I've never seen this film (I would like to, at some point), but I've always enjoyed the generous 23-minute suite on the Gerhardt compilation. That's generous enough to suffice for me at the moment, but a fuller re-recording wouldn't be bad either. I believe there's an oiginal tracks release as well, but that's not for me.
You know that procession music was what brought me into this score. And I was watching some Bollywood Awards show on Television and they did some panorama tableau or a fashion display where they used that cue from the Gerhardt Suite. Needless to say it was very effective and I was excited to learn more about it. I never knew where it came from until I got the Gerhardt Tiomkin album.
Its indeed a great movie and still works today,which isn't a given for most of the eras movies.Character´s emotions and actions sometimes seem pretty OFF nowadays when watching movies from the 30ies to 50ies....And I agree its one of the finest Tiomkin scores and Gerharts Recording is superb.
Starting at 3:47 here, Capra tells a surprising story about Lost Horizon's initial, horrible preview screening:
Capra solved the problem by simply eliminating the first two reels of the original cut. Having read the novel, it's hard to imagine what the first two reels entailed. In the novel there is a prologue that takes place in a Berlin airport. Some British diplomatic colleagues are having dinner, and the mysterious disappearance of Hugh Conway (played by Ronald Colman in the film) comes up. Conway was discovered in a hospital with amnesia. After regaining his memory, he recounted his story to one of the men at the dinner, and the man wrote the story down. Then the novel proceeds similarly to the film. I can't imagine that scene requiring two reels, so it's mystery what was there. Capra himself said he didn't remember. He threw the reels into the incinerator.
The prologue took place on the ocean liner bringing Conway back to England. He visits the lounge and sits at the piano, playing a Chopin-like piece. This begins to bring back his memory. This is all dramatized on the 1940 Lux Radio Theater adaptation of the film. Lux was sent the original screenplay WHICH INCLUDED THE OPENING SCENES. I think Capra may have said "the first two reels" for convenience. It was probably closer to one reel. And there were other trims in the interior of the film. But not challenging the audience's ability to suspend disbelief right off the bat was the way to go. Starting with Baskul got them caught up in the adventure.
Fabulous opening to the film showing the chaos that revolution is bringing to the civilian population. It sets the stage for the exciting adventure to follow.
This story is part of his autobiography which is very good and seems to be the reason he is on the show. Capra should have had an hour to himself. I read it years ago, the section on Meet John Doe was good too. Capra couldn’t decide if Cooper should have jumped.
