The Lost World (1925)

The first film adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic novel about a land where prehistoric creatures still roam.

Director:

Harry O. Hoyt

Writers:

Arthur Conan Doyle (based upon the 1912 novel by), Marion Fairfax (screenplay)

Stars:

Wallace Beery, Bessie Love, Lloyd Hughes

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bessie Love	...	Paula White (as Miss Bessie Love)
Lewis Stone	...	Sir John Roxton (as Mr. Lewis Stone)
Wallace Beery	...	Prof. Challenger (as Mr. Wallace Beery)
Lloyd Hughes	...	Ed Malone (as Mr. Lloyd Hughes)
Alma Bennett	...	Gladys Hungerford (as Miss Alma Bennett)
Arthur Hoyt	...	Prof. Summerlee (as Mr. Arthur Hoyt)
Margaret McWade	...	Mrs. Challenger (as Miss Margaret McWade)
Bull Montana	...	Ape-man (as Mr. Bull Montana)
Frank Finch Smiles	...	Austin (as Mr. Finch Smiles)
Jules Cowles	...	Zambo (as Mr. Jules Cowles)
George Bunny	...	Colin McArdle (as Mr. George Bunny)
Charles Wellesley	...	Maj. Hibbard (as Mr. Charles Wellsley)
Jocko the Monkey	...	Jocko - the Monkey (as Jocko)
Arthur Conan Doyle	...	Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Storyline

A expedition to rescue Maple White, who has been marooned at the top of a high plateau. Joined by hunter John Roxton, and others, the group goes to South America, where they do indeed find a plateau inhabited by pre-historic creatures, one of which they even manage to bring back to London with them.

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Plot Keywords:

plateau | cryptozoologist | dinosaur | monster | professor | 

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Taglines:

It Will Astound You and Enthrall You!

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Genres:

Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Was the first in-flight movie, having been shown on an Imperial Airways flight in a converted Handley-Page bomber from London, UK, to Paris, France, in April 1925.

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Goofs

The newspaper headline announcing Malone's departure is dated in January. Right after this is shown, Malone types that he has been gone for less than three months and it is now December 12th.

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Quotes

Prof. Challenger: [title card] And I'm not here tonight to defend my statements - - but to demand that a committee be formed to go back to the Lost World with me -...

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Alternate Versions

In 2000, Film Preservation Associates, Inc. copyrighted a restored version produced by Serge Bromberg and David Shepard using materials from 8 different sources. It had a music score compiled and directed by Robert Israel, and runs 93 minutes.

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Connections

Referenced in Henry's Cat: The Lost World

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Soundtracks

The Lost World
(1925) (uncredited)
Music by Rudolf Friml
Lyrics by Harry B. Smith
Published in connection with the movie

User Reviews

The Dawn of O'Brien...and Stop-Motion Animagic

Willis O'Brien made some early shorts utilizing his unique concept of special effects, but it was this film, The Lost World, that made his vision first come to life so to speak. O'Brien makes the lost world full of dinosaurs that seemingly do everything. They eat, fight, move, and generally live on screen. The film is a fairly good adaption of Doyle's book, with Doyle even having a cameo in the film. A raging professor named Professor Challenger, played with gusto by Wallace Beery, says that dinosaurs live on a plateau somewhere off in the Amazon. He is disbelieved by all concerned, and he, with the help and support of a rich adventurer, a cynical zoologist, a newsman, and a daughter of a lost professor on a previous journey, sets out to prove that dinosaurs do indeed exist on Earth still. The film has a nice, quick pace and is very entertaining. Beery, Lewis Stone, and Bessie Love all do fine jobs acting. The film has a new marvelous score to go with its silent action. Best of all...the film boasts the special effects of O'Brien's genius. A fine, fine film.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

None

Release Date:

22 June 1925 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Lost World

Filming Locations:

Brunton Studios, 5300 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,194,450

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,834,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

First National Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min 64 min (1991 alternate) 93 min (2000 alternate) 64 min (Kodascope Version) 106 min (original) 100 min (1998 George Eastman House Restoration) 103 min (2016 Serge Bromberg's Lobster Films restoration)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White Color (hand-colored) Color (tinted and toned)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1