KING SOLOMON’S TREASURE

King Solomon's Treasure (1979)

KING SOLOMON’S TREASURE

(director: Alvin Rakoff; screenwriters: novel “Allan Quartermain” by H. Rider Haggard/Allan Prior/Colin Turner; cinematographer: Paul Van der Linden; editor: Stan Cole; music: Lew Lehman; cast: David MaCallum(Sir Henry Curtis), John Calicos (Allan Quartermain), Patrick Macnee (Captain Good R.N.), Brit Ekland (Queen Nyleptha), Yvon Dufour (Alphonse), Ken Gampu (Umslopogaas), John Quentin (Stetopatris), Wilfrid Hyde-White (Oldest Club Member); Runtime: 88; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: Susan A. Lewis; Canafox Film; 1979-UK/Canada)

“All the stars were miscast and all give terrible performances.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

An inane low-budget film based on the novel “Allan Quartermain” by H. Rider Haggard. It’s directed by Alvin Rakoff (“Number 10″/”Death Ship”/”Paradise Postponed”) and is written by Allan Prior and Colin Turner. Worth seeing only for the photography. It was shot mostly on location in Africa. All the stars were miscast and all give terrible performances.

The stutterer Sir Henry Curtis (David MaCallum), Allan Quartermain (John Calicos) and Captain Good R.N. (Patrick Macnee) are a trio of bumbling Victorian adventurers in Africa. The explorer, Sir Henry, guided only by an ancient medallion, leads the trio to the mysterious lost Phoenician city in the heart of Africa. It’s where Solomon’s treasure is hidden. While hunting for the African treasure, they must ward off dinosaurs, survive attacks from rebellious priests and hostile natives, get past activated volcanoes and avoid toppling cities. And, of course, they must survive meeting Brit Ekland, playing a Phoenician queen, and still return home in one piece to tell their incredible yarn. It might have yearned to be a Raiders of the Lost Ark, but it’s only a risible copy-cat flick.
 
 

REVIEWED ON 7/5/2015 GRADE: C+