Mountains of the Moon (1990)
- Starring:
- Patrick Bergin, Iain Glen, (more)
- Director(s):
- Bob Rafelson
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Format(s):
- DVD
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Synopsis of Mountains of the Moon
Director Bob Rafelson fulfilled a lifelong dream when he finally received backing to complete Mountains of the Moon. The film recreates the exploratory adventures of 19th century visionaries Sir Richard Burton (Patrick Bergin) and John Henning Speke (Iain Glen). The heart of the film is the effort by Burton and Speke to discover the true source of the Nile river. This occurs well into the film, after several torturous scenes involving the injuries sustained by the protagonists during other expeditions and their growing friendship (which, the film intimates, goes far beyond friendship). Rafaelson's fascination with this story, and his insistence upon painstaking historical accuracy, unfortunately compromises his ability to make an interesting film. There are so many starts and stops during the first half that we sincerely hope Burton and Speke will chuck it all and set up a pub in Bristol or something. What saves Mountains of the Moon is the rapport between its stars and the brilliant, epic-like cinematography of Roger Deakins. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 140 mins
Complete Cast of Mountains of the Moon
- Patrick Bergin - Capt. Richard Francis Burton
- Richard E. Grant - Laurence Oliphant
- John Savident - Lord Murchison
- Anna Massey - Mrs. Arundell
- Roger Rees - Edgar Papworth
- Leslie Phillips - Mr. Arundell
- Paul Onsongo - Sidi Bombay
- Omar Sharif
- Doreen Mantle - Mrs. Speke
- Frances Cuka - Lady Houghton
- Asiba Asiba - Nubian Servant
- Jimmy Gardner - Jarvis
- Leonard Juma - Jemadar
- George Malpas - Lead Actor
- Celestia Fox
- Robert Whelan - 1st Reporter
- Ian Vincent - Lt. Allen
- Adrian Rawlins - Edward
- Martin Okello - Veldu
- Esther Njiru - Lema
- Bheki Tonto Ngema - Ngola
- Norta Muhammed - Somali Girl
- Konga Mbandu - Bearer
- Alison Limerick - Sorceress
- Pineniece Joshua - Somali Girl
- Christopher Fulford - Herne
- Craig Crosbie - Swinburne
- Iain Glen - Lt. John Hanning Speke
- Fiona Shaw - Isabel Arundell Burton
- Peter Vaughan - Lord Houghton
- James Villiers - Lord Oliphant
- Bernard Hill - Dr. David Livingstone
- Delroy Lindo - Mabruki
- Peter Eyre - Norton Shaw
- Roshan Seth - Ben Amir
- Pip Torrens - Lt. Hesketh
- Roger Ashton-Griffiths - Lord Cowley
- Richard Caldicot - Lord Russell
- Zam Zam Issa - Somali Girl
- Patrick Letladi - Bearer
- Garry Cooper - Stroyan
- Rod Woodruff - Fencer
- Philip Voss - Col. Rigby
- Fatima Said - Somali Girl
- Michael Otieno - Bearer
- Ralph Nossek - Doctor
- Rocks Nhlapo - Bearer
- Wilson Ng'Ong'A - Bearer
- Fikile Mdleleni - Bearer
- Matthew Marsh - William
- Renny Krupinski - Reporter
- Stewart Harwood - Attendant
- Bill Croasdale - 2nd Reporter
- Director(s):
- Bob Rafelson
- Writer(s):
- Bob Rafelson, William Harrison
- Producer(s):
- Daniel Melnick
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Adult Situations, Nudity, Questionable for Children, Violence)
- Categories:
- Action / Adventure
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