Cinematic Symphony on Organ / "The Lost World" - NOSPR

Before the concert, at 7.45pm, we invite you to the concert hall for a lecture, which will last about 30 minutes.

There wouldn't be "King Kong" or "Godzilla" without "The Lost World," the first monster movie from 1925. A classic of the science fiction genre with pioneering special effects, it tells a tale from a time when geographical discoveries still sparked sensation. Director Harry O. Hoyt used cinema to show audiences something they couldn't experience in real life: exotic landscapes and prehistoric creatures fighting each other, brought back to life. 

The intricate set design, costumes, and pioneering-for-its-time cinematography have aged considerably, but we can treat the film as an illustration of the development of special effects. How much novelty there was back then! You might laugh at the rubbery allosaurs, stegosaurs, or triceratops, but "The Lost World" remains a timely essay on morality and humanity's impact on the world. The characters plan an expedition to the "Lost World" and discover a prehistoric world teeming with dinosaurs, from which they manage to bring back one dinosaur to London. What happens next? You won't guess: the beast escapes and begins to terrorize the inhabitants. 

After preview screenings, The New York Times wrote: "The monsters from Conan Doyle's ancient world looked completely alive. Even if it's an illusion, it's perfect." The film became a hit comparable to the summer tandem of "Oppenheimer" and "Barbie." It was even the first film shown to passengers on an airplane. Shortly after its premiere, it could be seen on the London-Paris route. 

Alexandra Kozowicz

Concert duration: approximately 70 minutes 

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