Following their successful effort in getting nearly one hundred British citizens away from the advancing Chinese forces, diplomat "Conway" (Ronald Colman) finds himself on a plane with his brother “George” (John Howard) and several others, all traveling toward Shanghai’s perceived safety. Unbeknownst to them, however, their aircraft was diverted mid-airfield and is flying in an entirely unexpected direction. After a quick stop for fuel, the plane makes a crash landing deep within the Himalayan mountains, leaving the poorly prepared group with little choice but to consume grass and take refuge inside the wreckage of the fuselage. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, they come across some people dressed in furs, one of whom speaks English perfectly, and are guided to what appears to be an idyllic haven. Hidden by towering peaks, this beautiful “Shangri La” flourishes peacefully, offering these travelers a sense of hope. "Conway" becomes captivated by this extraordinary place, his mysterious host (HB Warner), and the apparent slowing of aging that occurs there. He also develops feelings for “Sondra” (Jane Wyatt), who may have played a key role in their rather convenient rescue! Meanwhile, his companions are growing impatient, and when “Barnard” (Thomas Mitchell) uncovers a significant amount of gold, they start to push their leader toward returning home. With tension rising between the brothers, and the allure of staying versus leaving weighing heavily on "Conway," he faces a difficult decision. This isn’t perhaps Colman's most energetic performance; in fact, the entire film leans more towards intellectual exploration than action-packed adventure. The script frequently implies the advantages of people living together peacefully and respecting nature, as well as rejecting the capitalist system that creates scarcity – a root cause of crime absent from this high-altitude paradise. There’s some striking photography showcasing snowy landscapes to lend credibility to the narrative, and while it runs for over two hours, it evokes “She” (1935) in its entertaining blend of philosophical ideas and fantasy, serving as a cautionary tale about being careful what you desire.

Source on TMDB