The Lost World (1960 film)
Encyclopedia
The Lost World is a 1960 science fiction
adventure film
based on the novel
of the same name by Arthur Conan Doyle
and directed by Irwin Allen
. The plot of the film revolves around the exploration of a mysterious flat mountain (see Tepui
) in the heart of unknown Venezuela
inhabited by cannibalistic natives
, dinosaur
s, giant carnivorous plants, and giant spider
s.
Special effects for the film were rather simple and involved monitor lizard
s, iguana
s, and crocodile
s affixed with miniature horns and fins. This technique has been given the nickname slurpasaur by fans.
s still live there.
The boisterous, arrogant Professor
Challenger (Claude Rains
), a reputed biologist
and anthropologist, dares the London Zoological Society
to mount an expedition to verify his spectacular claim, without physical proof, that his previous expedition to the Amazon Basin
found live dinosaurs. Apart from him and his 'socialite' counterpart, Professor Summerlee (Richard Haydn
), it consists of experienced discoverer Lord Roxton (Michael Rennie
), the young reporter Ed Malone (David Hedison
) - who got publicly struck down with Challenger's umbrella at his arrival - and Jennifer Holmes (Jill St. John
), Malone's news agency
's boss's daughter, essentially as conditions for putting up the money. In Brazil
they are joined by Jennifer's brother David (Ray Stricklyn
) and local 'guide' Manuel Gomez (Fernando Lamas
). They soon discover the dinosaurs are real and dangerous, like giant spiders, but lose their helicopter and thus are desperate for a way down from the isolated plateau. They learn Roxton knew about the fate of Burton White, an explorer whose diary they find, thus presume to be dead, in search of diamonds, and confirmation of the local tribe being the lethal guardians of the plateau's secrets, but also get surprising help...
, Lost in Space
, Time Tunnel, and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (TV series)
. In 1966, Irwin Allen even tried to sell a TV series based on the film as he had done with Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
but was unsuccessful.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
adventure film
Adventure film
Adventure films are a genre of film.Unlike pure, low-budget action films they often use their action scenes preferably to display and explore exotic locations in an energetic way....
based on the novel
The Lost World (Arthur Conan Doyle)
The Lost World is a novel released in 1912 by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle concerning an expedition to a plateau in the Amazon basin of South America where prehistoric animals still survive. It was originally published serially in the popular Strand Magazine during the months of April 1912-November 1912...
of the same name by Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle DL was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered a milestone in the field of crime fiction, and for the adventures of Professor Challenger...
and directed by Irwin Allen
Irwin Allen
Irwin Allen was a television and film director and producer nicknamed "The Master of Disaster" for his work in the disaster film genre. He was also notable for creating a number of television series.- Biography :...
. The plot of the film revolves around the exploration of a mysterious flat mountain (see Tepui
Tepui
A tepui , or tepuy, is a table-top mountain or mesa found in the Guiana Highlands of South America, especially in Venezuela. The word tepui means "house of the gods" in the native tongue of the Pemon, the indigenous people who inhabit the Gran Sabana....
) in the heart of unknown Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
inhabited by cannibalistic natives
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
, dinosaur
Dinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
s, giant carnivorous plants, and giant spider
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
s.
Special effects for the film were rather simple and involved monitor lizard
Monitor lizard
Monitor lizards are usually large reptiles, although some can be as small as in length. They have long necks, powerful tails and claws, and well-developed limbs. Most species are terrestrial, but arboreal and semiaquatic monitors are also known...
s, iguana
Iguana
Iguana is a herbivorous genus of lizard native to tropical areas of Central America and the Caribbean. The genus was first described in 1768 by Austrian naturalist Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti in his book Specimen Medicum, Exhibens Synopsin Reptilium Emendatam cum Experimentis circa Venena...
s, and crocodile
Crocodile
A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
s affixed with miniature horns and fins. This technique has been given the nickname slurpasaur by fans.
Plot
Professor Challenger leads team of scientists and adventurers to a remote plateau deep within the Amazonian jungle to investigate reports that dinosaurDinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
s still live there.
The boisterous, arrogant Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
Challenger (Claude Rains
Claude Rains
Claude Rains was an English stage and film actor whose career spanned 66 years. He was known for many roles in Hollywood films, among them the title role in The Invisible Man , a corrupt senator in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington , Mr...
), a reputed biologist
Biologist
A biologist is a scientist devoted to and producing results in biology through the study of life. Typically biologists study organisms and their relationship to their environment. Biologists involved in basic research attempt to discover underlying mechanisms that govern how organisms work...
and anthropologist, dares the London Zoological Society
Zoological Society of London
The Zoological Society of London is a charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats...
to mount an expedition to verify his spectacular claim, without physical proof, that his previous expedition to the Amazon Basin
Amazon Basin
The Amazon Basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries that drains an area of about , or roughly 40 percent of South America. The basin is located in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela...
found live dinosaurs. Apart from him and his 'socialite' counterpart, Professor Summerlee (Richard Haydn
Richard Haydn
Richard Haydn was an English comic actor in radio, films and television.-Early life and career:Born George Richard Haydon in London, he was known for playing eccentric characters, such as Edwin Carp, Claud Curdle, Richard Rancyd and Stanley Stayle. Much of his stage delivery was done in a...
), it consists of experienced discoverer Lord Roxton (Michael Rennie
Michael Rennie
Michael Rennie was an English film, television, and stage actor, perhaps best known for his starring role as the space visitor Klaatu in the 1951 classic science fiction film The Day the Earth Stood Still. However, he appeared in over 50 other films since 1936, many with Jean Simmons and other...
), the young reporter Ed Malone (David Hedison
David Hedison
Albert David Hedison, Jr. is an Armenian-American film, television, and stage actor. He was billed as Al Hedison in his early film work. In 1959, when he was cast in the role of Victor Sebastian in the short-lived espionage television series Five Fingers, NBC insisted that he change his name...
) - who got publicly struck down with Challenger's umbrella at his arrival - and Jennifer Holmes (Jill St. John
Jill St. John
Jill St. John is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Tiffany Case, the lead Bond girl in Diamonds Are Forever.-Early life:...
), Malone's news agency
News agency
A news agency is an organization of journalists established to supply news reports to news organizations: newspapers, magazines, and radio and television broadcasters. Such an agency may also be referred to as a wire service, newswire or news service.-History:The oldest news agency is Agence...
's boss's daughter, essentially as conditions for putting up the money. In Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
they are joined by Jennifer's brother David (Ray Stricklyn
Ray Stricklyn
Ray Stricklyn was an American film actor, stage actor, television actor, soap opera star and publicist. His acting career took off with B-movie Westerns that placed his boyish good looks playing opposite top talent of the time.-Early life and career:Born in Houston, Texas, his father was a sign...
) and local 'guide' Manuel Gomez (Fernando Lamas
Fernando Lamas
Fernando Álvaro Lamas was an Argentine-born actor and director, and the father of actor Lorenzo Lamas.-Early life and career:...
). They soon discover the dinosaurs are real and dangerous, like giant spiders, but lose their helicopter and thus are desperate for a way down from the isolated plateau. They learn Roxton knew about the fate of Burton White, an explorer whose diary they find, thus presume to be dead, in search of diamonds, and confirmation of the local tribe being the lethal guardians of the plateau's secrets, but also get surprising help...
Featured cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Michael Rennie Michael Rennie Michael Rennie was an English film, television, and stage actor, perhaps best known for his starring role as the space visitor Klaatu in the 1951 classic science fiction film The Day the Earth Stood Still. However, he appeared in over 50 other films since 1936, many with Jean Simmons and other... |
Lord John Roxton-A member of the expedition and a confident gamekeeper who volunteers to join Professor Challenger into the Amazon, he is also a field equipment expert, who also shot the expedition's guide Gomez' brother years before. |
| Jill St. John Jill St. John Jill St. John is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Tiffany Case, the lead Bond girl in Diamonds Are Forever.-Early life:... |
Jennifer Holmes-A disobedient member who is the daughter of Malone's boss, she disobeys Challenger's orders to stay off the expedition and also ventures into the Amazon, she takes her brother David Holmes with her much to Challenger's disapproval. |
| David Hedison David Hedison Albert David Hedison, Jr. is an Armenian-American film, television, and stage actor. He was billed as Al Hedison in his early film work. In 1959, when he was cast in the role of Victor Sebastian in the short-lived espionage television series Five Fingers, NBC insisted that he change his name... |
Ed Malone-A journalist who volunteers to become a member of the expedition, he is disliked by Challenger because of many journalists bothering Challenger with their non-stop questions, Malone eventually befriends Challenger when he rescues him from falling off a cliff. |
| Claude Rains Claude Rains Claude Rains was an English stage and film actor whose career spanned 66 years. He was known for many roles in Hollywood films, among them the title role in The Invisible Man , a corrupt senator in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington , Mr... |
Professor George Edward Challenger-The head of the expedition who has a disliking of reporters, he takes an immediate dislike to Malone, promptly pushing the reporter down the steps of an airplane, Challenger eventually makes a truce with Malone when the reporter rescues him from a sheer drop over a cliff. |
| Fernando Lamas Fernando Lamas Fernando Álvaro Lamas was an Argentine-born actor and director, and the father of actor Lorenzo Lamas.-Early life and career:... |
Manuel Gomez-A guide and expedition of the team, he flies the expedition onto the plateau before trying to execute them because of the death of his brother who was killed by Roxton, Gomez eventually redeems himself when he sacrifices himself to pour lava onto a carnivorous dinosaur. |
| Richard Haydn Richard Haydn Richard Haydn was an English comic actor in radio, films and television.-Early life and career:Born George Richard Haydon in London, he was known for playing eccentric characters, such as Edwin Carp, Claud Curdle, Richard Rancyd and Stanley Stayle. Much of his stage delivery was done in a... |
Professor Summerlee-A sarcastic raspy-voiced scientist, who joins the expedition, he is the rival of Challenger and Summerlee doesn't believe Challenger's theory of dinosaurs living on an Amazon Plateau, he quickly apologises to Challenger when he sees a dinosaur and Challenger forgives him. |
| Ray Stricklyn Ray Stricklyn Ray Stricklyn was an American film actor, stage actor, television actor, soap opera star and publicist. His acting career took off with B-movie Westerns that placed his boyish good looks playing opposite top talent of the time.-Early life and career:Born in Houston, Texas, his father was a sign... |
David Holmes-The confident and brave brother of Jennifer Holmes and the son of Malone's boss Stuart Holmes, he sneaks into the Amazon with his disobedient elder sister much to Challenger's disapproval, and becomes a member of the expedition, and reluctantly gains Challenger's trust. |
| Jay Novello Jay Novello Jay Novello was an American radio, film, and television character actor.Born in Chicago as Michael Romano, of Italian descent, Novello began his career as a radio actor, playing Jack Packard on the Hollywood version of I Love a Mystery for a brief period, circa 1944... |
Costa-Gomez' cowardly and selfish assistant who also guides the expedition into the plateau, he uses Gomez's plan to kill the expedition to take all of the diamonds hidden in the volcano for himself, he later receives his punishment when he scrambles for his spilt diamonds and is promptly devoured by a carnivorous dinosaur. |
| Ian Wolfe Ian Wolfe Ian Wolfe was an American actor whose films date from 1934 to 1990. Until 1934, he worked as a theatre actor. Wolfe mostly found work as a character actor, appearing in over 270 films... |
Burton White-A professor who ventured into the Amazon Plateau a couple of years before Challenger's expedition did, he never returned but his diary with sketches of dinosaurs in them is discovered, White is later found by the expedition blind living in the core of a volcano, and he is presumably killed when it erupts. |
| John Graham | Stuart Holmes-The boss of Edward Malone, owner of the Daily Gazzete, and the father of Jennifer and David Holmes, he allows Malone to venture onto the plateau with Challenger. |
| Colin Campbell | Prof. Waldron-The employer of Professor Challenger and Professor Summerlee, he organises the expedition that the two scientists agreed to go on. |
| Vitina Marcus Vitina Marcus Vitina Marcus is an American actress of Sicilian and Hungarian descent. Her parents were Rose and Frank Marcus, and her Sicilian grandmother was named Vitina.-Career:... |
Native Girl-A native girl found on the plateau by the expedition, she helps the expedition get into the volcano, find Burton White, and eventually point out to them an escape tunnel leading off the plateau. |
Prehistoric Creatures
- IguanodonIguanodonIguanodon is a genus of ornithopod dinosaur that lived roughly halfway between the first of the swift bipedal hypsilophodontids and the ornithopods' culmination in the duck-billed dinosaurs...
---portrayed by an iguanaIguanidaeIguanidae is a family of lizards, composed of iguanas and related species.-Classification of Iguanidae:Two different classification schemes have been used to define the structure of this family. These are the "traditional" classification and the classification presented by Frost et al. .Frost et...
with glued on horns - Unspecified carnivorous dinosaur---portrayed by a monitor lizardMonitor lizardMonitor lizards are usually large reptiles, although some can be as small as in length. They have long necks, powerful tails and claws, and well-developed limbs. Most species are terrestrial, but arboreal and semiaquatic monitors are also known...
with glued on frills and plates - Unspecified carnivorous dinosaur---portrayed by a baby alligatorAmerican AlligatorThe American alligator , sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator, is a reptile endemic only to the Southeastern United States. It is one of the two living species of alligator, in the genus Alligator, within the family Alligatoridae...
with glued horns and fins - Fire Monster (only named in trailer)---portrayed by a monitor lizardMonitor lizardMonitor lizards are usually large reptiles, although some can be as small as in length. They have long necks, powerful tails and claws, and well-developed limbs. Most species are terrestrial, but arboreal and semiaquatic monitors are also known...
with glued on horns and fins - Giant Spider---portrayed by a Mexican redknee tarantulaMexican redknee tarantulaThe Brachypelma smithi , is a terrestrial tarantula native to the western faces of the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre del Sur mountain ranges in Mexico. They are a large species, of which are a popular choice for enthusiasts...
- Giant Carnivourous Vines
Legacy
Irwin Allen utilized stock footage from this film for episodes of his various TV series, including Land of the GiantsLand of the Giants
Land of the Giants was an hour-long American science fiction television program lasting two seasons beginning on September 22, 1968 and ending on March 22, 1970. The show was created and produced by Irwin Allen. Land of the Giants was the fourth of Allen's science fiction TV series. The show was...
, Lost in Space
Lost in Space
Lost in Space is a science fiction TV series created and produced by Irwin Allen, filmed by 20th Century Fox Television, and broadcast on CBS. The show ran for three seasons, with 83 episodes airing between September 15, 1965, and March 6, 1968...
, Time Tunnel, and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (TV series)
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (TV series)
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea is a 1960s American science fiction television series based on the 1961 film of the same name. Both were created by Irwin Allen, which enabled the movie's sets, costumes, props, special effects models, and sometimes footage, to be used in the production of the...
. In 1966, Irwin Allen even tried to sell a TV series based on the film as he had done with Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea is an American science fiction film, produced and directed by Irwin Allen, released by 20th Century Fox in 1961. The story was written by Irwin Allen and Charles Bennett. Walter Pidgeon starred as Admiral Harriman Nelson, with Robert Sterling as Captain Lee Crane...
but was unsuccessful.