Mountains of the Moon

R

Released Feb 23, 1990

2h 15m

History

Drama

List

65%

17 Reviews

Tomatometer

77%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Richard Burton (Patrick Bergin) and John Hanning Speke (Iain Glen) are explorers determined to find the source of the Nile somewhere in central Africa. Together, they run afoul of native peoples, inclement weather and no end of personal injury before reaching what could be the discovery they'd hoped for. When they get back to England, however, the two have a falling out. Speke insists he has discovered the Nile's source, while Burton thinks the evidence insufficient.

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Audience Member

This film is criminally underrated. It's a gem of a film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Incredible true story of explorer Sir Richard Burton's quest to find the original of the Nile River. Filled with colorful visual cinematography, vivid cultural panoramas and plot twists. There are several scenes in this movie you will NEVER forget!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

lanfranco c

Looking for the sources of the Nile

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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 a good depiction of Burton and Speke, and their 19th century story about locating the source of The Nile river in Africa. The unfortunate fate of their relationship is portrayed excellently, in this well-acted and written film, with terrific cinematography. I highly recommend it as a history lesson and great cinema.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

awesome historical pic

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I was fascinated by the history brought alive and thoroughly enjoyed this movie.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

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Bob Rafelson

Director

Patrick Bergin

Richard Francis Burton

Iain Glen

John Hanning Speke

Fiona Shaw

Isabel Arundell

Richard E. Grant

Larry Oliphant

Peter Vaughan

Lord Houghton

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Kurt Jacobsen

Chicago Reader

Rafelson concocts mediocre entertainment at a high cost.

Rated: 1/4

May 12, 2022

Full Review

Richard Combs

Sight & Sound

The narrative sprawls in the usual epic fashion -- though largely without the usual epic excitements.

Jan 16, 2020

Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

A filmed epitaph, beautiful mausoleum, but without much energy beneath the marbel. [Full review in Spanish]

Nov 1, 2022

Full Review

Bruce C. Steele

OutWeek

Who would have picked Bob Rafelson as the heir to David Lean? But there it is: an epic, historical adventure of the sort you thought they didn't make anymore.

May 19, 2020

Full Review

Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Rated: 3/5

Oct 10, 2005

Full Review

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Synopsis

Richard Burton (Patrick Bergin) and John Hanning Speke (Iain Glen) are explorers determined to find the source of the Nile somewhere in central Africa. Together, they run afoul of native peoples, inclement weather and no end of personal injury before reaching what could be the discovery they'd hoped for. When they get back to England, however, the two have a falling out. Speke insists he has discovered the Nile's source, while Burton thinks the evidence insufficient.

Director: Bob Rafelson
Production Co: Carolco Pictures Inc., Zephyr Films, IndieProd
Rating: R
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 23, 1990, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 10, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.4M
Runtime: 2h 15m
Sound Mix: Surround