Africa Screams at the unfortunate Quatermain sequel

ALLAN QUATERMAIN AND THE LOST CITY OF GOLD (1986)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

It is funny that the trailer for this sequel to "King Solomon's Mines" had more action than the actual movie. I recall a moment in the trailer when Allan Quatermain (Richard Chamberlain) uses a bullwhip of some sort (nowhere to be found in the actual movie). I also recall some sort of wooden cage suspended on wires where Allan engages in some gunfight (also shown on the advertising poster, again nowhere to be found in the actual movie. The wooden cage is fleetingly seen in one shot). Whereas "King Solomon's Mines" at least had some action scenes with a little spin and an ounce of wit, this hastily patched-together sequel (reportedly shot simultaneously with the original) only gives Indiana Jones rip-offs a bad name.

This time, Allan Quatermain is in Africa on the search for his brother, who is hiding out in some sort of New Age temple looking for a white tribe. Along for the ride is returnee Jesse Huston (Sharon Stone), who only wants to get married and go back to America. There is also James Earl Jones on hand as Allan's sidekick, and a ridiculous villain with a bad hairdo played by Henry Silva. And to make matters worse, all Quatermain has to do to get a villainess to drop from an abyss is to simply...well, I would not dream of giving away the stupidity of the joke.

Though "King Solomon's Mines" was a poor man's Indiana Jones (and absolutely had nothing to do with H.Rider Haggard), it had the advantage of instilling a silly, parodic tone that gave it some leverage. This sequel is as shopworn as they come, and as adventure movies go, it is simply the most witless, least exciting one ever made.