Mountains of the Moon

film by Rafelson [1990]

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July 20, 2026

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The film Mountains of the Moon, released in 1990, was directed by Bob Rafelson. It is an adaptation of William Harrison's novel and focuses on the explorer Sir Richard Burton. The film was praised for its beautiful cinematography and authentic detail, with Patrick Bergin portraying Burton. While generally well-reviewed, it did not achieve significant commercial success. The film is considered one of Rafelson's more cohesive works.1

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Bob Rafelson
Films of the late 1980s and beyond
Long in the making, Mountains of the Moon (1990) was a beautifully filmed adaptation of William Harrison’s mammoth novel about British explorer Sir Richard Burton (played by Patrick Bergin). The film, scripted by Rafelson with Harrison and suffused with authentic detail, was arguably Rafelson’s most cohesive work; though it…
Read More
Long in the making, Mountains of the Moon (1990) was a beautifully filmed adaptation of William Harrison’s mammoth novel about British explorer Sir Richard Burton (played by Patrick Bergin). The film, scripted by Rafelson with Harrison and suffused with authentic detail, was arguably Rafelson’s most cohesive work; though it…
Read More