Mjeteconer Just perfect...

Comwayon A Disappointing Continuation

Patience Watson One of those movie experiences that is so good it makes you realize you've been grading everything else on a curve.

Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

succotash I saw this movie in the theater in 1973, as well as a few times since. As I recall, the early 70's were pretty amazing times. People were protesting and getting involved in politics. It was an interesting time to be alive. So then, I have to wonder, why the hate on this film? It's my opinion that once a literary work is published, it's up for interpretation...and that interpretations can be different, but not "right" nor "wrong", because interpretations are subjective. This Ross Hunter 1973 Interpretation of "Lost Horizon" is a musical one. And I ask you, why not? What kind of person insists that there is only one possible interpretation of a literary work? Whenever I encounter critics of this film, I usually find people so dogmatically entrenched in their view that the only possible "right" portrayal of it is the 1937 (Black and White) Capra version. Scrolling through these reviews just confirms this bias. But one must wonder why...whether the reviewers are being true, or simply biased. This film has never portrayed itself as a "better than". It has only portrayed itself as an "Other", i.e: a musical rendition of Hilton's work. Cinematic and other adaptive works, once published, are offered up to the public for interpretation. I have yet to see this film critiqued honestly, as a 1973 stand-alone interpretation of a literary text framed in its own pop culture, rather than a comparison to a 1937 version (also borne of its own pop-culture.) There are too many cooks in this kitchen spoiling the broth! When evaluated in context, this movie stands out! To those of you who love the 1937 version, that's great. I'm happy for you. But please stop bashing this version because it's not 1937 all over again! I love musical theater and honestly, I fell asleep watching the 1937 Capra version of this film. Nevertheless, this whole fracas leaves me with one question: If Capra can be framed within the culture of his time, then why can't Ross Hunter, Burt Bacharach, and Hal David?

wes-connors In the midst of an explosive revolution are leader-type Peter Finch (as Richard Conway) and his way younger brother Michael York (as George Conway). They escape in an airplane with a small group, headed for Hong Kong. Unfortunately, the plane is hijacked and crashes in a remote area of the Himalayas. Fortunately, the travelers make it to Shangri-La, a paradise where people live in perfect health and age very slowly. It's not exactly Hollywood, but there is an all-star cast. On board are song and dance man Bobby Van (as Harry Lovett), uptight photographer Sally Kellerman (as Sally Hughes) and gold prospector George Kennedy (as Sam Cornelius)...Mr. Finch is attracted to singing schoolteacher Liv Ullmann (as Catherine) while Mr. York prefers pregnant dancer Olivia Hussey (as Maria)...Wise old Dalai lamas John Gielgud and Charles Boyer are befriended by Finch. He moves closer to the secret of Shangri-La. York mostly wears regular clothing. This is symbolic because he wants to leave with Ms. Hussey, though she may revert to her true age. Many people felt older after sitting through "Lost Horizon". To make it a musical for producer Ross Hunter, the popular songwriting duo Burt Bacharach & Hal David contribute some of their least memorable songs. Charles Jarrott directs with catatonic seriousness. Picturesque photography by Robert Surtees is a relative strength. All told, this re-make of "Lost Horizon" is a lost cause.*** Lost Horizon (3/14/73) Charles Jarrott ~ Peter Finch, Michael York, Olivia Hussey, Liv Ullmann

John austin Michael Medved wrote extensively about this movie in his Golden Turkey Awards book back in the 1970s. I didn't get a chance to see it until some years later. It's wisely kept out of the public eye.Lost Horizon was supposed to be a high-gloss "prestige" picture for Columbia with great music, exotic sets and memorable acting performances. I think they were hoping for something on the level of The Sound of Music. What they got was a movie that's just wrong on every level. The concept didn't work. The acting was wooden, and the plot was dreary. What I remember most were the strange, almost sickly sweet songs that made it onto the soundtrack. I don't know what Burt Bacharach was thinking. I watched some clips of this movie recently, and the whole thing looks manufactured- like nobody really believes what they're doing.It's almost as if whoever was in charge had never done this type of picture before. The studio initially prepared a large marketing campaign around it, expecting a hit. It would be fascinating to know just when the movie studio bigwigs at Columbia figured out they had a disaster on their hands. A possible explanation- it was probably doomed from the start. By 1973 styles had changed drastically, and the necessary people who previously could have given you something as good as South Pacific or West Side Story were all off doing other things. Jesus Christ Superstar was what a musical looked like in the early 1970s, not this.It immediately tanked at the box office, and we can only speculate about how many Hollywood careers ended as a result of this turkey. I don't know if it's ever been released on DVD. You've got to see this movie it to believe it.

tim-oliver I have just enjoyed seeing this long forgotten gem on Blu-Ray, in a marvellous crisp and colourful wide-screen presentation, with DTS stereo surround sound and I loved every minute of it. It's like a crazy LSD trip (I imagine!), which makes you very relaxed and feel just great.I first saw this film in 1973, as an 11 year old on board a Mediterranean cruise ship. The on board cinema was just like the real thing and I watched Lost Horizon at least two or three times during the voyage. I also enjoyed seeing the new Bond Live And Let Die and the wonderful thriller Endless Night. I still love all these films and they bring back happy memories of a simpler (and wackier) time.Of course, Lost Horizon is most definitely a guilty pleasure. If you did not grow up in the 70's, it must come across as a very dated and very odd load of old rubbish. The film starts off as action adventure and suddenly changes into a very strange kind of musical, with a score which was very 1973, just like some of the god-awful clothes worn by Michael York and Bobby (please don't dance) Van.The main Shangri-La set looks like a 1970's Burbank Hilton Resort and the obvious studio set interiors are very much over lit. They look like old sets re-used from the Bill Shatner Star Trek shows.The Direction it very old fashioned and lazy. The actors move across the screen, but the camera appears to stay static. However, the worst thing in Lost Horizon is most definitely the hideous choreography from Hermes Pan. The worst I have ever seen.However, the cast is very likable and some of the songs are really quite pleasant and catchy in a very early 70's way. Looking back now, in 2013, the idea of Shangri-La has never been more attractive and I would love to buy my one-way ticket any time they come available on line. Until then, I can take my trip from this wonderful new Blu-Ray disc.Yes, the film is flawed, particularly in the wasted opportunity to direct the musical numbers in any stylish way, but I absolutely love it. I can't wait to see it again!