I don't know if anyone else has caught this, but on the DVD release of Allan Quartermain and the Lost City of Gold they show a trailer as a speical feature. The trailer features a few scenes which were cut from the movie... shows Allan fighting off the temple priests with a whip, swining around on it, and some mine car type stuff ala Temple of Doom.... Now I wonder why they cut this from the movie as it would have totally saved it from it being rather boring.
Originally posted by skywlkrinc It was okay until they actually got to the city of gold, then it went downhill quick.
Luke
Couldn't agree with you more. What the hell were they thinking? Does anyone know if this movie was taken from an old novel like King Solomon's Mines, or if it was a new (meaning in 1987) story using the characters from the '84 version of KSM?
I just saw it on DVD a couple of days ago...I agree with you guy's who was on crack when they wrote the city part of the script...it had a lot of potential intil then. In need of a rewrite!
Location: Neuchâtel, Switzerland (Canadian from Montreal)
Posts: 6,950
Quote:
Originally Posted by SKAbatula
Couldn't agree with you more. What the hell were they thinking? Does anyone know if this movie was taken from an old novel like King Solomon's Mines, or if it was a new (meaning in 1987) story using the characters from the '84 version of KSM?
Ska
This story is based on H. Rider Haggard's novel "Allan Quatermain" which
followed "King Solomon's Mines". There are at least a dozen Quatermain
tales. I could provide a list if there's enough interest.
Despite the lost 1919 version, there was a previously made film called
"King Solomon's Treasure" based on the same story. Very low budget.
Thanks for the info, again, Stoo. Hehehe...I don't even remember typing that back in June!
About the King Solomon's Treasure version...is it a British version? I believe that is the one you're talking about. If it is, then yes, it is very low budget.
I actually enjoyed the lasted version with Patrick Swayze and Allison Doody. It seemed to differ from the originals and probably didn't follow the novel closely, but it is fun to watch.
Location: Neuchâtel, Switzerland (Canadian from Montreal)
Posts: 6,950
Yes, that's the one. John Colicos as Quatermain, too! I'm embarassed to say
that this is a Canadian production. It was filmed in Swaziland and here in
Montreal. (A local celebrity, Veronique Beliveau, was the handmaiden).
Anyways, it's so cheap and silly but I have a soft spot for it because
there are parts that are close to the book. Plus, it has a pre-Raiders
reflected sunlight beam pointing the way...
The Patrick Swayze one didn't air here but it'll probably come soon. I know
it's out on DVD. Good to know you liked it, SKAbatula, and I should just go
check it out, shouldn't I?
Location: Neuchâtel, Switzerland (Canadian from Montreal)
Posts: 6,950
Quote:
Originally Posted by 007
...the DVD release of Allan Quartermain and the Lost City of Gold they show a trailer as a speical feature. The trailer features a few scenes which were cut from the movie... shows Allan fighting off the temple priests with a whip, swining around on it, and some mine car type stuff ala Temple of Doom.... Now I wonder why they cut this from the movie as it would have totally saved it from it being rather boring.
Going back to the original post - I haven't seen the DVD trailer
but do have one from a '99 TV special hosted by Christopher Lee.
It has the whip scene that I think you're talking about but there
are no mine car-type shots. Where do they appear? Maybe they
are different trailers?
I would imagine the cut scenes were probably due to them being
unfinished, unessential to the plot or for legal reasons.
Location: Neuchâtel, Switzerland (Canadian from Montreal)
Posts: 6,950
You can disregard the question above because I think I found the
"mine car-type" shots. No mine cars but definitely fighting on
scaffolding in the caverns a la "Doom". Looks like a significant
chunk of action was removed.
Hearing that whip crack is just too funny. Thanks for pointing
out these missing nuggets!
Location: Neuchâtel, Switzerland (Canadian from Montreal)
Posts: 6,950
"The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" is terrible and an absolute
abomination of the characters involved. Haggard, Verne and Wells would
either be laughing or turning in their graves if they knew of this garbage.
I've never read the "League" comic book (nor do I intend to) but
this reminds me of a great quote by John Le Carre. To paraphrase:
"Seeing your novel turned into a movie is like having your oxen diced
into beef bullion cubes."
The only positive aspect of this film is the introduction of Quatermain,
Nemo, Dorian Gray, etc. to a younger audience (my sister got into it)
and the SPFX.
In any case, I digress...if anyone has read the novel "Allan Quatermain"
which "Lost City of Gold" was based on, you would know that "League"
is impossible. It's complete wank.
With the atrocious exception of LXG, there are a number of shorter Haggard adventures with Allan Quatermain including Allan Quatermain and the Ice Gods, Marie: An Episode in the Life of the Late Allan Quatermain, Allan Quatermain in Finished, Tales of Allan Quatermain and Others.
As a matter of fact, there was a whole Quatermain series -
Location: Neuchâtel, Switzerland (Canadian from Montreal)
Posts: 6,950
Quote:
Originally Posted by 007
I had no idea there were so many! Thanks of the info!
I didn't realize there was interest in Allan's further adventures.
Earlier in this thread I offered to post a list of the stories if
anyone was curious but no one answered...
There is another one called "Nada The Lily" which Quatermain
isn't actually in but is reffered to. It's an Umslopogaas story.
