MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON

UK, 1990, 136 minutes, Colour.
Patrick Bergin, Iain Glen, Leslie Philips, Anna Massey, Roger Rees, Omar Sharif, Peter Vaughan, Fiona Shaw, James Villiers, Delroy Lindo, Roshan Seth, Bernard Hill.
Directed by Bob Rafaelson.

Mountains of the Moon is an epic of 19th century Africa and Sir Richard Burton's expedition to find the source of the Nhill. While there are some franker touches (in portraying violence, in relationships), this is film-making in the older epic tradition: impressive location photography, a strong British cast led by Patrick Bergin as Burton and Iain Glen as his friend and rival, Speke, a long and measure portrait of Empire.

But the film also moves with vigour and raises questions of cultural imperialism. Those who relish films exploring history and geography will be satisfied and will those who enjoy character portraits and clashes. The British tone of the film is all the more surprising because of director and co-writer American, Bob Rafaelson (Five Easy Pieces, The Postman Always Rings Twice, Black Widow). This is an interesting epic - and the atmosphere is enhanced by excellent recreation of the period in Africa and in England as well as by a great number of British actors in cameo roles including Peter Vaughan, Leslie Philips, Anna Massey, Roger Rees and, uncredited, Omar Sharif.

1. The impact of this epic? Recreation of the 19th century? British Empire, England and Africa? The scope of the film?

2. The screenplay based on the memoirs of the central characters? On historians' work? American Bob Rafaelson and his perspective in co-writing the screenplay and direction? Yet the British tone of the film, perspective? A 1980s view of the 19th century?

3. The recreation of period: decor and costumes, London buildings and streets, the English countryside, the geographical society? Africa, the coast, the treks through the mountains and deserts, the village, the lakes? The epic style musical score?

4. The title and the origins of the Nile? The 19th century quest for the source of the Nile, a mystery of exploration, conquest and adventure? Empire and commerce?

5. Africa in the 19th century: The British and their presence? conquest, expectations? Speke and his disguising of the Africans and their customs? His colonialism? The contrast with Burton and his openness, learning? Examples like the naming of Lake Victoria? Prejudice, exploitation? Opening up frontiers?

6. The film has based on fact, history, memoirs, geographical exploration?

7. Richard Burton and his reputation, his work in Africa, his robust personality and assistants? Speke and his wanting to join Burton? The interview? Going on the expedition, Speke and his hunting, clashes with the natives, their attack? The fierceness of the fighting, Burton and his injuries? Speke being caught, tortured, slashing his legs? Giving a tone to the violence in the exploration?

8. England and the Royal Geographical Society? 19th century interest in exploration? Geography? Speke and his being at home, recuperating, getting out of the coach to meet his mother? The contrast with Burton and his recovery, the episode with his doctor brother? With the British aristocrat and his support? The Geographical Society and the expedition? The speeches? Isobel trying to get into the all male preserve? Meeting Isobel at the estate, her wanting the autograph? The background of the Estate, the Gentry at recreation? The bond between Isobel and Burton, the affair and its sensuality? The bond between the two? The role of the Oliphants and their pushing, the bond of the younger Oliphants with Speke? The deaf father and the business interest? The contracts for book publishing?

9. The Expedition, Burton and his Letters to Isobel and the voiceover commentary? Choosing the men at the coast? Choosing Sidi Bombay and his loyalty? The authorities at the coast? Provisions? The carriers and their reliability The details of the expedition, the range of terrain, the difficulties, the confrontation with the lions and the freedom of the slave, Burton's strong friendship with the slave and using his advice? Growing difficulties, deserters? Speke's ear and the beetle, the solution for destroying the beetle and the pain for Speke? Burton and the rocks, his swollen legs, having to cut them, Speke's unwillingness? The encounter with the groups of African natives, the dangers, the bartering of the cloth? The lakes, the discoveries, on the water? The danger of contaminated water and the effect on the expedition?

10. Burton and Speke in themselves? The bonds between them? Burton as strong and extrovert, his interest in customs, his relationships with women, a century reticent about sexuality - Victorian reserve (and Isobel’s reaction)? His reputation, curiosity, bluff, dancing with the natives? The contrast with Speke and his aristocracy, arrogance, liking to hunt, shooting the lion, relying on Sidi Bombay, his authoritarian attitudes? With Burton, devotion to him, the bond, and willing, to cut the leg, holding Burton like the Pieta, kissing him?

11. The expedition arriving at the village at Lake Victoria, the king and his attitude, the civilisation? The minister and his hostility? The expedition quartered, imprisoned? The gifts, the presentation of the gun, the shooting? Burton imprisoned while Speke went off to explore? The use of drugs, the stealing of the locket? With the king, his dilemma, his shooting his minister and the hanging of the corpse? Burton's letter and his comment on civilisation, decay? The contrast with the villages and the merchants?

12. Speke, going to the source of the Nile, his speculations, naming Lake Victoria, his reaction to Burton? Burton critical of the lack of evidence?

13. The return, Oliphant and his lying to Speke, setting him against Burton? Speke's triumph and acclaim? Hurt because of the alleged lie? His going on further expeditions? The dramatisation of the action and the expedition? The speech?

14. Burton and the disappointment of his return, the relationship with Isobel, the visit to her parents and the meal? The marriage? The years passing, his going into decline, his being mocked? Isobel wanting him to be a diplomat? Isobel and her strength, her confrontation with him and urging him to action?

15. The presentation of Dr. Livingstone, audience understanding his background, exploration? His meeting with Burton, bluff style, the actual comparison of wounds with its comic touch? His agreement in adjudicating the debate?

16. The beginning of the debate? Isobel and her confrontation with Speke, talking about loyalties? Speke's discovery of the truth about Burton's report? The membership of the Geographic Society and their support of Speke, of the debate? Speke going hunting, his realization of the truth, arranging his accidental death? Burton and his speech, his grief at Speke's death?

17. The presentation of English Aristocracy in the 19th century - Isobel's family, the officers of the Royal Geographical Society, Parliamentarians and their support, Publishers and their lack of scruple? The portrait of the Oliphants, Rather and Son?

18. The final scene of packing, Burton going to be a Diplomat? The 30 years' marriage?

19. The truth about the source of the Nile? The film creating the atmosphere of the 19th century, British Empire, exploration in commerce, the spirit of adventure, 19th century ethos?