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IMDbPro

Mountains of the Moon

  • 1990
  • R
  • 2h 16m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
4.4K
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
41 Photos
Period DramaAdventureDramaHistoryMystery

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 info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    4.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Bob Rafelson
    • Writers
      • William Harrison
      • Bob Rafelson
    • Stars
      • Patrick Bergin
      • Iain Glen
      • Richard E. Grant
    • 57User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Videos2

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

    Photos41

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    + 34
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    Top cast54

    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
      The term 'Mountains of the Moon', refers to the Rwenzori Mountains of Uganda, which are located northwest of Lake Victoria, 185 miles west of Kampala, between Lake Edward and Lake Albert.
    • 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 reviews57

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10

    Often Overlooked Masterpiece

    A great story, beautifully filmed and acted about two Victorian era explorers. Irish-born Sir Richard Francis Burton, one of the greatest explorers in history, is in search of knowledge. English-born dilletante John Hanning Speke joins Burton's quest in search of glory. Together they search for the answer to one of the most elusive geographical questions of their time - what is the Nile's source? The film accurately shows how the Royal Geographical Society and other outside interests played Burton and Speke against each other for their own gain.

    The film's tagline really says it all: "Two strangers made friends by a savage world. Two friends made enemies by a civilized world."
    • brandon-1
    • Feb 27, 2001
    • Permalink

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    FAQ18

    • How long is Mountains of the Moon?Powered by Alexa

    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

    Tech specs

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

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