Bridge of Time

When I read the synopsis in the TV listing for this Hallmark production, I thought it sounded awfully similar to "Lost Horizon", and sure enough that's exactly what it is, just updated and transplanted to Africa, with no credit given to James Hilton for the concept. The secret city (somehow unnoticed from the air) is beautifully designed-- it's the real "Palace of the Lost City" Hotel, a Sun City luxury resort in South Africa, and well worth a look. Without this setting the entire production would have looked pretty cheesy, I'm afraid, and even more like a TV movie, which it barely avoids. Cicely Tyson is of course marvelous (when wasn't she?) as the Guardian, who occupies the High Lama's place in the story. Once one knows that it's "Lost Horizon", one either looks forward to the familiar plot unfolding or is disappointed that the rest of the picture is then so predictable. Much of the tampering with details was not well thought out and leaves holes and loose ends to weaken the overall effect. Of course, if you've never read or seen "Horizon" it will furnish a few surprises, though the script is unimaginative enough to make much of it seem familiar anyway. You can be sure that the good characters will be likable and the bad unlikable. Susan Dey, a good and likable actress, manages to appear rather dazed throughout and looks bleary-eyed as though she's missed too much sleep, delivering a somewhat flat performance in a role calling for charisma and emotional depth to be convincing. I'm afraid that Sue's little TV feet aren't equal to filling Ronald Coleman's big-screen shoes. With a better script and production (plus some recasting) this could have worked; title it "Lost Opportunity". But I would have loved it when I was ten! As usual, the "If you like this title, we also recommend..." suggestion is completely off the wall; what on earth does this story have in common with "Rat Race", a comedy about a money race from Las Vegas to Silver City, New Mexico????