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Mountains of the Moon

  • 1990
  • R
  • 2h 16m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
4K
YOUR RATING
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
36 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.

  • Director
    • Bob Rafelson
  • Writers
    • William Harrison
    • Bob Rafelson
  • Stars
    • Patrick Bergin
    • Iain Glen
    • Richard E. Grant
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Bob Rafelson
    • Writers
      • William Harrison
      • Bob Rafelson
    • Stars
      • Patrick Bergin
      • Iain Glen
      • Richard E. Grant
    • 51User reviews
    • 21Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Videos2

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

    Photos36

    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 Burton
    Iain Glen
    Iain Glen
    • John Hanning Speke
    Richard E. Grant
    Richard E. Grant
    • Oliphant
    Fiona Shaw
    Fiona Shaw
    • Isabel
    John Savident
    John Savident
    • Lord Murchison
    James Villiers
    James Villiers
    • Lord Oliphant
    Adrian Rawlins
    Adrian Rawlins
    • Edward
    Peter Vaughan
    Peter Vaughan
    • Lord Houghton
    Delroy Lindo
    Delroy Lindo
    • Mabruki
    Bernard Hill
    Bernard Hill
    • Dr. Livingstone
    Matthew Marsh
    Matthew Marsh
    • William
    Richard Caldicot
    Richard Caldicot
    • Lord Russell
    Christopher Fulford
    Christopher Fulford
    • Herne
    Garry Cooper
    Garry Cooper
    • Stroyan
    Roshan Seth
    Roshan Seth
    • Ben Amir
    Jimmy Gardner
    • Jarvis
    Doreen Mantle
    Doreen Mantle
    • Mrs. Speke
    Anna Massey
    Anna Massey
    • Mrs. Arundell
    • Director
      • Bob Rafelson
    • Writers
      • William Harrison
      • Bob Rafelson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    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. (Burton's unexpurgated translation, to be called "The Scented Garden", was still only in manuscript form when he died. Isabel burned it, believing that would help save his soul from damnation.)
    • 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: 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 reviews51

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Fascinating Adventure with a Story of Friendship
    In the Nineteenth Century, the British writer, geographer and explorer Captain Richard Francis Burton (Patrick Bergin) meets the Lieutenant John Hanning Speke (Iain Glen) during a dangerous journey in Africa and after being saved by Speke, they become friends. Soon they team-up to seek the source of the Nile River sponsored by the Royal Geographic Society. Meanwhile Burton meets his fan Isabel Arundell (Fiona Shaw) and they get married to each other. Burton and Speke travel for many months through Africa where they face brutal tribes, diseases, hunger and many other dangers together. Speke finds a lake that he believes it is the source of Nile River but Burton disagrees and believes they need more scientific research to be sure. When they separately return to London, the ambitious publisher Larry Oliphant (Richard E. Grant) stirs up a quarrel between the two friends and Speke travels alone to Africa trying to prove his findings. Will their friendship end?

    "Mountains of the Moon" is a fascinating adventure with a story of friendship based on a historic event, the journey of Captain Richard Francis Burton and Lieutenant John Hanning Speke to the African Great Lakes. The plot may be not accurate but the film is engaging and the landscapes are breathtaking. The viewer does not feel the 136 minutes running time. My vote is eight.

    Title (Brazil): "Montanhas da Lua" ("Mountains of the Moon")
    helpful•10
    2
    • claudio_carvalho
    • Aug 6, 2016

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 23, 1990 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Burton and Speke
    • 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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