Lost Horizon (1937) is pure Capra-corn. The first half of that epithet indicates the movie is directed by Frank Capra (1897-1991), an Italian immigrant who lived in America from age 5. Capra loved and believed in his adopted country, and he expressed this affection and dedication repeatedly in the 36 features and 16 documentaries he directed.
The second half of that epithet indicates these movies can be critically viewed as skewed toward a happy ending and a positive message. Movie critics in the 1930s recognized this and invented the phrase ‘Capra-corn’, but they added such context words as “sweet, well-meaning, honest, and heart-felt.” All of which means his movies can serve as a litmus test for both the viewer’s perspective and the times in which the films were created.
There are a lot of Hollywood tales associated with the making of Lost Horizon. There were cost overruns (the original budget of $2.5 million swelled to $7.7 million), casting difficulties (securing an actor to play the High Lama killed at least one nominee), conflicts between director Capra and Columbia Pictures studio head Harry Cohn (Capra ultimately sued Columbia over money and editing disagreements), and some criticism –film critic Graham Greene, among others, turned his nose up. He called the movie long and boring.
It is a film with a clear anti-war message. The original source is a novel written by James Hilton and published in 1933. Capra’s film was released in 1937, and Europe entered World War II in 1939. Capra has his protagonist Robert Conway, a worldly foreign diplomat played by Ronald Coleman, reveal his feelings about war early in the movie. Regarding his army, he says he would “disband mine (and) destroy every piece of warfare.” Instead, he says, he would “invite the enemy in,” while adding realistically that he would be “sent straight into the nearest insane asylum.”
The film plot should be well known to most movie lovers. The time is the mid-1930s and a group of five individuals, including Conway and his brother George, narrowly escape political unrest in China. Their plane is mysteriously hijacked, although they don’t realize this until daylight reveals the aircraft’s direction. The plane eventually lands in the mountainous region of Tibet, and the five passengers first learn of a magical valley called Shangri-La. The mystical perks there include an extended life span and powers that seem to cure deadly illness.
Deeper into the film, it is revealed that the plane hijacking was a deliberate plan to bring Conway to the valley to replace the now aging (200 years-plus) High Lama. Conway’s traveling companions other than his brother, portrayed by John Howard, include a businessman with a shady past (Thomas Mitchell); a suspicious scientist who likes to bicker with the businessman (Edward Everett Horton) for comic relief; and a beautiful woman who is alone and appears to have her own set of problems (Isabel Jewell). Local inhabitants of Shangri-La include Mr. Chang, the well-dressed host (H.B. Warner). Mr. Chang explains the place to Conway. He says the “general belief is moderation.
We rule the people of the valley with moderate strictness and in return we get moderate obedience.” The most-cited rule for Shangri-La is “Be Kind.” Other occupants of this magic valley are two women who, in general, look swell. These girls are played by Jane Wyatt, later of “Father Knows Best” fame (she has a nude scene in this pre-Code picture), and an actress identified only as Margo who plays the character ‘Maria.’ There is also the High Lama, played by a 44-year-old Sam Jaffe (his character is 200-plus). A British stage actor, A.E. Anson, was first chosen for this part, but he reportedly died of a heart attack after learning of his good luck.
In 2016, the film was chosen for inclusion in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, indicating the film is “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” A restored version of the film may be viewed at Internet Archive.
Capra reportedly made peace with the ‘Capra-corn’ label, allowing the movies to speak for themselves. He won the Academy Award as Best Director for four of his films.
A partial list of his best includes: It Happened One Night (1934) with Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Screenplay at the Oscars); Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) with Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur (Best Director Oscar); and Lost Horizon (1937) with Ronald Colman.
Others include You Can’t Take It with You (1938) with Lionel Barrymore and James Stewart (Best Director Oscar); Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) with Gary Cooper (Best Director Oscar); Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) with Cary Grant; and It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) with James Stewart.