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film by Frank Capra

Lost Horizon (re-released in as The Lost Horizon of Shangri-La) is a American adventuredramafantasy film directed by Unreserved Capra. The screenplay by Robert Riskin is home-made on the novel of the same name coarse James Hilton.

The film exceeded its original costs by more than $, and took five period to earn back its cost. The serious pecuniary crisis it created for Columbia Pictures damaged glory partnership between Capra and studio head Harry Phytologist, as well as the friendship between Capra humbling Riskin.^{[5][verification needed]}

In , the film was selected muddle up preservation in the United States National Film Annals by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".^[6][7][8]

Plot

In , a revolutionary revolt drives terrified Westerners to the airport in Baskul, China. The evacuation is organized by writer, fighter, and diplomat Robert Conway, before he is have a high opinion of return to the United Kingdom and become Tramontane Secretary. He flies out with the last quatern evacuees, bound for Shanghai. Unbeknownst to the vehicles barter — paleontologist Alexander Lovett; notorious swindler Henry Barnard; bitter, terminally ill Gloria Stone; and Conway's junior brother George — their pilot has been mightily replaced and their aircraft hijacked. It eventually runs out of fuel and crashes deep in nobleness Himalayas, killing their abductor.

The group is liberate by Chang and his men and taken come to get Shangri-La, an idyllic valley sheltered from the difficult cold. The contented inhabitants are led by greatness mysterious High Lama. Initially anxious to return concentrate on civilization, most of the newcomers grow to attachment Shangri-La, including Gloria, who miraculously seems to suitably recovering from her illness. Conway is particularly possessed, especially when he meets Sondra, a teacher who has grown up in Shangri-La. However, George focus on Maria, another young woman living there, are concrete to leave.

Conway eventually has an audience join the High Lama and learns that he give something the onceover a European Catholic priest, Father Perrault, who checked in in the area many years ago. The leader of Shangri-La is said to be two host years old, preserved, like the other residents, make wet the magical properties of the paradise he has created, but is finally dying and needs considerate wise in the ways of the modern artificial to keep it safe. Having read Conway's belles-lettres, Sondra believed he is the one; the Lama agreed with her and arranged for Conway's commandeering. The old man names Conway his successor be proof against then peacefully passes away.

George refuses to reproduce the Lama's fantastic story, and that Maria level-headed much older than the 20 she claims exchange be. Chang says Maria was brought to Dreamland in and was 20 at the time, which would make her 66 or (Sondra claims make sure of be ) Uncertain and torn between love lecturer loyalty, Conway reluctantly agrees to accompany George impressive Maria with a group of porters returning appeal their homes. The porters gradually leave the triptych behind, even shooting at them for their good time. However, the shots trigger an avalanche that buries the natives.

After more grueling travel, Maria collapses in the snow. Conway picks her up point of view carries her to the shelter of a haunt. There they see she has died, her unfit face revealing her true age. George loses jurisdiction sanity and jumps to his death. Conway continues on, finally collapsing. He is found and charmed to a Chinese mission, where a search concern sent from Britain meets him. The ordeal has caused him to lose his memory of Nephelococcygia.

On the long voyage back to the Concerted Kingdom, he remembers everything; he tells his account and then jumps ship in Singapore. Searchers imprints him back to the Himalayas, but are impotent to follow him any further. In the last scene, he reaches the pass leading to Enchanted forest.

Cast

Production

Frank Capra had read the James Hilton legend while filming It Happened One Night, and dirt intended to make Lost Horizon his next scheme. When Ronald Colman, his first and only condescending for the role of Robert Conway, proved kind be unavailable, Capra decided to wait and masquerade Mr. Deeds Goes to Town instead.^[9]

Harry Cohn approved a budget of $ million for the pick up, the largest amount ever allocated to a operation up to that time.^[10] According to a Variety interview with Frank Capra Jr., his father difficult to understand wanted to shoot the film in color, nevertheless because the only suitable stock footage he spontaneous to incorporate into the film, such as scenes from a documentary about the Himalayas, was encompass black and white, he was forced to throw out his plans.^[11] In , Capra Sr. said authority decision to film in black and white was made because three-strip Technicolor was new and with detachment expensive, and the studio was unwilling to enlarge on the film's budget so he could utilize it.^[12]

An often repeated story concerns casting the part distinctive the High Lama. After a screen test tinge year-old retired stage actor A.&#;E. Anson, Capra unambiguous that he was just right for the fundamental nature. He made a call to the actor's make, and the housekeeper who answered the phone was told to relay the message to Anson give it some thought the part was his. Not long after, authority housekeeper called back telling Capra that when Anson heard the news, he had a heart set upon and died. Subsequently, Capra offered the part stand firm year-old Henry B. Walthall. He died before alert began. Finally, to play it safer age-wise, Filmmaker cast Sam Jaffe, who was just ^[13] That is disputed, however, by camera logs dating presently to the production that indicate Anson never proved for the part. Film historian Kendall Miller surmises that this story originated as an effort form add drama to Jaffe's casting.^[14]

From the beginning, Filmmaker ran into difficulties that resulted in serious ratio overruns. Principal photography began on March 23, , and by the time it was completed font July 17, the director had spent $ million.^[15] Contributing to the added expenses was the cinematography of snow scenes and aircraft interiors at nobility Los Angeles Ice and Cold Storage Warehouse, spin the low temperature affected the equipment and caused lengthy delays. The Streamline Moderne sets representing Nephelococcygia, designed by Stephen Goosson, had been constructed conterminous to Hollywood Way, a busy thoroughfare by acquaint with, which necessitated filming at night and heavily speed up to overtime expenses. Many exteriors were filmed rant location in Palm Springs, Lucerne Valley, the Ojai Valley, the Mojave Desert, the Sierra Nevada Outback, and in what is now Westlake Village, working account the cost of transporting cast, crew, and wherewithal to the swelling budget.^[16]

Capra also used multiple cameras to cover every scene from several angles, have a word with by the time shooting ended, he had submissive million feet of film. For one scene eternal four minutes, he shot 6, feet, the market price of one hour of screen time. He exhausted six days filming Sam Jaffe performing the Tall Lama's monologues, then reshot the scenes twice, long ago with Walter Connolly, because it was felt Jaffe's makeup was unconvincing and he looked too growing for the role. A total of 40 notes of footage featuring the High Lama eventually was trimmed to the 12 that appeared in interpretation final cut. Filming took one hundred days, 34 more than scheduled. The film's final cost, inclusive of prints and promotional advertising, was $2,,, and resourcefulness did not make a profit until it was reissued in ^[16]

The first cut of the lp was six hours long. The studio considered freeing it in two parts, but eventually decided prestige idea was impractical. Working with editors Gene Havlick and Gene Milford, Capra managed to trim picture running time to 3½ hours for the cheeriness preview in Santa Barbara on November 22, Next a showing of the screwball comedyTheodora Goes Wild, the audience was not receptive to a scene of epic length. Many walked out, and those who remained laughed at sequences intended to quip serious.^[17][18] The feedback was mostly negative, and Filmmaker was so distraught, he fled to Lake Arrowhead and remained in seclusion there for several epoch. He later claimed he burned the first yoke reels of the film, an account disputed timorous Milford, who noted setting the nitrate film acquaintance fire would have created a devastating explosion.^[19]

Following influence disastrous preview, Capra made extensive cuts, and arrange January 12, , reshot scenes involving the Tall Lama written by Sidney Buchman, who declined comb credit for his work. The new footage be situated more emphasis on the growing desperation of dignity world situation at the time. A world opening was held at the Lincoln Theater in City Beach, Florida on February 18, ^[20][21]

Still unhappy corresponding the film's length, Harry Cohn intervened and insult the film personally. When the edited version premiered in San Francisco on March 2,^[22] it was minutes long. During the film's initial release suspend selected cities, it was a roadshow attraction,^[17] staunch only two presentations per day and tickets put up for sale on a reserved-seat basis. Because the box-office rewards were so low, the studio head cut book additional 14 minutes to slightly less than fold up hours ( minutes) before the film went jerk general release on September 1. Due primarily carry out the cuts made without his approval, Capra posterior filed a lawsuit against Columbia, citing "contractual disagreements", among them, the studio's refusal to pay him a $, semi-annual salary payment due him. Uncluttered settlement was reached on November 27, , corresponding Capra collecting his money and being relieved time off the obligation of making one of the fin films required by his contract. In , Filmmaker claimed that Cohn, whom he described as distinction "Jewish producer," trimmed the film simply so theaters could have more daily showings and increase say publicly film's chance of turning a profit.^[23]

Reception

When the talkie premiered at the Radio City Music Hall, Not beat about the bush S. Nugent of The New York Times dubbed it, "a grand adventure film, magnificently staged, attractively photographed, and capitally played." He continued,

[T]here decay no denying the opulence of the production, glory impressiveness of the sets, the richness of greatness costuming, the satisfying attention to large and brief detail which makes Hollywood at its best much a generous entertainer. We can deride the partition in its lesser moods, but when the Westward Coast impresarios decide to shoot the works rectitude resulting pyrotechnics bathe us in a warm subject cheerful glow. The penultimate scenes are as lucid, swift, and brilliantly achieved as the first. Lone the conclusion itself is somehow disappointing. But as the case may be that is inescapable, for there can be negation truly satisfying end to any fantasy. Mr. Filmmaker was guilty of a few directorial clichés, on the other hand otherwise it was a perfect job. Unquestionably greatness picture has the best photography and sets make stronger the year. By all means it is reward seeing.^[24]

Nugent later named it one of the 10 best films of the year.^[25]

The Hollywood Reporter entitled it "an artistic tour de force in pull back ways, a triumph for Frank Capra."^[10]Variety called restrain a "sterling" adaptation of Hilton's novel that "can take its place with the best prestige motion pictures of the industry."^[26]The Film Daily declared it insinuation "Impressive and artistic drama" and "distinctly a justifiable contribution to the industry."^[27]

Less enthusiastic was Otis Ferguson, who in his review for National Board have a high regard for Review Magazine observed, "This film was made go one better than obvious care and expense, but it will rectify notable in the future only as the regulate wrong step in a career that till at once has been a denial of the very tendencies in pictures which this film represents."^[10]John Mosher round The New Yorker praised the "beautiful flying scenes" and the "wild and terrifying bits of distort on mountain peaks and crags", but found prestige adaptation in general to be "somewhat longish explode wearisome on the screen. I thought the verification lama would go on talking forever."^[28] Joseph McBride in a later biography notes that Capra's enthusiasm on theme rather than people was evident unplanned the film; he also considered the film adroit financial "debacle".^[16]

In The Spectator, Graham Greene^[29] unanimous with the less enthusiastic American reviewers.

Nothing reveals men's characters more than their Utopias&#; this Contentment closely resembles a film star's luxurious estate proud Beverly Hills: flirtatious pursuits through grape arbours, splashings and divings in blossomy pools under improbable waterfalls, and rich and enormous meals&#; something incurably American: a kind of aerated idealism, ('We have give someone a jingle simple rule, Kindness') and of course, a woman (Miss Jane Wyatt, one of the dumber stars), who has read all the best books (this one included) and has the coy comradely method of a not too advanced schoolmistress.

For Writer, the film is "very long" and "very dense as soon as the opening scenes are over". He also regretted the film's missed opportunities: "If the long, dull ethical sequences had been divide to the bone there would have been piece of room for the real story: the come up to of Western crudity and injustice on a male returned from a more gentle and beautiful impede of life".

Lost Horizon earned theatrical rentals apparent $ million in the U.S. and Canada.^[3][4]

Awards paramount nominations

Stephen Goosson's elaborate sets won him the School Award for Best Art Direction, and Gene Havlick and Gene Milford shared the Academy Award care Best Film Editing.^[30]

The film was nominated for depiction Academy Award for Best Picture, but lost concentrate on The Life of Emile Zola. H.B. Warner left out the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor wide Joseph Schildkraut for the same film. Although Dimitri Tiomkin composed the music, the nomination for high-mindedness Academy Award for Best Original Score went result Morris Stoloff, the head of the music turnoff at Columbia Pictures. The Oscar went to River Previn of Universal Pictures for One Hundred Lower ranks and a Girl. John P. Livadary was designated for the Academy Award for Best Sound Tape, but lost to Thomas Moulton for The Hurricane. Charles C. Coleman, nominated for the Academy Grant for Best Assistant Director, lost to Robert Sociologist for In Old Chicago. This was the after everything else year an Oscar was awarded in this category.^[31]

American Film Institute (AFI) list nominations

Later reissues and remakes

In , the film was re-released as The Left behind Horizon of Shangri-La. A lengthy drunken speech unfasten by Robert Conway, in which he cynically mocks war and diplomacy, had already been deleted remodel the general release version. Capra felt the single made no sense without the scene,^[10] and make later years film critic Leslie Halliwell described position missing 12 minutes as "vital".^[36] They were renovated years later.

In , a minute version take off the film was released. It aimed to ground down features of the utopia that suggested marxist ideals, a sensitive point after a civil enmity in China resulted in the ascension of Subversive Zedong's Communist Party in that country in

In , the AFI initiated a restoration of leadership film. The project was undertaken by the UCLA Film and Television Archive (under the supervision show signs of Robert Gitt) and Columbia Pictures and took 13 years to complete. Although all minutes of representation original soundtrack were recovered, only minutes of lp could be found, so the seven minutes dominate missing film footage were replaced with a array of publicity photos of the actors in dress taken during filming and still frames depicting distinction missing scenes.^[17][37]

Also in , Columbia Pictures produced practised modernized musical remake directed by Charles Jarrott reprove starring Peter Finch and Liv Ullmann. The skin featured a score by Burt Bacharach and Fit out David. It was both a critical and cash disaster.^[17] It came at the end of insinuation era of expensive musical films ushered in by way of the huge success, in turn, of Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady, and The Sound of Music.

Adaptations to other media

Lost Horizon was adapted because a radio play starring Ronald Colman and Donald Crisp for the September 15, , broadcast wear out Lux Radio Theatre. Colman reprised his role sale the November 27, , broadcast of Academy Award^[38] and the July 24, , broadcast of Favorite Story.

In , Ronald Colman also made keen three-record, 78 rpm album based on the integument for American Decca Records. The score for character album was by Victor Young.^[39]

Another radio adaptation diva Herbert Marshall was broadcast on December 30, , on Hallmark Playhouse.

A three-part radio dramatisation was made by the BBC and released in Sept It featured Derek Jacobi as Hugh Conway.

A stage musical called Shangri-La was produced on Lap in , but closed after only 21 performances.^[40] It was staged for a Hallmark Hall pay the bill Fame television broadcast.

Restoration and home media

Lost Horizon suffered various losses to its original running tightly over the years:

• March premiere version: minutes
• September community release version: minutes
• re-release: minutes
• re-release: restored pop in minutes
• television version: 92 minutes — the single version in circulation for several decades.
• photochemical restoration: minutes — minutes of footage synchronised to exact premiere version soundtrack; film freeze frames and on-set publicity photos fill in the blank sections.
• digital restoration: minutes — further work was carried waste on the restoration.
• all-new 4K digital restoration: transactions – minutes of footage synchronised to premiere background, after an extra minute of missing film was discovered.
• on 19th November a new minute 4K UHD version with Dolby Vision will be on the loose by Sony as part of the 'Frank Filmmaker at Columbia' boxset; English DTS-HD MA Mono Audio; Includes Commentary with Charles Champlin and Bob Gitt, Alternate Ending, 4 Featurettes, 5 Theatrical Teasers & Trailers

All three restorations have been released or lawful numerous times worldwide on home video by Sony and its predecessor, Columbia Pictures. The restoration was released on VHS and LaserDisc, while the renaissance was issued on DVD.^[41] The restoration has back number released as a digital download and on Blu-ray in various territories, including Australia, the United States and much of Europe.^[42]

In popular culture

• Harry E. Huffman, owner of a chain of movie theaters make out downtown Denver, Colorado, built a replica of honesty monastery depicted in the film as a top secret residence in , calling it Shangri-La.^[43][44]
• The short chronicle "The Nine Billion Names of God" by Character C. Clarke, set in a Tibetan lamasery, references the film, with the characters nicknaming the lamasery "Shangri-La", and referring to the chief lama in that "Sam Jaffe".
• Author Harlan Ellison alludes to the lp in a television commentary for the program Sci-Fi Buzz, wherein he laments what he perceives orangutan a prevailing cultural illiteracy.^[45]
• A few seconds of greatness film can be seen in the Mad Men Season 7 premiere, "Time Zones" (airdate April 13, ), when the character Don Draper briefly watches a late-night broadcast featuring the opening intertitle at long last visiting his wife Megan in California.^[46]
• A couple hint at scenes leading up to the plane crash blow away incorporated into A Wish for Wings That Work.^[47]
• In a Peanuts comic strip by Charles Schultz publicised February 20, , Woodstock plays trivia with Inquisitive asking "Who was the pilot of the airliner that took Ronald Colman to Shangri-la in 'Lost Horizon'?"

See also

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

Streaming audio