Frank Capra’s 1937 picture “LOST HORIZON” based upon the novel by James Hilton was by all accounts the most adventurous decisions to ‘green light’ a picture that Columbia mogul Harry Cohn had ever undertaken to date. The story of a group of people plane wrecked somewhere near Tibet and their finding a lost city hidden among the alps was more than a simple adventure movie – far more. The almost unfilmable novel was steeped in philosophical discussion and complex arguements on what is the essence of peace and harmony – coupled with real life international tension as impending war loomed in Europe this was never going to be an easy shoot.
Director Capra was Columbia’s darling – having helmed the brilliant “MR DEEDS GOES TO TOWN” the previous year for which he deservedly won the coveted Oscar – certainly a feather in the cap of an arguably economic little studio like Columbia – the K-Mart of movie studios – no fuss, get on with it, do it fast style of film making.
“LOST HORIZON” was not an easy adaptation, and Capra was pretty determined, along with screenwriter Robert Riskin to serve the novel to the best of their ability. There’s no doubt that star Ronald Colman was the perfect choice here and his status and ability did much to sell the film to a unsuspecting public…
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A Tribute to Golden Era Special FX
Please Note: Now that I am all caught up with Matte & Effects Films Celebrated, I am going further back into the archives of Matte Shot – A Tribute to Golden Era Special FX to feature even more great articles from this great site.
This blog is intended primarily as a tribute to the inventiveness and ingenuity of the craft of the matte painter during Hollywoods’ Golden Era. Some of the shots will amaze in their grandeur and epic quality while others will surprise in their ‘invisibility’ to even the sophisticated viewer. I hope this collection will serve as an appreciation of the artform and both casual visitors and those with a specialist interest may benefit, enjoy and be amazed at skills largely unknown today.