The Italians tried their hand at a number of Indiana Jones rip-offs throughout the '80s, with the result being that most, if not all, turned out to be unsuccessful. THE MINES OF KILIMANJARO is no exception, a silly and poorly-made film done in through an ultra-low budget - which precludes the use of any major action sequences - silly characters, and bad casting in the part of the leading character, Ed Barclay (played by unknown-to-the-genre Tobias Hoesl, when better choices like Al Cliver and Oliver Tobias - who at least have some experience of the genre - sit lower down in the cast in worthless cameo roles!).
The plot jumps from place to place and is full of absurdity. The simple plot, set in 1934, involves the hunt for some secret treasure or other which is located in the mines of Kilimanjaro. Seeking the treasure are a diverse bunch of people, including a secret society of monks, a fierce tribe of warrior women desperate for a man, a race of violent leopard men (yep, guys in shabby leopard-skin leotards again), the Nazis, a Dutch businessman named Rolf, a Chinese drug lord, and a British expedition! It's not as interesting as it sounds, with far too many of the action scenes shot in extreme close-up, so you can't see what's happening, a lethargic pacing, unexplained character motivations, blatant mistakes, and dull music. The only thing the film has going for it is some interesting safari-type footage, including our heroes watching a buffalo stampede, a surprisingly efficient shot. Ageing Italian director Mino Guerrini once proved himself to be a capable director adept at making crime films in the '70s but displays little of his previous skill here. Stock footage of elephants pads out the production and comes as light relief from the corny dialogue that litters the rest of the movie. Exploitation values are low, with no nudity (although an amusing plot development sees the chief actress lose her skirt somehow) and barely any blood or gore to speak of (aside from a couple of shootings).
The film seems intent on offering up cheap and unrealistic effects as often as possible. Watch out for the stupid moment when Hoesl is menaced by a plastic snake! There's also an absurd plastic bat attack and a man being force-fed white mice for no explicable reason. A tug of war game with a screaming native at the centre could have been a great gore scene a la CUT AND RUN but the opportunity is wasted. Watch out for the scene in which Hoesl goes back into a burning building to retrieve his beloved hat, the most open of the Indiana Jones rip-off moments.
The cast includes a number of Euro-veterans, most of whom are used to ill effect. Christopher Connelly is on screen for all of ten minutes, playing Professor Smith, and this proves to be one of his less distinguished appearances, as well as one of his last. Also turning up is veteran actor Gordon Mitchell as Dutchman Rolf, but the role is rather extraneous to the plot, although Mitchell's performance is excellent and the best aspect of the movie. Hoesl is useless as the lead and leading lady Elena Pompei one of those instantly dispensable Italian actresses of the '80s, whose faces you can't remember ten minutes after the film finishes. Not one of the genre's highlights, this is suitable only for cheese addicts and Euro-fans desperate for new material.
The plot jumps from place to place and is full of absurdity. The simple plot, set in 1934, involves the hunt for some secret treasure or other which is located in the mines of Kilimanjaro. Seeking the treasure are a diverse bunch of people, including a secret society of monks, a fierce tribe of warrior women desperate for a man, a race of violent leopard men (yep, guys in shabby leopard-skin leotards again), the Nazis, a Dutch businessman named Rolf, a Chinese drug lord, and a British expedition! It's not as interesting as it sounds, with far too many of the action scenes shot in extreme close-up, so you can't see what's happening, a lethargic pacing, unexplained character motivations, blatant mistakes, and dull music. The only thing the film has going for it is some interesting safari-type footage, including our heroes watching a buffalo stampede, a surprisingly efficient shot. Ageing Italian director Mino Guerrini once proved himself to be a capable director adept at making crime films in the '70s but displays little of his previous skill here. Stock footage of elephants pads out the production and comes as light relief from the corny dialogue that litters the rest of the movie. Exploitation values are low, with no nudity (although an amusing plot development sees the chief actress lose her skirt somehow) and barely any blood or gore to speak of (aside from a couple of shootings).
The film seems intent on offering up cheap and unrealistic effects as often as possible. Watch out for the stupid moment when Hoesl is menaced by a plastic snake! There's also an absurd plastic bat attack and a man being force-fed white mice for no explicable reason. A tug of war game with a screaming native at the centre could have been a great gore scene a la CUT AND RUN but the opportunity is wasted. Watch out for the scene in which Hoesl goes back into a burning building to retrieve his beloved hat, the most open of the Indiana Jones rip-off moments.
The cast includes a number of Euro-veterans, most of whom are used to ill effect. Christopher Connelly is on screen for all of ten minutes, playing Professor Smith, and this proves to be one of his less distinguished appearances, as well as one of his last. Also turning up is veteran actor Gordon Mitchell as Dutchman Rolf, but the role is rather extraneous to the plot, although Mitchell's performance is excellent and the best aspect of the movie. Hoesl is useless as the lead and leading lady Elena Pompei one of those instantly dispensable Italian actresses of the '80s, whose faces you can't remember ten minutes after the film finishes. Not one of the genre's highlights, this is suitable only for cheese addicts and Euro-fans desperate for new material.