Lost Horizon (1937)

Ronald Colman: Robert Conway

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Quotes 

• High Lama : Good evening, Mr. Conway. Please come in. Sit here, near me. I am an old man and can do no one any harm.

  Robert Conway : Are you the High Lama?

  High Lama : Yes. I trust you have been comfortable at Shangri-La, since your arrival.

  Robert Conway : Personally, I've enjoyed your community very much. But my friends do not care for this mystery. They are determined to leave as soon as -

  [looks down at the Lama's amputated leg, amazed] 

  Robert Conway : It's astonishing - and incredible, but...

  High Lama : What is it, my son?

  Robert Conway : You're the man Chang told me about! You're the first - who - two hundred years ago -

  [reverently] 

  Robert Conway : you're still alive, Father Perrault!

  High Lama : Sit down, my son. You may not know it, but I've been an admirer of yours for a great many years. Oh, not of Conway the empire-builder and public hero. I wanted to meet the Conway who in one of his books, said, "There are moments in every man's life when he glimpses the eternal." That Conway seemed to belong here. In fact, it was suggested that someone be sent to bring him here.

  Robert Conway : That I be brought here? Who had that brilliant idea?

  High Lama : Sondra Bizet.

  Robert Conway : [secretly pleased]  Oh, the girl at the piano?

  High Lama : Yes. She has read your books and has a profound admiration for you, as have we all.

  Robert Conway : Of course I have suspected that our being here is no accident. Furthermore, I have a feeling that we're never supposed to leave. But that, for the moment, doesn't concern me greatly. I'll meet that when it comes. What particularly interests me at present is, why was I brought here? What possible use can I be to an already thriving community?

  High Lama : We need men like you here, to be sure that our community will continue to thrive. In return for which, Shangri-La has much to give you. You are still, by the world's standards, a youngish man. Yet in the normal course of existence, you can expect twenty or thirty years of gradually diminishing activity. Here, however, in Shangri- La, by our standards your life has just begun, and may go on and on.

  Robert Conway : But to be candid, Father, a prolonged future doesn't excite me. It would have to have a point. I've sometimes doubted whether life itself has any. And if that is so, then long life must be even more pointless. No, I'd need a much more definite reason for going on and on.

  High Lama : We have reason. It is the entire meaning and purpose of Shangri-La. It came to me in a vision, long, long ago. I saw all the nations strengthening, not in wisdom, but in the vulgar passions and the will to destroy. I saw the machine power multiplying, until a single weaponed man might match a whole army. I foresaw a time when man, exalting in the technique of murder, would rage so hotly over the world, that every book, every treasure, would be doomed to destruction. This vision was so vivid and so moving, that I determined to gather together all things of beauty and of culture that I could, and preserve them here, against the doom toward which the world is rushing. Look at the world today. Is there anything more pitiful? What madness there is! What blindness! What unintelligent leadership! A scurrying mass of bewildered humanity, crashing headlong against each other, propelled by an orgy of greed and brutality. A time must come my friend, when this orgy will spend itself. When brutality and the lust for power must perish by its own sword. Against that time, is why I avoided death, and am here. And why you were brought here. For when that day comes, the world must begin to look for a new life. And it is our hope that they may find it here. For here, we shall be with their books and their music, and a way of life based on one simple rule: Be Kind! When that day comes, it is our hope that the brotherly love of Shangri-La will spread throughout the world. Yes, my son; When the strong have devoured each other, the Christian ethic may at last be fulfilled and the meek shall inherit the earth.

  Robert Conway : I understand you, Father.

  High Lama : You must come again, my son. Good night.

• Robert Conway : George, didn't you ever want to know what's on the other side of the mountain?

• Robert Conway : Did you make that report out yet?

  George Conway : Yes, Bob.

  Robert Conway : Did you say we saved ninety white people?

  George Conway : Yes.

  Robert Conway : Good. Hooray for us. Ha-ha. Did you say that we left ten thousand natives down there to be annihilated? No. No, you wouldn't say that.

  [Sarcastically] 

  Robert Conway : They don't count.

• High Lama : Yes, of course, your brother is a problem. It was to be expected.

  Robert Conway : I knew you'd understand. That's why I came to you for help.

  High Lama : You must not look to me for help. Your brother is no longer my problem. He is now your problem, Conway

  Robert Conway : Mine?

  High Lama : Because, my son, I am placing in your hands the future and destiny of Shangri-La... for I am going to die. I knew my work was done when I first set eyes upon you. I have waited for you, my son, for a long time. I have sat in this room and seen the faces of newcomers. I have looked into their eyes and heard their voices - always in hope that I might find you . My friend, it is not an arduous task that I bequeath, for our order knows only silken bonds. To be gentle and patient, to care for the riches of the mind, to preside in wisdom, while the storm rages without.

  Robert Conway : Do you think this will come in my time?

  High Lama : You, my son, will live through the storm. You will preserve the fragrance of our history, and add to it a touch of your own mind. Beyond that, my vision weakens. But I see in the great distance a new world starting in the ruins - stirring clumsily - but in hopefulness, seeking its vast and legendary treasures. And they will all be here, my son, hidden behind the mountains in the Valley of the Blue Moon, preserved... as if by a miracle...

  [he dies] 

• Robert Conway : I think I'm going to like it here.

• [a content Conway concluding a romantic interlude with Sondra] 

  Robert Conway : You know, when we were on that plane, I was fascinated by the way the shadow followed us. That silly shadow! Racing along over mountains and valleys, covering ten times the distance of the plane, and yet always there to greet us... with outstretched arms when we landed. And I've been thinking that, somehow, you're that plane, and I'm that silly shadow. That all my life I've been rushing up and down hills, leaping rivers, crashing over obstacles, never dreaming that one day that beautiful thing in flight would land on this earth and into my arms.

• Chang : It is very common here to live to a very ripe old age. Climate, diet - the mountain water you might say. But we like to believe it's the absence of struggle in the way we live. In your countries, on the other hand, how often do you hear the expression, "He worried himself to death," or "This thing or that killed him"?

  Robert Conway : Oh, very often.

  Chang : And very true. Your lives are, as a rule, shorter. Not so much by natural death, as by indirect suicide.

• Robert Conway : Mr. Chang, if you don't mind, I think I'll go on being amazed - in moderation of course...

• Robert Conway : You have no disputes over women?

  Chang : Only very rarely. You see, it would not be considered good manners to take a woman that another man wanted.

  Robert Conway : Supposed somebody wanted her so badly that he didn't give a hang if it was good manners or not?

  Chang : Well, in that event, it would be good manners on the part of the other man to let him have her.

• Robert Conway : [On the plane, having been evacuated]  Hello, Freshie. Did you make that report out yet?

  George Conway : Yes, Bob.

  Robert Conway : Did you say we saved 90 white people?

  George Conway : Yes.

  Robert Conway : Good. Hooray for us. Did you say we left 10,000 natives down there to be annihilated? No... No, you wouldn't say that. They don't count.

  George Conway : You better try to get some sleep, Bob.

  Robert Conway : Just you wait till I'm Foreign Secretary. Ha ha... Can't you just see me, Freshie, with all those other shrewd little Foreign Secretaries? You see, the trick is, to see who can out-talk the other. Everybody wants something for nothing. If you can't get it with smooth talk, you... send your army in. But I'm going to fool them, Freshie. I'm not going to have an army. I'm going to disband mine. I'm going to sink my battleships. I'm going to destroy every piece of war craft. Then, when the enemy approaches, we'll say, "Come in, gentlemen! What can we do for you?" So then the poor enemy soldiers will stop and think. And what will they think, Freshie? They'll say to themselves, "There's something wrong here, we've been duped! This is not according to form. These people seem quite friendly, and why should we shoot them?" Then they'll lay down their arms. You see how simple the whole thing is? Ha! Centuries of tradition kicked right in the pants. Ha ha... and I'll be slapped straight into the nearest insane asylum.

  George Conway : You'd better not drink any more, Bob. You're not talking sense.

  Robert Conway : Don't worry, George. Nothing's going to happen. I'll fall right into line... I'll be the good little boy that everybody wants me to be. I'll be the best little Foreign Secretary that we've ever had. Just because I haven't the nerve... to be anything else.

  George Conway : Do try to sleep, Bob.

  Robert Conway : Sleep, yes. Good thing, sleep. Ever notice the sunrise in China, George? Ah, you should... it's beautiful.

• Chang : [referring to Maria]  Charming, isn't she?

  Robert Conway : Ah, yes, charming.

  Chang : Your brother seems quite fascinated by her.

  Robert Conway : Well, why not? She's an attractive young woman.

  Chang : Young? She arrived here in 1888. She was 20 at the time. She was on her way to join her betrothed, when her couriers lost their way in the mountains. The whole party would have perished without for meeting with some of our people.

  Robert Conway : Amazing. She still doesn't look over 20. When is she likely to grow old in appearance?

  Chang : Oh, not for years. Shangri-La will keep her youthful indefinitely.

  Robert Conway : Suppose she should leave?

  Chang : Leave Shangir-La? Ha ha, that's not likely, you couldn't drive her out.

  Robert Conway : No, I mean about her appearance. If she should leave the valley, what would happen?

  Chang : Oh... she'd quickly revert in appearance to her actual age.

  Robert Conway : Huh... Ah, it's weird.

• Robert Conway : [in reference to the High Lama]  And that's the whole story, George. He died as peacefully as the passing of a cloud's shadow. His last words to me were, "I place in your hands, my son, the future and destiny of Shangri-La." Now you know why I can't leave.

• Robert Conway : By the way, what religion do you follow here?

  Chang : To put it simply, I should say that our general belief was in, uh, moderation. We preach the virtue of avoiding excesses of every kind. Even including excess of virtue itself.

  Robert Conway : Well, that's intelligent.

  Chang : We find in the valley that it makes for better happiness among the natives. We rule with moderate strictness, and in return we are satisfied with moderate obedience. As a result, our people are moderately honest, moderately chaste, and, uh, somewhat more than moderately happy.

  Robert Conway : How about law, and order? You have no soldiers, or police?

  Chang : [chuckling]  Oh, good heavens, no!

  Robert Conway : Well, how do you deal with incorrigibles? Criminals?

  Chang : Why, we have no crime here. What makes a criminal? Lack, usually. Avariciousness. Envy. The desire to possess something owned by another. There can be no crime where there is a sufficiency of everything.

• Robert Conway : I'm waiting for the bump.

  Sondra : Bump?

  Robert Conway : When the plane lands at Shanghai and wakes us all up.

• Robert Conway : [on the plane, barely having escaped the gunfire and chaos on the ground at Baskul airport]  I guess we're out of range... Is everybody all right?

  Alexander P. 'Lovey' Lovett : Oh, I don't know... I, I, I've never been in a situation like this in my life.

  Robert Conway : Where do you come from?

  Alexander P. 'Lovey' Lovett : I'm Alexander P. Lovett, sir.

  Robert Conway : Why aren't you registered through our office?

  George Conway : It'd serve you right to be left behind.

  Alexander P. 'Lovey' Lovett : How could I know a war was going to break out over my head? Right over my head! Oh, my word! I tell you, those Chinese were pouncing on me from every direction. I had to get into these ridiculous clothes in order to escape.

  Robert Conway : Where were you hiding?

  Alexander P. 'Lovey' Lovett : "Hiding?" Ohh, no, no, no, no. *Hunting.* I was in the interior hunting fossils. This morning I looked up suddenly...

  Robert Conway : I know: and a war broke out right over your head!

  George Conway : The next time you're in wild country like this, keep in touch with the British consul.

  Robert Conway : Very good, Freshie, very good. Here, you'd better put his name on the list and make out a report later.

• Robert Conway : [privately, with George, in the cockpit after the plane has crash-landed]  George, our chances of getting out of this are pretty slim, but it's up to us. We can't have three hysterical people on our hands.

  Robert Conway : [returning to the main cabin, addressing the others]  Well, everything is all right. The pilot won't trouble us anymore. He's.. he's dead.

  Barnard : Dead?

  Robert Conway : Probably a heart attack.

  Barnard : Well.. what are we gonna' do?

  Robert Conway : Well, there's nothing we *can* do until the morning. The storm will probably die down before then. My suggestion is that we.. we better all try and get a good night's rest.

  George Conway : [angrily]  Why don't you tell them the truth! Why don't you tell them we're a million miles from civilization without a *chance* of getting out of here alive! It's slow starvation, that's what it is. A slow, horrible death!

  Gloria : [laughs hysterically]  Well, that's perfect. Just perfect. What a kick I'm gonna' get out of this. A year ago, a doctor gave me six months to live. That was a year ago. I'm already six months to the good. I'm on velvet. I haven't got a thing to lose. But you - you, the noble animals of the human race. What a kick I'm gonna' get out of watching *you* squirm for a change. What a kick!

  [laughs again, but then her laughs fade to coughs] 

• Robert Conway : [seats Mr. Chang in a chair and confronts him]  Mr. Chang, you have been very kind to us, and we appreciate it. But for some reason we are being held prisoners here, and we want to know why. Personally, I don't mind at all. I'm enjoying every minute of it. But my brother is not of the same opinion. Nor are the others. It's time we were told what it's all about! We want to know why we were kidnapped, why we are being kept here, but most important of all: do we get the porters, and when?

  Robert Conway : [continues, a bit more ominously]  Until we get this information, my dear Mr. Chang, I am very much afraid we cannot permit you to leave this room.

  Chang : You know, it's very, very strange, but when you saw me in the corridor, I was actually on my way to you. I bring the most amazing news...

  Chang : [arises, looks calmly at Conway]  The High Lama wishes to see you.

• Robert Conway : Mr. Chang, all these things - books, instruments, sculpture... Do you mean to say they were all brought in over those mountains by porters?

  Chang : They were.

  Robert Conway : Well, that must've taken...

  Chang : Centuries.

  Robert Conway : Centuries.

  Robert Conway : Where did you get the money to pay for all these treasures?

  Chang : Well, of course we have no money as you know it. We do not buy or sell or seek personal fortunes, because.. well, because there is no uncertain future here for which to accumulate it.

  Robert Conway : That would suit me perfectly. I'm always broke. How *did* you pay for them?

  Chang : Our valley is very rich in a metal called gold, which, fortunately for us, is valued very highly in the outside world. So we merely, uh...

  Robert Conway : Buy and sell.

  Chang : Buy and sell.. uh, no, no, pardon me: exchange.

  Robert Conway : I see. Gold for ideas.

• George Conway : [after Sherpas fire a gun at them several times and miss]  Target practice again. One of these days they're going to hit us.

  Robert Conway : As long as they keep on aiming at us, we're safe.