The Lost World (1925)

Copyright 24 January 1925 by First National Pictures. New York opening at the Astor: 8 February 1925. U.S. release: 22 June 1925. 10 reels. 9,700 feet = approx. 108 minutes at sound (i.e. 24 frames per second) speed. (Available on a splendid Image/Blackhawk DVD).SYNOPSIS: Professor Challenger claims to have discovered a lost world in South America. This world is full of prehistoric animals and ape-men. Although his colleagues doubt Challenger, an expedition to this supposed lost world is organized. COMMENT: Harry Hoyt's one claim to fame. Yes, he did direct other films. In fact he was still going strong in 1933. He was also active as a screenwriter. But all his other efforts are totally forgotten. Would you believe, a 16mm 5-reel print of this "Lost World" was still circulating among film societies in the 1990s. Such was the film's reputation that a showing was always guaranteed to bring in a full house.Of course it was not the directorial efforts of Harry Hoyt that attracted the crowds. It was Willis O'Brien. And although the technique of animating his model dinosaurs and flying reptiles is still primitive, you can see the genesis of ideas that were later refined for King Kong. The business with the moving eyes for instance and the little touches like the dinosaur licking clean his claws. In fact, many of these scenes – given a halfway decent print and sensitive projection – will still overpower even a modern-day audience audience. Alas, the framing story is less interesting – though it's good to see Wallace Beery in his silent-days prime. However it does serve as the means for a grand climax (which became almost obligatory for films of this genre) in which a brontosaurus runs amok in modern London. I should point out that the original 16mm print in circulation in the 1990's (formerly distributed by Kodak) was condensed to little more than half the movie's original running time. While all the footage of the beasts seemed intact, it was obvious that extensive cuts had been made to the Bessie Love-Lloyd Hughes romance, as well as to Lewis Stone's footage. Comedy relief was also jettisoned. All this re- cutting made Beery the star – well, second to the dinosaurs anyway – whereas formerly Love, Hughes and Stone headed the cast list. And this they certainly do in Image/Blackhawk's splendid, breathtakingly tinted DVD version!

Even through the distance of nearly 100 years, and cinematic developments which include sound, colour, and CGI, it is easy to see the impact which the 1922 The Lost World would have had on the movie-going public.The whole phenomenon of moving pictures was still new and, without warning, the genius of Willis O'Brien puts on screen moving dinosaurs - living, breathing creatures which have been extinct for millions of years. How can this be? We know the answer to that now, and we also know that O'Brien's art has almost been squeezed out by the greater photographic reality of the computer. But, d'you know, O'Brien's work still stacks up.One has to look at it in the context of its era, of course - a monochrome silent film from 1922 - but it is masterful artistry, and groundbreaking technically. For anyone who purports to have a yen for special effects movies, this is compulsory viewing.

The silent version of THE LOST WORLD is an important action outing, and an important adaptation of the novel; if the plot line manages to get a bit muddy (--it's true that I have seen a short version of the flick …--), though basically simple, there is a sense of excitement that makes for the movie's interest. Anyway, one shouldn't expect too much—so that he can enjoy the little that exists. Wallace Beery plays Challenger, but there's no characterization in this flick. For an action movie, it has too many inserts. In a movie in which there's too little of everything (--action, plot line, characterizations …--), the only thing in excess are the inserts.In the shortened version I have seen, the flick was incomprehensible and incoherent, chaotic; but, even that aside, it looks clumsy and unsatisfying. Now I will utter the truly nasty thing:--though made only a few years before KONG, it looks so much older …. (--But then, a few good Sci—Fi flicks made 'only 8 yrs before' STAR WARS are, of course, no challengers to Lucas' saga ….--)

The 1925 film called The Lost World is often mistaken for Steven Spielberg's 1997 sequel to Jurassic Park, but in reality, it is a film all to it's own. Surely it involves dinosaurs and jungle like environment, but i is a completely different film.This film is amazing for it's time. The special effects done on the dinosaurs is awesome, and some of the earliest stop motion special effects to date. The dinosaurs are also cool, how they devour the humans, and make life miserable in the town they are attacking. For an early science fiction film, this is one of the best, and deserves to be treated with more recognition. It's just as exciting as any other science fiction film, even though it is a silent film.If you want a cool science fiction film that is as old as a fossil, I recommend this film. It's got great action and story, and has as much "pep" as some of the science fiction films of today.