Movie Review: The Lost World (1925)

The Lost World
Starring: Bessie Love, Lewis Stone, Wallace Beery, Lloyd Hughes, Alma Bennett, Arthur Hoyt, Margaret McWade, Bull Montana, Frank Finch Smiles, Jules Cowles, George Bunny, Charles Wellesley, Jocko the Monkey, Arthur Conan Doyle, Mary the Chimpanzee, Virginia Brown Faire, Holmes Herbert, Nelson McDowell, Gilbert Roland, Leo White
Director: Harry O. Hoyt

First National Pictures, USA, 1925.

The story is based on the novel by Arthur Conan Doyle.

This movie is published as a part of Nightmare Worlds 50 movie pack box published by Mill Creek Entertainment.

Professor Challenger (Wallace Beery) is angry because a newspaper doubts his story about dinosaurs. Clumsy reporter Ed Malone (Lloyd Hughes) is sent to write an article about Challenger's lecture. Also hunter Sir John Roxton (Lewis Stone) comes to hear the lecture. The professor is ridiculed by the audience. Professor demands that a committee is formed to follow him in the Amazon rainforest.

Ed Malone and Sir John Roxton

Professor Summerlee

Professor Challenger

Professor Summerlee (Arthur Hoyt), Sir John and Malone volunteer. After Malone reveals that he is a reporter, Challenger chases him away. Malone insists that he must go on the expedition, otherwise her girlfriend will not marry him. After a brawl Challenger agrees to take him to the expedition. Miss Paula White (Bessie Love) is daughter of Maple White. Maple went missing on the previous expedition. Malone says that his newspaper will fund the expedition for exclusive rights to the story. 

Professor Challenger does not like reporters

Paula White

In the jungle they meet wild animals and small bears. They find plateau and decide to climb it. Ape-man (Bull Montana) throws them with rocks. They cut down a tree to get over the chasm. Silly brontosaurus destroys their bridge, so they can not go back. They witness dinosaurs fighting for life and death.  Triceratops family defends themselves against a vicious flesh-eater. At night an allosaurus attacks them but they manage to wound it and it flees. 

Ape-man

Pterodactylus

Allosaurus

The ground team members Zambo (Jules Cowles) and Austin (Frank Finch Smiles) try to deliver a rope ladder to the adventurers. Sir John finds the remains of Maple White. Paula and Malone think they will be trapped on the plateau forever and decide to get married. Also Sir John was interested in Paula but he accepts his defeat like a real British gentleman. 

Allosaurus vs Triceratops

Austin and Zambo

Engagement

Volcano erupts and causes huge forest fire. Paula's pet monkey Jocko brings them a rope. They climb down, but the evil ape-man attacks them. They manage to bring one brontosaurus to London. In London the dinosaur escapes and causes panic. It smashes buildings and then London Bridge. 

Close-up of a brontosaurus

Brontosaurus in London

Happy end

The original length was 106 minutes, Mill Creek version runs for 68 minutes. This version lacks the introduction by A. C. Doyle. Even the shorter version is great. The stop-motion clay animation looks great, Willis H. O'Brien and Marcel Delgado made also special effects used in "King Kong". They also made the dinosaurs scientifically believable. The movie is the grand-daddy of dinosaur & giant monster movies such as "King Kong", "Godzilla" and "Jurassic Park." The story is a thrilling combination of comedy, romance and adventure. 

Rating: Excellent