Starring: Ronald Colman, John Howard, Margo; Director: Frank Capra; Released: 1937
Robert Conway (Colman) is a famed British diplomat who, along with his brother and four other passengers board a plane that is to take them home from the Far East. It was meant to be a safe and easy flight, but before the plane even leaves the runway the pilot is killed and the plane is overtaken by a mysterious pilot, all unbeknownst to the passengers. After the plane crash lands in the Himalayas, they are discovered by strange natives of the mountain lands and are led to a beautiful oasis within the depths of the frozen peaks. They soon discover it to be the lost city of Shangri-La. There they met with great hospitality, despite learning that they where actually kidnapped and taken there. Robert meets with the High Lama and discovers that he is Father Perrault, the founder of the city, which means he would be well over two hundred years old. He is told that people age much slower living a great deal longer than normal as provided they remain within the bounds of the city, and is asked to be the lost city’s keeper. Conway is conflicted, but realizes he might find peace there. He and his brother eventually meet the beautiful young Maria (Margo) who they learn has lived in the city for many decades, and that she is actually over sixty years old. Conway begins to believe more and more of the magic of the city while his brother, George (Howard), begins to doubt the kindness of the place after learning that the porters where bribed to stay away. George finally manages to arrange their departure and informs Robert that they are leaving and that Maria is coming with them, Robert fears for her life as he knows if she leaves the city she will die, but Maria tells him that it is all a lie, that she is only twenty and she is desperate to leave. Confused and conflicted, Robert agrees to travel down the mountain. Along the way, a series of tragedies including the death of his brother and Maria actually aging over forty years in mere seconds and passing on herself, leave Robert all alone until he is rescued. Back home in the West news of his survival is great and an aged Robert arrives to much acclaim. The events on the mountain alter Robert’s resolve and he decides to head back up the treacherous peaks himself and to return to the lost city.
Lost Horizon is a beautifully told story of one man’s faith in the paradise he discovered, how it is crushed and broken, and then reborn from great tragedy. Frank Capra tells the story patiently, as life in the city seems easy going and more or less fun. It is the unspoken touches that make this film truly great, the best of which is how Robert Conway appears the same age throughout the film until he arrives home, where he appears to have gained twenty years. This makes you think, how long where they actually there? How slow does time pass in Shangri-La? The secondary cast is quite good at balancing the rift that grows greater and greater between Robert and his Brother George, and they bond with the citizens of the great city and offer their expertise to improve even more the lives of the people in the city. There are quite a few stories overlapping, and the film seems to go off the rails of the main plot a bit towards the middle, but after its quick recovery, it closes its third act with grandeur.
The history behind the film is as also as engaging as the movie itself. The film was originally a full 132 minutes, long for films of its time, and was cut down significantly. It was not until many years later that the full version was sought out, but since much of the movie’s previously removed film was greatly degraded, the restoration remained incomplete. The movie was recompiled with only 125 of the 132 minutes of film, and the full 132 minute soundtrack intact. Therefore the American Film Institute and other film historians decided to complete the seven remaining minutes using stills from other scenes with the soundtrack playing over them. This does not, fortunately, detract from the remaining film’s quality, which, considering its history, is quite good. Much of the film was almost forgotten, and it is thanks to those who love movies that we are able to enjoy this Capra masterpiece in its entirety.
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