Description
Original 1959 US title card, used (36 x 28 cm)
Watusi (also known as King Solomon’s Mines 2) is a 1959 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer adventure film, It is the sequel to the 1950 film King Solomon’s Mines. Like its predecessor, 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 novel King Solomon’s Mines by H. Rider Haggard.
Plot summary
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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 was killed at sea by Germans in World War I.
Cast
George Montgomery as Harry Quatermain
Taina Elg as Erica Neuler
David Farrar as Rick Cobb
Rex Ingram as Umbopa
Dan Seymour as Mohamet
Robert Goodwin as Jim-Jim
Anthony M. Davis as Amtaga
Paul Thompson as Gagool
Harold Dyrenforth as Wilhelm von Kentner
Charles Swain as M’ban
Martin Wilkins as Wounded Native
Production
The film was originally known as Return to King Solomon’s Mines and was the first movie produced for the studio by Al Zimablist 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.
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.
Directed by Kurt Neumann
Produced by Al Zimbalist, Donald Zimbalist
Written by James Clavell
Based on King Solomon’s Mines by H. Rider Haggard
Starring: George Montgomery, Taina Elg, David Farrar, Rex Ingram.
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date: July 1, 1959
Running time: 85 minutes
Country: United States
Budget/Box office: $485,000/$1,545,000
