Mondo perduto

This is a wonderful cast that was assembled by the director Irwin Allen to tell Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's tale of the irascible Professor Challenger who discovers a lost plateau in South America where dinosaurs still exist. I understand that Allen went in with this big vision (and that makes sense based on the cast), but was hampered by the studio's dramatic budget cutting due to another film they had in the works that was going over budget. What suffered was only the special effects which turned what was intended to be stop motion dramatics into and iguana and an alligator with horns attached.

I tell you of the drawbacks not to deter you from watching this film...but quite the opposite, to encourage you to do so. Because long before Jurassic Park was this story and I think it is well acted and decently told here in this film with notable performances by Claude Rains, Michael Rennie, and Jill St. John.

This is a fun family friendly film that would be great for or youngsters who are dinosaur obsessed...but even better for adults who will follow along with the story, for their is a love triangle, betrayal, obsession and well science. I particularly like the scene with the zoological society in London. This is a recommendation from me and I hear the actual stories containing Professor Challenger are wonderful too. I might have to check one of those out.