This version of the story was a light, comedic take, deliberately referring to, and parodying, the Indiana Jones film series (in which Rhys-Davies had also appeared).

[4] King Solomon's Mines was followed by a sequel (filmed back-to-back), Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold (1986).

Professor Huston has actually been captured by a German military expedition on the same quest, led by Colonel Bockner and Turkish slave-trader and adventurer Dogati, a long-standing adversary of Quatermain.

After defeating Gagoola's warriors, Umbopo reveals himself as an exiled tribal chief and the rightful ruler of the Kukuanas.

Amid the ensuing chaos, Gagoola captures Jesse and flees into caves under the Breasts of Sheba, twin mountain peaks where the mines are located.

Meanwhile, Umbopo corners Gagoola, who leaps down a volcano's shaft and is incinerated in molten lava, causing eruptions throughout the mines.

Quatermain, Jesse and Umbopo flee through the collapsing caverns crossing a booby-trapped lake, to be stopped by Bockner, who demands their diamonds.

The trap resets itself and the diamonds rise back to the surface, but Umbopo warns Quatermain and Jesse not to take them, saying they belong to the mountain.

It's very much a Raiders of the Lost Ark type of movie – very tongue-in-cheek and full of adventures and stunts.... Bullets flying, lions eating people, witches up in the trees.

The crew included many Israelis and South Africans, which caused some objections from the local Arab population.

[7] The film's score was composed and conducted by Jerry Goldsmith, and performed by the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra.

Restless Records issued an album on LP and cassette; Milan later released it on compact disc minus the cue "The Ritual" and paired with Alan Silvestri's The Delta Force.

The film grossed $5 million in its opening weekend from 1,122 screens, ranking number one at the US box office.

[10] On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 29 out of 100, based on five critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".

[14] The direct sequel, Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold, was released in 1987 with both Richard Chamberlain and Sharon Stone returning.

Director J. Lee Thompson did not return, choosing instead to direct Murphy's Law with Charles Bronson.

The sequel was directed by television veteran Gary Nelson and was a critical and box office disappointment.