Watch Lost Horizon
- NR
- 1937
- 2 hr 12 min
-
7.6 (14,606)
Lost Horizon is a classic fantasy drama movie from 1937, directed by Frank Capra and starring Ronald Colman, Jane Wyatt, and Edward Everett Horton. The film is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by James Hilton. The story opens with a group of Westerners, including a writer named Robert Conway (Ronald Colman), boarding a plane in China during the height of a revolution. The plane is hijacked and flown off course, eventually crash-landing in a remote region of the Himalayas. The group, including two women named Sondra (Jane Wyatt) and Gloria (Isabel Jewell), are rescued by a group of mysterious Buddhist monks who take them to a hidden valley called Shangri-La, a utopia where people live long and peaceful lives.
Conway is initially skeptical of the monks and their claims of a perfect society, but as he spends more time in Shangri-La, he begins to see the truth in their way of life. He falls in love with Sondra, but their relationship is complicated by the fact that they are from two different worlds, and Conway must eventually decide whether to stay in Shangri-La or return to the outside world.
Throughout the film, there are a series of flashbacks that reveal more about the characters and their pasts. We learn that Conway is a successful businessman and diplomat who is conflicted about his job and his place in the world. He has a brother named George (John Howard), who is also on the plane and is more interested in finding a way out of the valley than staying there.
While in Shangri-La, Conway learns that the monks have secrets of their own, including the fact that they have been alive for hundreds of years thanks to the valley's magical properties. He also discovers that the outside world is on the brink of war and that his brother George is willing to do whatever it takes to get back to civilization.
Lost Horizon is a visually stunning film, with gorgeous Technicolor shots of the Himalayas and the hidden valley. The sets and costumes are also impressive, with the monks dressed in flowing robes and the women in elegant dresses. The film's message about the importance of finding inner peace and contentment is also timeless, and the themes of love and sacrifice are just as relevant today as they were in the 1930s.
The acting in the film is superb, with Ronald Colman giving a nuanced performance as Conway. He is able to convey the character's conflicted emotions and inner turmoil without seeming melodramatic. Jane Wyatt is also excellent as Sondra, playing her with a quiet strength and intelligence that makes her a compelling love interest for Conway.
Edward Everett Horton provides comic relief as Lovett, a timid and bumbling member of the group who is constantly worrying about his fate. His scenes with Conway are especially enjoyable, as the two actors play off each other well.
Overall, Lost Horizon is a classic film that still resonates today. Its themes of love, peace, and self-discovery are universal, and its message of finding happiness in an imperfect world is one that is sure to inspire audiences for generations to come.
Lost Horizon is a 1937 adventure movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 12 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.6.