollywood movie Granger made.

STAR OF THE MONTH: GRACE KELLY in GREEN FIRE (1955)

GREEN FIRE(1955). A romantic/adventure. Begins with Mining engineer Rian X. Mitchell being attacked by bandits at an abandoned Mine. They shoot him and throw him down the side of a mountain. Rian starts walking in search for help, when he meets, Father Ripero along the way. The priest brings Rian to Catherine Knowland's coffee plantation, where he receives treatment for his wounds. Soon, Father Ripero tells Rian that the piece of stone he has was from Carrero, the lost emerald mine.

Later, Rian returns to his office in Entrada, that he shares with his business partner, Vic Leonard. His very affectionate secretary, tells Rian that Vic, has made travel plans for Canada. Rian goes to the harbor to talk to Vic, about the emerald mine before he leaves. Vic tells him that he is not interested, and he has a more secure job as a foreman of the Manitoba Carbon Company.

Rian, tricks Vic into getting drunk and takes his money, which he gambles with. Vic, is very angry when Rian returns in the morning, but still decides to go back with him to the mine.

Rian is having trouble finding a mining crew, goes to the church to find Father Ripero, who admits he told his followers that it was dangerous idea. In spite of Father Ripero, Rian finds workers by promising a reward for the first man to find an emerald and the excavation begins.

Rian's greed to mine the emeralds at any cost. First he angers the local bandits, who threaten Catherine, but he also hires her brother Donald, with no experience working as a miner. Catherine and Rian, begin have their own problems, when it is time to harvest the coffee and she has few workers left and she finds her fields under threat of flooding from Rian's mining operations. After a tragic accident at the mine, even Vic abandons his friend and helps Catherine with her harvesting.

Will Rian ever come to his senses and realize he has something bigger to lose?

Green Fire is a 1954 film directed by Andrew Marton with original music by Miklos Rozsa and starring Grace Kelly, Stewart Granger, Paul Douglas and John Ericson.

Grace Kelly, is very charming through out the film and a good match with Stewart Granger. Paul Douglas, was wonderful in his supportive role.