7.3/10
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41 user 19 critic

Mountains of the Moon (1990)

R | | Adventure , Drama , History | 23 February 1990 (USA)
Mountains of the Moon Poster
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1:40 | Clip

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ON DISC
The legendary true-story of Capt. Richard Francis Burton and Lt. John Hanning Speke's tumultuous expedition to find the source of the Nile river.

Director:

Bob Rafelson

Writers:

William Harrison (novel), William Harrison (screenplay) | 1 more credit »

Stars:

Patrick Bergin, Iain Glen, Richard E. Grant | See full cast & crew »
Reviews
1 win. See more awards »

Videos

See all 1 video  »

Photos

See all 21 photos »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Patrick Bergin ... Richard Francis Burton
Iain Glen ... John Hanning Speke
Richard E. Grant ... Larry Oliphant
Fiona Shaw ... Isabel Arundell (Mrs Burton as from 1861)
John Savident ... Lord Murchison
James Villiers James Villiers ... Lord Oliphant
Adrian Rawlins ... Edward
Peter Vaughan ... Lord Houghton
Delroy Lindo ... Mabruki
Bernard Hill ... Dr. David Livingstone
Matthew Marsh ... William
Richard Caldicot ... Lord Russell
Christopher Fulford ... Herne
Garry Cooper ... Stroyan
Roshan Seth ... Ben Amir
See full cast »
Edit

Storyline

The story of Captain Richard Francis Burton and Lt. John Hanning Speke's expedition to find the source of the Nile river in the name of Queen Victoria's British Empire. The film tells the story of their meeting, their friendship emerging amidst hardship, and then dissolving after their journey. Written by Greg Bole <bole@life.bio.sunysb.edu>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

female rear nudity | gay | female frontal nudity | kissing while having sex | premarital sex | See All (199) »

Genres:

Adventure | Drama | History | Mystery

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 February 1990 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

As Montanhas da Lua See more »

Filming Locations:

Africa See more »
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Box Office

Budget:

$19,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$4,011,793
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carolco Pictures,IndieProd Company Productions,Zephyr Films See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)| Dolby (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

First top-billed lead starring role in a cinema movie of actor Patrick Bergin. See more »

Goofs

In an scene set in 1854, Isabel is looking at a copy of "The Perfumed Garden" translated by Burton. Burton did not publish this translation until 1886. See more »

Quotes

Arab chief in Cairo: In this wilderness you will find only Allah's terrible whimsy.
See more »

Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Best Films of 1990 (1991) See more »

Soundtracks

Wagogo Marriage Ritual
Recorded by David Fanshawe
From the album "Africa - Ceremonial & Folk Music"
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Indiana Jones who?
20 March 2002 | by Barry Kruse – See all my reviews

This is an excellent film, and it's unfortunate that it wasn't more widely seen. I wish I would've caught it in the theater, as I'm sure it would be magnificent there.

In it, you're going to see some of the most painfully memorable scenes in cinema (that I refuse to give away), and an epic story that is most remarkably, wholly true.

I loved Raiders of the Lost Ark, and before "meeting" Sir Richard Francis Burton, thought characters of Indy's ilk were simply figments of Steven Spielberg's imagination. However, with study you will find that Burton's experience (and that well beyond this expedition) makes him one of the most enigmatic, interesting people to have ever walked the face of the earth. As they say, truth is stranger than fiction.

Slow, smart, challenging, beautiful. And highly recommended viewing.
18 of 20 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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