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Mountains of the Moon

  • 19901990
  • RR
  • 2h 16m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
3.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Mountains of the Moon (1990)
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.
Play trailer1:39
2 Videos
34 Photos
AdventureDramaHistory

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.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.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.

IMDb RATING
7.2/10
3.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Bob Rafelson
  • Writers
    • William Harrison(novel "Burton and Speke")
    • Bob Rafelson(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Patrick Bergin
    • Iain Glen
    • Richard E. Grant
Top credits
  • Director
    • Bob Rafelson
  • Writers
    • William Harrison(novel "Burton and Speke")
    • Bob Rafelson(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Patrick Bergin
    • Iain Glen
    • Richard E. Grant
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 46User reviews
    • 19Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:39
    Official Trailer
    Mountains of the Moon
    Clip 1:40
    Mountains of the Moon

    Photos34

    Iain Glen in Mountains of the Moon (1990)
    Patrick Bergin and Iain Glen in Mountains of the Moon (1990)
    Patrick Bergin and Iain Glen in Mountains of the Moon (1990)
    Patrick Bergin in Mountains of the Moon (1990)
    Patrick Bergin in Mountains of the Moon (1990)
    Delroy Lindo in Mountains of the Moon (1990)
    Iain Glen in Mountains of the Moon (1990)
    Patrick Bergin in Mountains of the Moon (1990)
    Patrick Bergin and Iain Glen in Mountains of the Moon (1990)
    Richard E. Grant and Iain Glen in Mountains of the Moon (1990)
    Patrick Bergin and Fiona Shaw in Mountains of the Moon (1990)
    Fiona Shaw in Mountains of the Moon (1990)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Patrick Bergin
    Patrick Bergin
    • Richard Burtonas Richard Burton
    Iain Glen
    Iain Glen
    • John Hanning Spekeas John Hanning Speke
    Richard E. Grant
    Richard E. Grant
    • Oliphantas Oliphant
    Fiona Shaw
    Fiona Shaw
    • Isabelas Isabel
    John Savident
    John Savident
    • Lord Murchisonas Lord Murchison
    James Villiers
    James Villiers
    • Lord Oliphantas Lord Oliphant
    Adrian Rawlins
    Adrian Rawlins
    • Edwardas Edward
    Peter Vaughan
    Peter Vaughan
    • Lord Houghtonas Lord Houghton
    Delroy Lindo
    Delroy Lindo
    • Mabrukias Mabruki
    Bernard Hill
    Bernard Hill
    • Dr. Livingstoneas Dr. Livingstone
    Matthew Marsh
    Matthew Marsh
    • Williamas William
    Richard Caldicot
    Richard Caldicot
    • Lord Russellas Lord Russell
    Christopher Fulford
    Christopher Fulford
    • Herneas Herne
    Garry Cooper
    Garry Cooper
    • Stroyanas Stroyan
    Roshan Seth
    Roshan Seth
    • Ben Amiras Ben Amir
    Jimmy Gardner
    • Jarvisas Jarvis
    Doreen Mantle
    Doreen Mantle
    • Mrs. Spekeas Mrs. Speke
    Anna Massey
    Anna Massey
    • Mrs. Arundellas Mrs. Arundell
    • Director
      • Bob Rafelson
    • Writers
      • William Harrison(novel "Burton and Speke") (screenplay)
      • Bob Rafelson(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —Greg Bole <bole@life.bio.sunysb.edu>
    gayspeared in the backriflepistolgun199 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Two strangers made friends by a savage land. Two friends made enemies by the civilized world.
    • Genres
      • Adventure
      • Drama
      • History
      • Mystery
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Two actors from the movie, Roger Rees and Omar Sharif, died on the exact same day: 10 July, 2015.
    • 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. While Burton's translation was published in 1886, the original was written between 1410 and 1434.
    • Quotes

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

    • Crazy credits
      This motion picture's opening title card reads: "East African Coast 1854".
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Mountains of the Moon/Where the Heart Is/Revenge/Hard to Kill/Madhouse (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      Kawamba Dance
      Recorded by David Fanshawe

      From the album "Africa - Witchcraft & Ritual Music"

    User reviews46

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Indiana Jones who?
    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.
    helpful•17
    3
    • Barry Kruse
    • Mar 20, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 23, 1990 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Aux sources du Nil
    • Filming locations
      • Kenya
    • Production companies
      • Carolco Pictures
      • IndieProd Company Productions
      • Zephyr Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $19,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,011,793
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $66,683
      • Feb 25, 1990
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,011,793
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 16 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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