Lost Horizon (1937) | |
| Director(s) | Frank Capra |
| Producer(s) | Frank Capra (uncredited), Harry Cohn (executive uncredited) |
| Top Genres | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery |
| Top Topics | Book-Based |
Featured Cast:
Lost Horizon Overview:
Lost Horizon (1937) was a Adventure - Drama Film directed by Frank Capra and produced by Frank Capra and Harry Cohn.
The film was based on the novel of the same name written by James Hilton published in 1933.
SYNOPSIS
Capra's version of James Hilton's book is as timeless as the inhabitants of his carefully created Shangri-La - and one of his most unusual films. Known for his depictions of the plucky heart of the little people, here Capra takes on a grand vision of a place beyond the reach of war, financial panic, and governments. British diplomat Colman rescues refugees from the revolution in China, and herds them into a plane that heads not for the West but to the top of the world, Tibet. When they crash-land, the part is met with guides and warm clothes for their trip to a beautiful valley of peace and calm where time has virtually stopped. Colman has been selected to take over for the head lama, and, seemingly, for romance with an ethereally beautiful Wyatt. When his buddy (Howard) convinces him to leave, Colman struggles back to England where he is haunted by his reveries of the idyllic valley and Wyatt. He mounts a dangerous expedition to return. The restored video version has 20 minutes of previously excised footage. Thrilling, fantastic entertainment.
(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).
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Academy Awards 1937 --- Ceremony Number 10 (source: AMPAS)
| Award | Recipient | Result |
| Best Supporting Actor | H. B. Warner | Nominated |
| Best Art Direction | Stephen Goosson | Won |
| Best Film Editing | Gene Havlick, Gene Milford | Won |
| Best Music - Scoring | Columbia Studio Music Department, Morris Stoloff, head of department (Score by Dimitri Tiomkin) | Nominated |
| Best Picture | Columbia | Nominated |
BlogHub Articles:
In Defense of the Musical Lost Horizon
By Rick29 on Apr 29, 2019 From Classic Film & TV CafeA glimpse of Shangri-La. It was a boxoffice bomb and savaged by critics. It barely recouped 25% of its budget, leading the movie industry to label it "The Lost Investment." Time hasn't been kind to it. Rather than becoming a cult film, it has been lambasted in books such as The Fifty Worst Films of... Read full article
PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES: FRANK CAPRA'S "LOST HORIZON"
By The Lady Eve on Oct 20, 2015 From Lady Eve's Reel LifeFrank Capra's wistful 1937 fantasy, Lost Horizon, begins dramatically with a chaotic mob scene at an airfield in war-torn Baskul, China, highlighted by a spectacular explosion and fire. In the midst of the fray, British diplomat Robert Conway (Ronald Colman) is managing the evacuation of 90 Westerne... Read full article
PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES: FRANK CAPRA'S "LOST HORIZON"
By The Lady Eve on Oct 20, 2015 From Lady Eve's Reel LifeFrank Capra's wistful 1937 fantasy Lost Horizon begins dramatically with a chaotic mob scene at an airfield in war-torn Baskul, China, highlighted by a spectacular explosion and fire. In the midst of the fray, British diplomat Robert Conway (Ronald Colman) is managing the evacuation of 90 Westerners... Read full article
PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES: FRANK CAPRA'S "LOST HORIZON"
By The Lady Eve on Oct 20, 2015 From Lady Eve's Reel LifeFrank Capra's wistful 1937 fantasy, Lost Horizon, begins dramatically with a chaotic mob scene at an airfield in war-torn Baskul, China, highlighted by a spectacular explosion and fire. In the midst of the fray, British diplomat Robert Conway (Ronald Colman) is managing the evacuation of 90 Westerne... Read full article
Lost Horizon (1937)
By 4 Star Film Fan on Apr 14, 2015 From 4 Star FilmsCertainly this is not the most well known or the best film of Capra. It is in fact quite different from a lot of his filmography. That is not to say that it is not an enjoyable film about a man who finds a little piece of Utopia called Shangri-La. Ronald Colman was certainly a likable fellow in the ... Read full article
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Quotes from
George Conway: How do we get in touch with them?
Chang: Well, in that respect, you are exceedingly fortunate. We are expecting a shipment from them almost any time now.
Barnard: Just want to do mean by, almost any time now?
Chang: Well, we've been expecting this particular shipment for the past two years...
Robert Conway: I think I'm going to like it here.
High Lama: It is the entire meaning and purpose of Shangri-La. It came to me in a vision, long, long ago. I saw all the nations strengthening, not in wisdom, but in the vulgar passions and the will to destroy. I saw the machine power multiplying, until a single weaponed man might match a whole army. I foresaw a time when man, exalting in the technique of murder, would rage so hotly over the world, that every book, every treasure, would be doomed to destruction. This vision was so vivid and so moving, that I determined to gather together all things of beauty and of culture that I could, and preserve them here, against the doom toward which the world is rushing. Look at the world today. Is there anything more pitiful? What madness there is! What blindness! What unintelligent leadership! A scurrying mass of bewildered humanity, crashing headlong against each other, propelled by an orgy of greed and brutality. A time must come my friend, when this orgy will spend itself. When brutality and the lust for power must perish by its own sword. Against that time, is why I avoided death, and am here. And why you were brought here. For when that day comes, the world must begin to look for a new life. And it is our hope that they may find it here. For here, we shall be with their books and their music, and a way of life based on one simple rule: Be Kind! When that day comes, it is our hope that the brotherly love of Shangri-La will spread throughout the world. Yes, my son; When the strong have devoured each other, the Christian ethic may at last be fulfilled and the meek shall inherit the earth.
Robert Conway: I understand you father.
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Facts about
Designing the numerous elaborate sets took over a year.
The Lamasery set was, at the time, the largest single standing set in terms of square feet built for a motion picture of the sound era. The set was built on the Columbia ranch in Burbank with the rear of the Lamasery backing up to the intersection of Verdugo Avenue and Hollywood Way.
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