Review of Lost Horizon (1937) by Josè M — 13 Jul 2008
The culmination of the perennially pacifist leanings of Frank Capra, 'Lost Horizon' is an astounding, sweeping piece of film making. Five Westerners hurriedly flee 'unrest' in China to crash land in the mythical, too-good-to-be-true realm of Shangri La, where only their own neuroses and mistrust brings about the disastrous consequences of the end.
Like most Capra films, this isn't about subtelty, and the High Lama's seemingly logical, but childish, wishes for the world to simply give up trying to destroy itself and make peace is something of a wish-fulfilment in an era perilously close to war.
In modern times, however, such a message is welcome and goes to show the film's advocation of worldwide peace is something of a constant attainment by any generation. What compliments the film immensely is the quality of acting.
Subtelties in the main group show only too clearly the contrasting attitudes between the hot-headed Americans and the more rational British (something else that has aged well), but it's Ronald Colman's 'Robert Conway' who steals the show, embodying perfectly the Capra aesthetic.
As a spokesman for the Western world he is charming, balanced and given to equality, but Colman imbues him with a sensitivity and warmth that makes him terribly human. Just look at his expression when the High Lama tells him about his near death: in a simple few, wordless seconds Colman comminicates a welter of pain and sadness more effectively than a thousand Oscar-winning emotional speeches.
His humanity makes the film transcend its ordinary drama roots to become a parable on humanity and its nature and how tumultuous even people on the same side can be with each other. Conway's shifting attitude, from reverence, to curiosity, acceptance, mistrust and finally to desire affects the whole atmosphere of the film and the audience are left no more knowing than he is.
Are Chang's flashing glasses in the night time escape sinister? Is Maria really 20, not 70 like the High Lama said? It is testament to Capra's painting of the human spirit that a film from such a different time can still reverberate so much today, as pacifist parable or simply a great movie.
Either way works fine for me.
This review of Lost Horizon (1937) was written by Josè M on 13 Jul 2008.
Lost Horizon has generally received very positive reviews.
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