Mountains of the Moon

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.

Isabel asks Burton to sign her copy of "A System of Bayonet Exercise" and hands him a very substantial book.

This writing of Burton's was a 36-page pamphlet.

Although Larry Oliphant is portrayed as a homosexual, by all accounts he was in real life heterosexualthe filmmakers changed his sexual orientation to create a more dramatic reason for Speke's betrayal of Burton after all they had gone through together.

Mountains of the Moon made me want to get a copy of the journals and read what really happened. Some of the best scenes are when portions of the journals are read as narration, much as is done in the Ken Burn's series.

Really great movie like all the reviews here say.Absolutely no idea why this movie is so much under the radar and not more famous.

A fine adventure film from the 1990, in the epic movie tradition, based on Richard Burton's and John Speke's exploration of East Africa in the mid 19th century and their discovery of the source of the river Nile and the mountains of the title. The role of Burton was played by Patrick Bergin, an mustachioed Irish actor, who was cast in masculine roles and who seemed to become an important star in those days (he costarred with Julia Roberts in Sleeping with the Enemy), though he finally never achieved a big breakthrough.

MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON attempts to tell the true story of some explorers in search of the source of the Nile. How much of this is true and how much is not is uncertain.

This is an underrated epic. A true story on an important subject, that is today taken for granted in the modern 'Google Earth' era.

This is an underrated epic. A true story on an important subject, that is today taken for granted in the modern 'Google Earth' era.

The source of the Nile river captivated many English explorers during the nineteenth century. That majestic river which spans some four thousand miles in length is the basis of this incredible movie.

It's 1854. Entitled aristocratic John Hanning Speke (Iain Glen) arrives on the East African Coast on leave from the Army.

As someone who will watch pretty much anything that is filmed on location in Africa, I found this historical retelling of the 19th century Geographic Society's scramble for discovery (also related to the European "scramble for Africa) to be entertaining, condescending and compelling. The cinematography is excellent, there is no mistaking some of those locations.