I think I was probably 9 or 10 years old when I first saw
Lost Horizon. This 1937 Frank Capra classic has been a favorite ever since.
The
80th Anniversary Blu-ray edition (released in 2017, October) has been digitally restored, thanks to an epic 13-year project by the American Film Institute and the UCLA Film Archive.
Incredibly, the studio kept no copies of the original 1937 release. The restoration project scoured the world and was able to find a copy of the complete 132-minute soundtrack, but seven minutes of the film were missing. Another minute was eventually found. The remaining six minutes have been artfully filled with still shots of the cast members and scenes that fit the soundtrack.
BTW, this is
not the hacked up 1942 release, which was molested for wartime propaganda purposes. This is the real deal...the original theatrical release, which (at that time) was the most expensive film ever made. The production values are superb, as you'd expect with a Capra film.
The sound and picture quality of this restored edition are brilliant. The subtitles are accurate for those who don't want to miss a word, but you probably won't need them. Unlike most modern day films, you can actually hear the dialog without the music and sound effects making your ears bleed. (Mastering audio for films is apparently a lost art.)
The 80th Anniversary Blu-ray has a bunch of special features about the making and history of the movie, including details about the restoration project. A small booklet is included. Also, you get free access to the film on computer, tablet, and TV.
Anyone who is a fan of this classic flick will want to pounce on this.
NOTE: There's a more recent version released on 2018, June 5 that doesn't come with the online access feature via computer, tablet, and TV. Get the 2017 release while there are still some left if you want the Blu-ray plus net access.
