Peak Cannon adventure
Golan-Globus knew how to sell spectacle on a schedule — this is one of their most entertaining jungle epics.
King Solomon's Mines is a 1985 action-adventure from Cannon Films, loosely adapting H. Rider Haggard's classic novel with a knowing wink at Indiana Jones. Richard Chamberlain plays white hunter Allan Quatermain, hired by Jesse Huston (Sharon Stone) to rescue her father and find the legendary diamond mines of King Solomon — pursued by villains, hostile tribes, giant spiders, and every jungle peril a 1980s blockbuster could invent.
At a Glance
Based on1885 novel by H. Rider Haggard
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
DirectorJ. Lee Thompson
StudioThe Cannon Group / Golan-Globus
MusicJerry Goldsmith
Filming locationZimbabwe
Release dateNovember 22, 1985
Why King Solomon's Mines is worth a revisit
Critics dismissed it as a Raiders clone. Decades later, its camp energy, Jerry Goldsmith score, and sheer spectacle have turned it into a beloved slice of 1980s adventure cheese.
King Solomon's Mines arrived in November 1985 into a world still obsessed with Indiana Jones, and reviewers were quick to call it a knockoff. They were not entirely wrong — the film openly invites the comparison — but that misses why it has endured on cable, VHS, and streaming: it is fun on its own terms.
Richard Chamberlain makes a surprisingly credible action hero, Sharon Stone shows early star power, and the supporting cast — especially John Rhys-Davies and Herbert Lom — lean into the material with gusto. Jerry Goldsmith's score gives the adventure real sweep, and the Zimbabwe locations lend the jungle sequences more authenticity than the budget suggests.
Yes, the giant spider is absurd. Yes, the tone lurches between romance, slapstick, and peril. That is exactly the point. King Solomon's Mines is not prestige cinema — it is a Saturday-matinee throwback delivered with 1980s excess, and for viewers who enjoy that brand of adventure, it delivers generously.
Cannon Films at full throttle — a jungle adventure that knows exactly how ridiculous it is and runs with it anyway.
Early Sharon Stone
Stone had just come off Romancing the Stone and brings the same energy to Jesse Huston — smart, tough, and game for the stunts.
Jerry Goldsmith score
The composer of Alien and Gremlins gives the film a rousing adventure theme that elevates even the silliest set pieces.
Cult comfort viewing
Low RT scores and mixed reviews never stopped it from becoming a cable-era favourite — exactly the kind of film worth rediscovering.
Story
Into the African wild in search of a lost fortune
01
Allan Quatermain returns
Richard Chamberlain's Allan Quatermain would rather avoid trouble — until Sharon Stone's Jesse Huston convinces him to track her missing father and the legendary treasure that may have cost him his life.
02
Jungle perils at Cannon speed
Filmed in Zimbabwe, the movie throws everything at its heroes: hostile tribes, quicksand, giant spiders, and chase sequences staged with the exuberant, slightly unhinged energy that defined Golan-Globus productions.
03
A knowing Raiders riff
Directed by J. Lee Thompson and scored by Jerry Goldsmith, the film wears its Indiana Jones influence openly — part sincere adventure, part affectionate parody of the treasure-hunt boom of the 1980s.
Cast
Main characters and performers
Behind the Scenes
Produced by Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus as a Cannon Films release — part of the studio's 1980s adventure push.
Filmed on location in Zimbabwe, outside Harare.
Richard Chamberlain returned as Allan Quatermain in the 1986 sequel Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold.
Sharon Stone turned down the role at first because it felt too similar to Romancing the Stone, then accepted after the part was reworked.
Jerry Goldsmith composed the score — the same year he also scored Legend and Rambo: First Blood Part II.
The film deliberately parodies and references the Indiana Jones series while adapting H. Rider Haggard's 1885 novel.
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FAQ
What is King Solomon's Mines (1985) about?
Allan Quatermain and Jesse Huston travel into Africa to find Jesse's missing father and the legendary diamond mines of King Solomon, pursued by rival treasure hunters and jungle dangers.
Is King Solomon's Mines based on a book?
Yes. It loosely adapts H. Rider Haggard's 1885 adventure novel, though the 1985 film takes a lighter, more comedic tone than the source material.
Who stars in King Solomon's Mines?
Richard Chamberlain plays Allan Quatermain, Sharon Stone plays Jesse Huston, and Herbert Lom and John Rhys-Davies appear as the villains.
Is there a sequel to King Solomon's Mines (1985)?
Yes. Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold was released in 1986 with Richard Chamberlain returning in the title role.
How long is King Solomon's Mines?
The theatrical cut runs approximately 100 minutes.
Where was King Solomon's Mines filmed?
Principal photography took place in Zimbabwe.
Where can I watch King Solomon's Mines?
Availability varies by region. Check MovieLinks for current streaming and purchase options.
