June 10th: MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON (Bob Rafelson, 1990)

Friendship turns to betrayal when two Victorian-era British officers search for the source of the Nile River in Africa.

Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton is one of the most fascinating figures in history, making his name as an explorer and linguist, among many other achievements. He spoke over 25 languages, wrote the first English translations of the Kama Sutra and The Arabian Nights, and did a pilgrimage to Mecca disguised as a Muslim. His African expedition with John Hanning Speke caused much controversy.

American director Bob Rafelson was a key figure in the New Hollywood movement of the late-1960s/early 1970s, collaborating with Jack Nicholson and producer Bert Schneider on the films Head (with The Monkees), Five Easy Pieces, and The King Of Marvin Gardens. An adventurous traveler himself, he spent years in Africa researching a film that was never made, but wound up with another project involving Burton, a personal hero.

The screenplay was adapted from a historical novel by William Harrison, and despite not having directed a film on such an epic scale before, Rafelson secured funding partially as a result of a writer's strike and the suspension of a small studios' other project. Rafelson did additional research in London at the Royal Geographic Society.

The film was shot on location, primarily in Kenya and surrounding areas. Behind the camera was cinematographer Roger Deakins (who would soon form a long collaboration with the Coen Bros). The details of local tribal customs and artifacts reflects the ethnological interests of Rafelson as well as Burton, realized for the screen by Oscar winners Norman Reynolds and Jenny Beavan, on production design and costumes, respectively.

The cast was headed by little-known actors Patrick Bergin and Iain Glen (TV's Game Of Thrones), and joined by Richard E. Grant (Withnail & I), Fiona Shaw (the Harry Potter series), Bernard Hill (Lord Of The Rings), and Delroy Lindo (Malcolm X). Local actors and tribespeople were also used in smaller roles.

The film opened to enthusiastic reviews but likely because of its lack of stars failed to make much money at the box office. Rafelson considers it his favorite production experience of his career.

Running time is approx. 2 hrs, 10 min.