When a revered diplomat's plane is diverted and crashes in the peaks of Tibet, he and the other survivors are guided to an isolated monastery at Shangri-La, where they wrestle with the invit... Read allWhen a revered diplomat's plane is diverted and crashes in the peaks of Tibet, he and the other survivors are guided to an isolated monastery at Shangri-La, where they wrestle with the invitation to stay.When a revered diplomat's plane is diverted and crashes in the peaks of Tibet, he and the other survivors are guided to an isolated monastery at Shangri-La, where they wrestle with the invitation to stay.
- Won 2 Oscars
- 3 wins & 6 nominations total
Norman Ainsley
- Embassy Club Steward
- (uncredited)
Chief John Big Tree
- Porter
- (uncredited)
Wyrley Birch
- Missionary
- (uncredited)
Beatrice Blinn
- Passenger
- (uncredited)
Hugh Buckler
- Lord Gainsford
- (uncredited)
Sonny Bupp
- Boy Being Carried to Plane
- (unconfirmed)
- (uncredited)
John Burton
- Wynant
- (uncredited)
Tom Campbell
- Porter
- (uncredited)
Matthew Carlton
- Pottery Maker
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- Robert Riskin
- James Hilton
- Sidney Buchman(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe year after this film was released the owner of a prosperous theater chain hired an architect who designed a mansion that was inspired by the Shangri-La lamasery in this film. Located in Denver, Colorado, it still exists today.
- GoofsEchoing the words of the critic, James Agate: 'The best film I've seen for ages, but will somebody please tell me how they got the grand piano along a footpath on which only one person can walk at a time with rope and pickaxe and with a sheer drop of three thousand feet or so?'
- Crazy creditsBob Gitt of the UCLA Film & Television Archives claims the original opening sequence in 1937 had title cards "Conway has been sent to evacuate ninety white people before they're butchered in a local revolution" was changed in 1942 for a special reissue during WWII. The title cards read "before innocent Chinese people were butchered by Japanese hordes." This was to bolster propaganda against the Japanese.
- Alternate versionsSome of the music in the restored version is dubbed into different sections than the ones in the 118 minute cut version. For example, the moment in which Robert Conway ('Ronald Colman') discovers that the High Lama is really Father Perrault i accompanied by soft music in the cut version, while in the restored version this moment is played with no music.
- ConnectionsEdited from Storm Over Mont Blanc (1930)
- SoundtracksWiegenlied (Lullaby) Op. 49 No. 4
(1868) (uncredited)
Composed by Johannes Brahms
English translator unknown
Sung a cappella by children at Shangri-La
Featured review
A Wonderful Fantasy /Drama - - Just As Good 68 Years Later
I have seen this film many times over the years and it never ceases to amaze me. Perhaps other Capra films are better known, but I don't think they can hold a candle to this one. The cast, every one, turn in stunning performances. In his secondary role as Ronald Colman's brother, I believe John Howard's performance was superb, even among this stellar cast. His career consisted of leads in "B" films (Bulldog Drummond) or usually the second man in "A" films (such as The Philadelphia Story). A talented, highly underrated actor in my view, he was of the opinion that he deserved better roles, such as those of Ronald Colman. I agree. And how about that musical score! THE BEST OF ANY FILM, in my humble opinion. What a treat it is to watch a real gem - - Lost Horizon. Incidentally the film is far better than the book by James Hilton. Could another actor have portrayed Robert Conway as Ronald Colman has? I doubt it, even in that age of excellent actors. The scene where his brother George, aided by the Russian girl, try to convince him that Shangri-La is not what it is, is remarkable for Colman's reaction. He turns away and his face changes from disbelief to uncertainty then to acceptance of their arguments. All this without dialogue. Shortly after he turns to look at Shangri-La for the last time before plunging into the outside world and again, silently, his emotions touch us all. (At least they touch me!) We are very fortunate to have this masterpiece available to us. Now, will future generations recognize this film for what it is? Judging from today's "hits" I really wonder.
helpful•438
- guidon7
- Jun 10, 2005
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Languages
- Also known as
- Lost Horizon of Shangri-La
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $4,000,000 (estimated)
- Runtime2 hours 12 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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