You people should not be reviewing films. LOST HORIZON is actually a wonderful musical with a compelling story, a lavish production, and a beautiful score, all based on a classic novel. It’s clearly not a film for jaded cynics.
What made your podcast so disappointing was that you couldn’t find a single redeeming thing to say. Even worse you repeatedly got basic facts wrong. Allow me to correct a few.
There was exactly one actor, John Gielgud cast as a half Asian character. Yet that woman commenting made like the entire cast had been made up to appear Asian.
Doris Day did not walk out of the premiere. She simply skipped the party afterward. Julie Andrews away never offered a role in the film. Nor was Jean Arthur or Barbara Stanwyck. Your research appears to begin and end with IMDb and Wikipedia, both of which are notorious for containing errors and misinformation. There was no Reader’s Digest on the library shelves in the film. Another false claim repeated from Michael Medved’s poorly researched book.
Yes, the film underperformed at the American box office, but it was successful in many foreign markets, allowing investors to recover their investment. It was the highest grossing American film in Japan up until THE EXORCIST at the end of 1974. I could go on correcting the misinformation through your podcast, but what’s the point? When I listen to a film podcast, I’m hoping to hear thoughtful analysis or a fresh perspective. Instead, I heard the same tired cliches and inaccuracies that have been repeated about this movie for decades. That’s not criticism. It’s lazy research. You three as podcasters are depressing. Common bitter jaded hacks possessing no imagination.
