 Remember a hallmark card when you carry enough to send the very best Tonight from Hollywood the makers of hallmark greeting cards bring you Herbert Marshall in James Hilton's lost horizon on the hallmark playhouse Each week hallmark will bring you Hollywood's greatest stars in outstanding stories chosen by one of the world's best known authors They distinguish novelist mr. James Hilton Good evening ladies and gentlemen. This is James Hilton tonight on our hallmark playhouse We have the great honor of welcoming one of Hollywood's most distinguished actors mr. Herbert Marshall Thank You Jimmy the great honor for me to play in your lost horizons Not only a wonderful story, but it has rarely put a new word into the language Shangri-La I Wonder if before we start you mind telling us whether there is a real Shangri-La somewhere Well, you won't find it on any of the maps But in a sort of a way everyone can find his own Shangri-La in his own heart It may not be easy But the birth of a new year is a good time to make the resolution to find a little personal peace of mind in a troubled world And now Frank off haven't you a word or two to say? There's a new year coming a new year with a brand new set of important days for remembering people birthdays Anniversaries holidays for all these days for every memorable occasion on your calendar There's a hallmark card that says just what you want to say the way you want to say it And on the back of every card appears the hallmark that says you cared enough to send the very best Now James Hilton's lost horizon starring Herbert Marshall You are now deep in the mountains of Tibet the highest part of the earth's surface That's no cap peak above you is Karakau and below in the valley of the blue moon lies the Lama Surrey of Shangri-La Old across the mountains from India We've been flying from basketball to Peshawar on the Northwest frontier I was the British consulate in basketball and my vice consular young fellow named Mellonson was making the trip with me Besides us. There were two other passengers and the pilot our plane should have landed in Peshawar about 5 30 We never arrived at our destination Conway I say Conway are you still are you asleep? What's the matter Madison anything wrong? I'm not sure, but I think our pilots off his course nonsense Look down there nothing but mountains as far as you can see I don't recognize this part of the world at all I should say we're right man and son the man's lost his way. I said can we you say we were lost Squatter-wrapper sprinkler. There's nothing to be upset about. I'm sure still there's nothing like finding out Is that shall I speak to the pilot Conway? Thanks. I'll do it You'll there pilot open the panel. I advise that you ask no questions, please Certainly look here. We want to know where we are. I advise that you be seated I will not be seated Madison. I don't know whether you've noticed it But there's a revolver pointed directly at my chest Think of it a do as the gentleman suggests For hours after that we sat in the darkness each of us pretending to sleep Suddenly the plane lurched sharply. There was a loud rushing sound in my ears And I realized we were coming down but fast much too fast We stumbled from the plane badly shaken and all but the pilot uninjured The cold was intense a solid icy cold that you could touch with your fingertips. I Knew we must be somewhere in Tibet a vast barren region of windswept upland Do for him and as the early rays of the Sun caught the summit of the mountain The man died I say Conway yeah, I just been looking at that mountain my seeing things are those men coming toward us They were men a part of a dozen or more crawling like ants across the white face of the cliff As they drew near we saw they carried among them a hooded chair and In it a heavily robed figure an elderly Chinese gray haired clean shaven Come from the llamas heavy of Shangri-La My name is Chang You sir, would you be good enough to present me to your friends? Of course? This is miss Brinklow the one out of melons and my name is Conway Yes, your plane is beyond repair. I'm afraid so and anyway our pilot is dead. Yes You will come to Shangri-La It is a hazardous journey and the only place of habitation within a thousand miles. I Shall be happy to accompany you. That's very kind. Thank you And we'd like to hire some of your porters to help us on the journey back You want to return to civilization soon as possible. Are you so certain you are away from it? There was a pass of 20,000 feet which we managed with the aid of long ropes Then we had struggled breathlessly to the top. I saw above us shimmering in the rosy twilight The loveliest mountain on earth That snow-capped peak above you is Kerakal And below in the valley of the blue moon Lies the Lamasari of Shangri-La. I never exactly remembered how we arrived at the Lamasari The thin air had a dreamlike texture and I was conscious of a strange sensation half mystical half visual of having reached a glass someplace that was an end of finality Shangri-La I learned was a sort of monastery whose inhabitants rule the natives in the valley below Those in full arm of hood numbered about 50 and their prevalent belief was in moderation The virtue of avoiding excess of all kinds These things I learned the first night as I stood with Chang on the broad balcony overlooking the valley There is something more you would like to know, Mr. Conway, please. I want to know This morning when you found us were you setting out on a journey? No, then you came there deliberately to intercept us How did you know we were coming? You are very clever But I should counsel you not to worry your friends with these abstract discussions No, they want something more concrete. They want to know exactly how long you're going to keep us here There will be certain unavoidable delays how long the difficulties of the trip Securing the necessary porters how long please you may tell your friends a few months But you don't guarantee it is up to me For myself. I can't say I shall mind a big deal. It's a new one interesting experience in time to come You may find it even more interesting Good night in the days that follow the Shangri-La I gave myself over to a rich and growing enchantment In the petal colored buildings, which dotted the mountain I recognize priceless treasures of art paintings and sketches It's was its ceramics preserved for more than a thousand years In the spacious library. I discovered the great literature of the present and of centuries past One morning I stood beside a lotus pool in an open pavilion of the lamas area An archway behind me a young girl was seated at a harpsichord You are pleased more than pleased. Oh, my name is Hugh Conway. They call me Lord then Lord Sam And do you live below in the valley? No, I live here at the lamas area. Yes But as yet I have not attained the full Lama hood I mean You are a llama. Yes I'm a bit confused. I thought only men could be llamas they will tell you when you have been here longer But in the Lama hood There are no distinctions between a man and a woman But you you're hardly more than a child Shall I play for you again? Good morning. Oh, thank you are pleased with lots and she plays beautifully She has studied for a great many years. How could she? How old is lots and I'm afraid I I cannot tell you One night the moonlight fell on Shangri-La Bathing the pavilion in a sea of blue. I'm sorry to disturb you at this hour, but I bring you important news Yes, Chiang. I congratulate you, sir Tonight you are to be received By the High Lama as I followed Chang through the lamas area. I knew I was on the threshold of some great discovery Patering in front of me he mounted a spiral staircase to the door which opened noise to sit for us Chang left silently As I became accustomed to the gloom I saw sitting before me a small and wrinkled man He was motionless a fading antique portrait in Chinese dress his face thin and drawn tight over the frame of his skull and His eyes I felt dizzy beneath the gaze of those ancient eyes You are mr. Conway. I am it is a pleasure to see you mr. Conway Please sit down. I am an old man and can do no one any harm. I feel it's a great honor to be received by you Thank you Chang tells me you have been asking many questions about our community and its affairs I am very much interested in them the history of Shangri-La begins rightly in the city of Peking in the year 1700 and 19 For it was then that four friars set out on a long and perilous journey They traveled southwest for many months by Lanzhou and no no core Facing many hardships Three died on the way and the fourth was not far from death when by accident He stumbled into the rocky defile that today Remains the only practical approach to our valley of the blue moon There to his joy and surprise He found a friendly population who bad him welcome and quickly he recovered his health His name was father Perot than half a century Father Perot labored with his hands like any other man Tilling his own garden and learning from the inhabitants as well as teaching them then in the year 1889 News descended to the valley that father Perot was dying at last He bad his friends farewell, but the end was not yet He lay for many weeks without speech or movement and then he began to recover He was then 108 the ancient llama paused What he had told me was not beyond belief, but as he went on I Was held speechless with wonder It was 14 years later. He told me that a wanderer found his way to father Perot's monastery an austrian named Henshel a Great friendship sprang up between the two and Henshel stayed on Was then that they had a wild fantastic dream Art treasures from Europe and Asia were purchased for the valley's gold and stored at Shangri-La The library was filled with the great works of the world and Later it was decided to admit travelers and strangers who had lost their way Yes, mr. Conway Strangers might come as freely as they wished but with one important proviso And what was that in 1910 Henshel died He was killed 1910 but you you said he came here in 183. Yes, and He was killed you said Traveler shot him there had been a quarrel about some porters Henshel had just told him of the important proviso that governs our reception of guests And perhaps you are wondering my dear Conway what that proviso may be. I Think I can already guess We ought to stay here All of our lives and can you guess anything else after this long and curious story of mine? It seems impossible And yet impossible as it may be I know that it's the truth. What is my son That you are still alive Father pearl in a moment James Hilton will return to bring you the second act of Lost Horizon starring Herbert Marshall Your 1949 hallmark datebook is waiting for you now. It's your friendly hallmark store's way of saying happy new year to you People who already have theirs say it's just about the most useful little book they ever saw There's a separate calendar page for every month of the coming year and space for jotting down things to remember each day There's also room for names and addresses of people you'll want to remember during each month and in the back Well, there's one of the most useful features of all a place for next year's Christmas card list with a way to check Each name to show card sent and cards received Yes, a hallmark datebook is so convenient You'll find yourself referring to it constantly using it for all sorts of reminders to yourself Reminders of social engagements appointments anniversaries Reminders to do those thoughtful little things that will mean so much to all your friends and loved ones through the coming year It's just the right size to slip into your purse or to keep handy beside your telephone And it's such a beautiful little book with its camellia decorated cover its pink and white pages Now to get your hallmark datebook simply visit the friendly store where you find hallmark greeting cards and ask for it It's yours without obligation Better get your hallmark datebook right away in time to start the new year right and Now James Hilton and the second act of Lost Horizon starring Herbert Marshall Conway learned one of the secrets of Shangri-La that night the secret of prolonged human life For the high llama who sat beside him had lived for nearly two and a half centuries Conway's coming was no accident. He said there had been no travelers to Shangri-La for 20 years Many llamas had died and the pilot had been sent out into the world to find new persons to take their places Then there is death at Shangri-La. Yes, my son. There are many of us who live no more than a hundred years And if one of your llamas were to leave the valley of the blue moon He would die his ears would fall on his shoulders like a great burden and he would die Very soon an old old man Lord Sam you have seen the high llama look then How did you come here? I was the trolls to a Prince of Turkistan We were traveling to Kashgar to meet him when my carriers lost their way in the mountains. When did this happen? I was 18 18 then now you are the missionaries of Shangri-La found us. They brought us here. I Never saw the man. I was to marry Then in all these years you have never known the meaning of love Roots and is there no love at Shangri-La? She did not answer but I saw a faint flash rising in her ivory cheek And then I was aware that someone had entered the pavilion and was watching us was melonson One night at midnight. I was summoned to the presence of the high llama Tell me my son. Have you been happy at Shangri-La? Quite happy for the parole and what of your friends will they learn to be content also I'm afraid Melonson is going to be a problem. He is going to be your problem Why mine because my son I am going to die You father parole. Yes, we are all mortal even here in the valley of the blue moon But I must feel at rest before I die. That is why I sent for you tonight You do me a great honor. I have waited for you my son for a long time My son there is a great storm gathering in the world a black fury Which will not spend itself for many years It may rage till every flower of culture is trampled and all human things are leveled in vast chaos But I believe that you will live through the storm. I See a new world stirring in the ruins seeking its lost and legendary treasures And they will all be here my son Hidden behind the mountains in the valley of the blue moon and you will be here to give them to the hopeful world my son I place in your hands the heritage and destiny of Shangri-La The High Lama stopped speaking the glow in his eyes faded Presented came to me as in a dream The High Lama was dead I've been waiting for you. I said, what's the matter Conway? Are you ill? No, I just tired Well, pull yourself together man. The porters are waiting for us porters. It's all arranged They're going to take us back to persuad miss Brinklow and Barnard a stain. Who's been making all these plans? Loatsen she's with the porters now. She's waiting. No, I'm in love with it and she loves me She's coming with us. Loatsen must not go. It's impossible. Why why is it impossible? You must take my word for it Loatsen must never leave here Conway. We need your help. We can't manage the cliff without you I want to get away from this place and Loatsen too. She's young Doesn't she count? Loatsen is not young not young. You're raving. It's the truth Her beauty is a fragile thing that can live only where fragile things are loved Balance and listen to me I tried in to tell him the secret of Shangri-La He looked at me as though I were mad And I read the disbelief in his eyes. I began to doubt myself and then Loatsen came to me. You will help us, please. We need you Loatsen Do you wish to leave Shangri-La? Yes, you understand the risk If you leave this valley will fade away like an echo. Oh, you have been listening to the fables of these old men You mean? I love him If he is not with me, I would die Here. Oh as I paced the balcony I could not tell whether I had been mad and was now sane or had been sane for a time and was now mad again But always before we were the the wistful peeping eyes of the little Manchu girl That morning with the wind roaring through the jagged cliffs We made the descent from Shangri-La Weeks they traveled toward the east Malensen the girl and Conway and then the porters began to desert One by one they disappeared then there were just the three of them creeping like snails across the desert wilderness For a long while there were only two Malensen had died. At first Conway tried to believe it was the hardship of the journey which had changed Loatsen We must go on Loatsen That must be the last range left mountain you see Loatsen One more step Loatsen One more step One One more one No You must go on alone from here Eyes were shadows her skin drawn the color of ancient parchment Her cheekbones Loatsen Loatsen I am old I am so and we were taken to the hospital there Loatsen they told me later Loatsen died that same night The oldest woman they had ever seen The storm of which father Perot warned me still threatens the world Not yet has the Christian ethic been fulfilled when the meek shall inherit the earth But Shangri-La has a heritage to cherish and bequeath With such wisdom as men will need when their passions are spent Soon I hope I'll return Somewhere beyond Lhasa on the high root of the world I seem to picture a long plateau running north and Far away a mountain rising white against the sky. I hope to find it again for this I think is Karakal and beyond the Shangri-La And the valley of the blue moon Herbert Marshall to tell you about next week's show our first show for the new year Here's a wish for the new year from the makers of hallmark greeting cards may your calendar for 1949 Be filled with memorable days and may they all be happy ones to keep a record of them Remember to get your hallmark date book. It's waiting for you now It's yours without obligation from the friendly store where you find hallmark greeting cards Now here is James Hilton. You've heard the legend of Shangri-La with its abiding message of peace I hope most fondly that the new year will bring all of us some of that same peace some of that same freedom of mind and Spirit and above all some of that same inner happiness To you Herbert Marshall our most sincere thanks for being Conway and for the warm and sympathetic character you created for us Jimmy there's nothing in modern literature. I know of The leaves one such hope and beauty in the feeling of future promise as Does the poetry and philosophy you have woven into lost horizon? Thank you Jimmy for the pleasure I've had And I'd like to thank your sponsors the maker of hallmark cards for having shown the good taste to have chosen you as their weekly host But from what I've seen with their fine greeting cards good taste is a tradition with hallmark Thank you Bart for those nice words for your own superb performance and for just being with us this evening Ladies and gentlemen the old year's fast drawing to a close and the new year is just about ready to lift its head over the horizon of history All of us D Engelback our director producer Lynn Murray who composed and conducted the music George Wells our adapter for tonight And every one of us who is a member of the hallmark family hopes that for you the new year will bring rich blessings and The fulfillment of your dearest wishes Next week we'll present one of the motion pictures most popular actors Robert Young in a great story by Louis Brumfield McLeod's folly and the following week Helen Hull's clay shuttered doors starring Jane Wyman So until next year and that is to say next Thursday. This is James Hilton saying good night and a happy new year Look for hallmark cards that are so lonely in stores that have been carefully selected to give you expert and friendly service Remember hallmark cards when you carry enough to send the very best Herbert Marshall will soon be seen with Margaret O'Brien and Metro Golden Mayors the secret garden This is Frank Goss saying good night. This program came to you from the hallmark Playhouse. This is CBS the Columbia Broadcasting System