I have in my rather large Big Box VHS video collection a film called Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold from 1985, which I have yet to watch.
However, I've always been intrigued by this obscure Victorian super gent, a lost hero from another age and much older than the Golden age of comics and the likes of Namor and Batman!
Here's a potted history.
Quatermain first appeared in the 1885 blockbuster novel King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard, he of the later SHE.
An eon later Quatermain turned up in Alan Moore and Co's 1999 graphic comics The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen along with assorted meta-beings like The Invisible Man and Mina.
Moore's League was itself inspired by an earlier 1960 Jack Hawkins film, itself based on a 1958 novel called The League of Gentlemen by John Boland. Check out those balaclavas!
Coming right up to date, Quatermain next graced the screen in the form of Sean Connery in the oft-panned film The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen from 2003. Described as dieselpunk, I quite enjoyed this mash-up of monsters, Captains and mavericks.
Connery-Quatermain is the obvious leader of this Victorian Avengers and I particularly enjoyed seeing obscure supernatural characters like Mina the Vampire and Dorian Gray in a modern flick.
I may have to watch it again now I've written this!
There's naturally more to say about the Gentlemen extraordinaire and Allan Quatermain but for now I'm taking a drive to Royston Vasey and may never be seen again!
Do you like Quatermain and the League?
Still got my Puffin books King Solomon's Mines that I was given Xmas 1975. I didnt realise HRH had written so many books with him in them (at least 15, and Quatermain even meets up with Ayesha/SHE). Film-wise I think the 1950 version of KSMines with Stewart Granger is the best I've seen. The 1980s one with Richard Chamberlain and Sharon Stone is very poor in comparison (your video is the sequel).
ReplyDeleteI havnt read Moore's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, but found the film quite entertaining. Nice sub and car, and Hyde is hilarious.
I forget that Richard Chamberlain was a bit of a leading man for a while Timmy. So mine's the sequel. I'll have to look out for the big box VHS debut, although they're virtually non-existent at car boots now. Yes I liked the sub and the car in the Extraordinary film. Hyde reminded me of the Hunchback of Notre Dame in Van Helsing.
DeleteWe almost has an adaptation of King Solomon's Mines in the Eagle but they then decided against it. Frank Bellamy had already drawn the first 3 centre spreads which are available online - luvvly stuff!!!
ReplyDeleteSounds fantastic. Frank's stuff is always great. Thanks for the info Unknown.
DeleteHere you go Woodsy
DeleteThanks Norman. Fab stuff!
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