Lost Horizon (1937)

(On Cable TV, April 2019) There’s something dreamlike and romantic about the idea of lost Eden, and Lost Horizon certainly milks that notion for all it’s worth—it’s a compelling fantastical adventure in which various lost travellers stumble upon Shangri-La and deal with the promise of paradise on Earth. There’s some dodgy material here about white people bringing civilization to Tibet, but perhaps the most interesting thing about the film is how it studies the effect of paradise on its characters—some are initially reluctant and then get into it, whereas others never take to it and convince themselves they have to leave (leading to the film’s third act). Helmed by Frank Capra, Lost Horizon naturally runs a bit long once the inspirational speeches are included (especially the restored version, which replaces a few minutes of missing footage with still pictures of the production) but it’s still an interesting premise for a fantasy film, and well executed as well. If you really want to see what overlong feels like, have a look at the terrible 1973 musical remake—which brings further credence that some ideas, some stories are best fixed in time, like some lost utopia.