the 1973 musical version of lose horizon be the most wonderful endearing and campy musical film of all time . the 1973 musical remake of the james hilton novel about mythical shangri la . be a real special gem . music by burt bacharach and lyric by hal david . a strange mixture of straight drama and adventure and musical sequence . it have the distinction of be the only anti war musical fantasy ever film . this film be a critical and financial disappointment in the united state and but make a lot of money overseas . only in america do it fail . highly different and unique in it approach a a film musical and it deserve far good credit than it give . a a story and lose horizon be an incredible adventure and both the 1937 frank capra film and this 1973 musical be faithful adaptation of the james hilton novel . what i like about the 1973 version be the freedom in which the musical number be present . the film have a prestigious cast and a gifted director and cinematographer . this be a burt bacharach shangri la and it a wonderful place . song like the world be a circle and share the joy and living together and grow together evoke a happiness that hilton write about in his novel . why shouldn not shangri la be a slightly goofy place . the two love song and i might frighten her away and the delete i come to you be the sensitive spot in the picture . there a peacefulness and soft spoken quality in both these song that be very much keep with the philosophy of the story . moreover and the thing i will not miss be a good duet with a strong melody . it a nice exchange of different type of perspective and who can fault with olivia hussey and sally kellerman stomping and singing and dance on table . theyre a wonderful team and the number be well stag . i always find it interest in this story how the high lama kidnaps someone from the outside world to take his place in shangri la . the character of the high lama be a gentle soul but somewhat radical in his view of mankind a a whole . he have no hope for the world outside of shangri la . if this film be to be remake today and it would be interesting to see more emphasis put on the leading character and richard onways conflict with what he leave behind in the outside world a oppose to what he find in shangri la . of course and for the film to be believable and the character of richard conway must be present a suffer amnesia at the end and like he be in the book . neither film version of lose horizon be faithful to the novel in that regard . do conway find shangri la or be it imagine . do they all die in the plane crash . every man have his own idea of what his shangri la would be . the conflict with conway want to believe in shangri la and return to his old life in the outside world be powerful . i like the melancholy on the face of kellerman and kennedy and van a they watch their friend leave the mystical valley . interesting how conway doesn not want to leave paradise and but be be pressure out by his brother . both version of lose horizon work in different way and but both be successful in probe james hiltons idea of a hidden valley where money have no value and moderation be the rule . so in a sense it anti capitalism in it theme where a money and materialism be not the motivation . human kindness and decency and compassion and courtesy and etiquette and live harmoniously with each other be the rule . lose horizon have a much strong story than most musical . it attempt to answer the basic fundamental question of life and one can hardly fault it for not succeed . one have to remember that lose horizon in 1973 be post cabaret . it be no longer fashionable for character to break out in song in a musical and much less to be dub by other singer . lose horizon be an easy target for jaded critic . the expectation for it be high and almost unreasonable . there be two target to be hit and the producer and ross hunter and burt bacharach and the critic be out to get both of them . ross hunter have enjoy decade of financial success a a producer and lose horizon be his follow up film to his 1970 blockbuster airport that film be universals big moneymaker up to that time and the success of that picture trigger a decade of disaster film . for year airport be the most watched film ever to be show on television . it be nominate for 11 academy award include best picture . at the time and burt bacharach and hal david be the most successful songwriter in the country . the unabashed sentimentality of lose horizon hardly have a chance in the wake of the breakdown of censorship in film like easy rider and midnight cowboy and the godfather . sex and violence be a new frontier in the late 60 and early 70 audience be flock to film with content that they be not use to see on the screen . lavish musical be no longer well receive no matter how well they be make . today lose horizon can be enjoy and appreciate on several level . it the ultimate escapist film with a strong story and wonderful music and an expensive budget and some quirky humor . it unconventional in the sense that the music be not introduce until 45 minute into the film . it change course mid way when the mystical valley be introduce and why not . lose horizon 73 be a heavenly film that deserve rediscover . a lost and legendary treasure deserve far good than it reputation .