King Solomon's Mines (1937)

In 1882, Irish dream chaser Patrick “Patsy” O’Brien and his daughter Kathy have failed to strike it rich in the diamond mines of Kimberley, South Africa (then the Cape Colony). They persuade a reluctant Allan Quatermain to give them a lift to the coast in his wagon. Along the way, they encounter another wagon carrying two men in bad shape. Umbopa recovers, but Silvestra Getto dies after boasting to Quartermain that he has found the way to the fabled mines of Solomon. Patsy finds the dead man’s map and sneaks off during the night, unwilling to risk his daughter’s life. Kathy is unable to persuade Quatermain to follow him; instead, they rendezvous with Quartermain’s new clients, Sir Henry Curtis and retired navy Commander Good, out for a bit of big game hunting.

Kathy steals Quartermain’s wagon to go after her father. When they catch up with her, she refuses to go back with them, so they and Umbopa accompany her across the desert and over the mountains, as shown on the map. During the arduous trek, Curtis and Kathy fall in love. On the other side of the mountains, they are surrounded by unfriendly natives and taken to the kraal of their chief, Twala, to be questioned. Twala takes them to see the entrance of the mines, guarded by the feared witch doctor Gagool.