This retelling of the classic tale of James Hilton's Utopian lost world plays out uneasily amid musical production numbers and Bacharach pop music. While escaping war-torn China, a group of Europeans crash in the Himalayas, where they are rescued and taken to the mysterious Valley of the Blue Moon, Shangri-La. Hidden from the rest of the world, Shangri-La is a haven of peace and tranquility for world-weary diplomat Richard Conway. His ambitious brother, George, sees it as a prison from which he must escape, even if it means risking his life and bringing destruction to the ancient culture of Shangri-La.

Comments:

'This movie is one on the forgotten musicals. The Burt Bacharach-Hal David music alone is worth the price of the film. Almost all reviewers say it is a bomb, but after seeing it three times it grows on you. The music is TERIFFIC! '

Directed by
Charles Jarrott

Writing credits
James Hilton (novel)
Larry Kramer (screenplay)

Cast (in credits order)
Peter Finch .... Richard Conway
Liv Ullmann .... Catherine
Sally Kellerman .... Sally Hughes
George Kennedy .... Sam Cornelius
Michael York .... George Conway
Olivia Hussey .... Maria
Bobby Van .... Harry Lovett
James Shigeta .... To Len
Charles Boyer .... The High Lama
John Gielgud .... Chang
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Bernal .... School Student/Dancer
Tybee Brascia
Paul De Lucca
Larry Duran .... Asian pilot
Sharann Hisamoto .... School Student/Dancer
Neil Jon
Virginia Ann Lee
Hedley Mattingly .... Col. Rawley
Jessie Salve .... Bridegroom/Dancer
Kent Smith .... Bill Fergunson
Miiko Taka .... Nurse
Jackie Tom .... School Student/Dancer
John Van Dreelen .... Dr. Verden
Bruce Davis Bayne .... Airline passenger (uncredited)

Runtime: 2 hours 26 minutes (original release) Widescreen
Country: USA
Language: English
Color: Color (Metrocolor)
Sound Mix: 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) / Mono (35 mm prints)
Certification: UK:U / Finland:K-12 / Sweden:11 / USA:G
Restored Stereo soundtrack

crisp print