Movie explorer lost world5/3/2023 ![]() In the early thirties Wallace won awards for his roles in The Big House (1930) and The Champ (1931), and became one of Hollywood’s most popular actors, contracted to be paid exactly one dollar more than any other players at MGM, making him the highest paid actor in the world. When he was just sixteen years old, Wallace ran away from home and joined Ringling Brothers Circus as an assistant elephant trainer – you know what that means – and left the circus two years later after being attacked by a leopard – wimp. The actor who really dominates every scene is Wallace Beery, who plays the bombastic Brian-Blessed-like Professor Challenger. Over three decades he appeared in almost three hundred films and, like my good self, survived the transition to talkies, although he was relegated to much smaller roles, often cast as put-upon husbands, exploited workers or nervous politicians, but some of you might remember him as the motel manager who hassles Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in the Frank Capra comedy It Happened One Night (1934). More interesting was the career of his brother, Arthur Hoyt, who plays Professor Summerlee. The point I’m trying to make is, I refuse to show any of his other efforts, which will save you a world of Hoyt (who writes this stuff? Oh, that’s right – me). The Lost World was directed by Harry Hoyt, who wrote and directed almost a hundred forgettable films, including The Return Of Boston Blackie (1927), Daredevil Jack (1920), and Clancy Of The Mounted (1933) – I’m not pausing, that’s the name of the film. The Sea Hawk (1924), produced by the same company the previous year, is seen screening at a theatre. Furthermore, it was the first film to cross-promote another film. Not only was it screened on a plane as the very first in-flight movie ever, but was also the first film to include paid product placement – the office equipment we see was supplied by the Corona Typewriter Company. ![]() The Lost World was groundbreaking in so many ways. ![]() Ladies and gentlemen, take a pith helmet and grab your elephant gun as we go in search of… The Lost World (1925)! Based on a story by Arthur Conan Doyle, starring Wallace Beery, Bessie Love and Bull Montana with groundbreaking special effects by stop-motion maestro Willis O’Brien, I’m actually proud – for once – to discuss one of the most influential monster movies of its era which, admittedly, is not that difficult. On second thoughts, that’s never appropriate. Like so many silent films, the images may be Public Domain, but the original soundtrack remains copyright-protected so you have two options – either listen to the inappropriate stock music, or supply your own inappropriate soundtrack, such as Inna Godda Da Vida by Iron Butterfly four times over. It must be a classic – it’s silent and in black-and-white – so don’t try to adjust your sets. I know I’ve said it before, but in this case it’s absolutely true. Hello, good evening, and welcome! This week I have a true classic of cinema. Joined by renowned 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.” (courtesy IMDB) Malone’s paper funds an expedition to rescue Maple White, who has been marooned at the top of a high plateau. Newspaper reporter Edward Malone learns that this claim originates from a diary given to him by fellow explorer Maple White’s daughter, Paula. “Explorer Professor Challenger is taking quite a beating in the London press thanks to his claim that living dinosaurs exist in the far reaches of the Amazon.
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