Watusi
Return to King Solomon's Mines
Original film poster
Directed byKurt Neumann
Written byJames Clavell
Based onKing Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard
Produced byAl Zimbalist
Donald Zimbalist
StarringGeorge Montgomery
Taina Elg
David Farrar
Rex Ingram.
CinematographyHarold E. Wellman
Edited byWilliam B. Gulick
Color processTechnicolor
Production
company
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • July 1, 1959 (1959-07-01)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$485,000[1]
Box office$1,545,000[1]

Watusi (also known as King Solomon's Mines 2) is a 1959 American adventure film, It is the sequel to the 1950 film King Solomon's Mines. The film was directed by Kurt Neumann and starring George Montgomery, Taina Elg, David Farrar and Rex Ingram. It was produced by Al Zimbalist and Donald Zimbalist. The screenplay was by James Clavell loosely based on the 1885 novel King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard.[2]

Plot summary

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The film opens in the British Protectorate of Tanganyika in 1919, shortly after the conclusion of World War I. Harry Quatermain (George Montgomery) is the son of Allan Quatermain who first set out on the quest for the source of Solomon's wealth, and he is determined to succeed where his father failed. He goes to Africa with his good friend Rick Cobb (David Farrar) and as they continue on their journey, Erica Neuler (Taina Elg) joins them. She is the daughter of a missionary who has been killed by a local tribe. Harry cannot hide his antagonism toward Erica. She is German, and Harry's mother and sister were killed at sea by Germans in World War I when their vessel was attacked by a U-boat, afterwards Harry had to identify their bodies, and he has harbored anti-German sentiments ever since doing so.[3]

Cast

Production

The film was originally known as Return to King Solomon's Mines and was the first movie produced for the studio by Al Zimbalist since he signed a contract with them. Director Kurt Neumann had just made The Fly (1958) which was written by James Clavell and Clavell wrote the screenplay for this. Taina Elg was under contract to MGM at the time and had just made Les Girls for them.[4]

The film reuses some footage from a previous MGM adaptation of the novel, King Solomon's Mines (1950) starring Deborah Kerr and Stewart Granger.

During filming, Irma Neumann, wife of director Kurt, died. A few weeks after filming completed, the director himself died as well.[5]

Reception

Box office

According to MGM records the film earned $695,000 in the US and Canada and $850,000 elsewhere resulting in a profit of $79,000.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
  2. ^ "WATUSI" (1959), Monthly Film Bulletin, 26, 63.
  3. ^ "Watusi (1959) - Kurt Neumann | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
  4. ^ Hopper, H. (1958, Apr 10). "Roz Russell may do 'Mame' as musical" Los Angeles Times
  5. ^ "Kurt Neumann, director, dies in mystery" (1958, Aug 22). Los Angeles Times

External links

H. Rider Haggard's King Solomon's Mines
Films directed by Kurt Neumann
Works by James Clavell
Categories