Left Field Cinema

The impression I’ve gotten of how people think of Frank Capra is the American film industry’s answer to Norman Rockwell. A man who creates idealistic, sugar-coated, ‘aw shucks’ type of pictures that make you feel proud to be an American.

Well I guess that’s true, to some extent. But to take this view of who I think is one of the most distinct auteur that Hollywood has produced is an understatement and ultimately an insult to the director. I’ve not seen many Capra films, only Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and the majority of It’s a Wonderful Life, as well as parts of Mr. Deeds Goes to Town and You Can’t Take It With You so I have a good idea of his style of filmmaking. And while these films do have that distinct touch of nostalgic Americana and as good as they are or may be, Lost Horizon is a different picture entirely.

Lost Horizon, based on the novel by James Hilton, is the tale of a British diplomat, Robert Conway, who is sort of a global mediator who is working towards peace [think Neville Chamberlain, but more effective]. At the beginning of the film, he is at a Chinese airport working to arrange flights to save, and I quote, ‘90 white people’ from a war that has just broken out. Conway is among the last to go, in a plane with four others: his brother, an American businessman/embezzler, a paleontologist, and an American woman apparently suffering from some illness.

During the course of their flight, they realize their pilot is flying in the wrong direction. But as it turns out, they’ve been kidnapped for some unknown reason. After having refueled in the middle of the desert they continue on until the plane crashes, the pilot dies, and the survivors are left stranded. Soon enough, help does arrive and takes them to a mountain utopia in Tibet called ‘Shangri-La’ and the story goes from there.

The rest of the film is less action-oriented and is more concerned with showing the audiences the possibilities of a peaceful society where war and violence are non-existent. Some might find it a bit heavy-handed, but I think considering the theme it’s dealt with quite well. However unrealistic the story or its ideals seem, Capra does an amazing job of creating this ideal world. As far as I’m aware it’s a very unique film for the 1930s, creating a place that is as unbelievable as Oz but more down-to-earth and considerably more realistic.

I haven’t seen Colman in any other films, but he gives a great performance playing a man out of place with the modern world. Capra regular H. B. Warner is also good in the role of Chang, one of the members of the community and presumably an important member. Thomas Mitchell and Edward Everett Horton also provide wonderful moments of comic relief throughout the film. The weakest role has to be that of Conway’s brother who couldn’t be any less ‘British’ if the actor had actually tried to play the role. But that’s a minor point.

The photography, like in most of Capra’s films, is also very accomplished. Many of the shots taking advantage of the interesting shapes and look of the lamasery and landscape. The story moves along nicely and the exoticness of this film makes it enjoyable and also very different from his other films. And though it’s different, the themes in the film are very much in line with those of his other works. The special effects of hiking through the snow and mountains are captured relatively realistically given the capabilities of the time.

This is not a PC film, the portrayal of Asians is not always ‘complimentary’, but ultimately I don’t think it’s incredibly offensive. Along with that, for many years the film existed in an edited form, however, the film has been restored with the entire soundtrack, most of which is accompanied by the original and some restored footage. But in the case of some still missing parts, still photos have been used. That may annoy some, but it’s only here and there throughout the film and is a very minor issue. It’s not guaranteed everyone may like this film, because it does delve into the sentimental but like his films I feel he does so necessarily.

Josh Siler