I watched the old movie "Lost Horizon" last night. I'd vaguely remembered it from television when I was a kid. I used to love Ronald Coleman's voice. I was especially adoring of "Tale of Two Cities" and "Prisoner of Zenda", which conformed to my Victor Hugo/Alexandre Dumas romance/adventure and FRENCH teenage sensibilities. I realized the irony when I began the movie: I've always had a love of Eastern spirituality, but I'd forgotten this film is set in Tibet. There is a "High Lama" and Coleman's character becomes enchanted with the philosophy and way of life in this isolated culture. Not unlike myself. The sad thing is parts of the film have disintegrated over time, and in certain scenes you get the soundtrack but only still pictures on the screen. It points out the importance of preservation of film. Certainly, this film was a part of my childhood and many other people, and its points are as wise today as way back then. Coleman is a British diplomat who is tired of the world of war and aggression. He is looking for something to believe in.
I highly recommend this film. It is so representative of the ennui between the two World Wars, and the search for some other way to get along on the planet.
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