Lost Horizon (1937)

Nominated for 7 Academy Awards:

Best Picture

Best Supporting Actor: H.B. Warner

Best Editing (WON)

Best Music, Score

Best Art Direction (WON)

Best Sound, Recording

Best Assistant Director

 

Frank Capra’s Lost Horizon has been a tempting option for a while, because it sounded like an adventure film, with maybe some fantasy elements to it. Being Capra, it couldn’t be bad. The film is also known for being a troubled project, going way over-budget and its bad previews. Unfortunately, I have to report I found it messy, and the problem is the writing. The screenplay is terribly idealistic and filled with overstuffed dialogue, too much even for a 1930s film.

The beginning is good, and the ending is ok, and a bit more dynamic, but the hour in the middle simply doesn’t work. The characters are either cliched or not remarkable enough and the actors, with the exception of Ronald Colman maybe, fail to stand out, under the burden of poorly realized characters. There is some appeal to the film, but mostly outside of the utopia universe. H.B. Warner, the recipient of an acting nomination, gives a low-key character-actor performance, in yellow face, that didn’t feel remarkable.

 

I give it: 6/10

IMDB LINK