King Solomon's Mines
Allan Quatermain is a fortune hunter who is convinced by Jesse Huston to help her find her father, who's been lost somewhere in the African jungle during his last exploration.
Working with a tight budget of $12.5M, the film achieved a modest success with $15.1M in global revenue (+20% profit margin).
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
King Solomon's Mines (1985) reveals carefully calibrated dramatic framework, characteristic of J. Lee Thompson's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 40 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Allan Quatermain leads a quiet life as a hunter and guide in colonial Africa, content with his solitary existence and knowledge of the wilderness.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Jesse reveals her father has disappeared searching for King Solomon's legendary diamond mines and desperately needs Quatermain's help. He initially refuses, wanting no part of the dangerous expedition.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Quatermain actively chooses to lead Jesse into the wilderness to find her father and the mines, accepting the danger and leaving his safe, isolated life behind., moving from reaction to action.
At 50 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat They discover significant clues to King Solomon's Mines and Jesse's father's trail. False victory—they believe they're close to success, but the antagonists close in and the real dangers still await., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 74 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Captured by hostile forces or trapped in the mines' deadly mechanisms. Jesse's father appears dead or beyond rescue. Quatermain faces his deepest fear—that caring for someone leads to loss. All seems lost., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 81 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Quatermain synthesizes his survival skills with his newfound emotional courage. He formulates a plan using both his wilderness expertise and his commitment to Jesse, combining his old skills with his new values., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
King Solomon's Mines's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping King Solomon's Mines against these established plot points, we can identify how J. Lee Thompson utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish King Solomon's Mines within the action genre.
J. Lee Thompson's Structural Approach
Among the 13 J. Lee Thompson films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. King Solomon's Mines represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete J. Lee Thompson filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more J. Lee Thompson analyses, see Cape Fear, Death Wish 4: The Crackdown and The Guns of Navarone.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Allan Quatermain leads a quiet life as a hunter and guide in colonial Africa, content with his solitary existence and knowledge of the wilderness.
Theme
Jesse Huston tells Quatermain that "some things are worth risking everything for," establishing the theme of courage versus comfort and the value of human connection over isolation.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to 1913 colonial Africa, Quatermain's reputation as a skilled guide, Jesse Huston's arrival searching for her father, and the dangerous political climate with German forces and tribal conflicts.
Disruption
Jesse reveals her father has disappeared searching for King Solomon's legendary diamond mines and desperately needs Quatermain's help. He initially refuses, wanting no part of the dangerous expedition.
Resistance
Quatermain debates helping Jesse, resisting involvement. German villain Colonel Bockner and Turkish slave trader Dogati emerge as antagonists also seeking the mines. Jesse persists in convincing Quatermain through determination and payment.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Quatermain actively chooses to lead Jesse into the wilderness to find her father and the mines, accepting the danger and leaving his safe, isolated life behind.
Mirror World
Romantic chemistry develops between Quatermain and Jesse during the journey. She represents connection, courage, and emotional openness—everything his isolated life lacks.
Premise
Classic adventure sequences: navigating dangerous terrain, encounters with hostile tribes, narrow escapes from Bockner and Dogati, discovering clues to the mines' location, and the growing bond between Quatermain and Jesse.
Midpoint
They discover significant clues to King Solomon's Mines and Jesse's father's trail. False victory—they believe they're close to success, but the antagonists close in and the real dangers still await.
Opposition
Bockner and Dogati intensify pursuit. The expedition faces escalating dangers: hostile warriors, treacherous terrain, betrayals. Quatermain's feelings for Jesse complicate his judgment. The stakes rise as they near the legendary mines.
Collapse
Captured by hostile forces or trapped in the mines' deadly mechanisms. Jesse's father appears dead or beyond rescue. Quatermain faces his deepest fear—that caring for someone leads to loss. All seems lost.
Crisis
Quatermain confronts his emotional isolation and fear of connection. He realizes that Jesse has changed him, that human bonds matter more than safety or treasure. He must choose courage over comfort.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Quatermain synthesizes his survival skills with his newfound emotional courage. He formulates a plan using both his wilderness expertise and his commitment to Jesse, combining his old skills with his new values.
Synthesis
Final confrontation with Bockner and Dogati in the mines. Quatermain and Jesse rescue her father, defeat the villains using clever traps and teamwork. The mines collapse, destroying the treasure but saving what truly matters—human lives and connection.
Transformation
Quatermain and Jesse together, transformed from isolated individuals into partners. He has embraced connection over isolation, courage over comfort. The closing image mirrors the opening but shows a man no longer alone.