Review of Lost Horizon (1937) by Michael G — 28 Mar 2009

Unlike many older films, Capra's Lost Horizon has a script and screenplay that hold-up to contemporary standards. Excellent cinematography for the period as well. The effects weren't bad--some quite good. Acting was 50/50. Some of the actors had the old theatrical technique that just looks silly and melodramatic on film. Some, while maybe giving fine performances for the day, were guilty of just plain bad acting by current standards. Thomas Mitchell and Sam Jaffe had very good (believable) perfomances. Jane Wyatt gave a great performance; although her pixie-ish scenes were low points in the script. Isabel Jewell was excellent (and smokin' hot), and I would have liked to have seen more of her. As far as the story goes, it conveys the message of the Hilton novel as far as I remember it and compellingly portrays Man's Utopian ideals in juxtaposition to men's dystopian drives. The films tells an allegorical tale worthy of the film and budget. The restoration is a masterpiece unto itself; the production notes on the DVD worth watching.

If you didn't get bored, try Kurosawa's Dreams.