Shangri-La Again

"Shangri-La Again"
The Goon Show episode
Episode: no.	Series: 6 Episode: 8
Written by	Spike Milligan
Based on	Lost Horizon by James Hilton
Announcer	Wallace Greenslade
Produced by	Peter Eton
Music	Orchestra: Wally Stott Geldray: Pete Kelly's Blues Ellington: Rap Your Troubles in Drums
Recording Number	TLO 90136
First broadcast	8 November 1955 (1955-11-08)
Running time	30:27

Shangri-La Again is the eighth episode of series six of The Goon Show, broadcast on 8 November 1955. Written by Spike Milligan it is based loosely on the novel Lost Horizon by James Hilton.

Transcription Service Synopsis

Invasion of Manchuria is imminent. Neddie Seagoon, minister without portfolio at the British Embassy in Peking, has been put in charge of flying British residents back to England – and safety. After eight hours in the air, the plane crashes - nobody is hurt, of course, but they have no idea where they are, until, three weeks later, a mysterious stranger, dressed in rice paper and candy floss, arrives to lead them to Shangri-La…

Plot

The story is set during the invasion of Manchuria (1933). Ned Seagoon leads the British residents of Peking in a desperate attempt to escape the clutches of the invading Japanese army. A pilot by the name of Count Moriarty offers to fly the residents to freedom for a considerable fee, however, even his plans are wrecked when his plane crashes in the mountains.

Seagoon, Moriarty and the other survivors must rely on a mysterious, barefoot boy named Bluebottle to guide them to safety. Bluebottle leads them to a beautiful city named 'Shangri-La', hidden from the rest of the world and (supposedly) free from all its vices. As Bluebottle puts it: "No drink, no sex, no sin. And I'm fed up with it, I am!"

Nevertheless, Seagoon finds the utter beauty of Shangri-La compelling and must decide whether he should accept Henry Crun's invitation to stay on as the new Dalai Lama or return to his former life in the world outside.

Music

• The BBC Radio Orchestra was conducted by Wally Stott
• Max Geldray plays Pete Kelly's Blues (Ray Heindorf / Sammy Cahn)
• The Ray Ellington Quartet plays Rap Your Troubles in Drums (George Shearing)

Technical

Originally recorded on TLO 90136 (15 ips ¼" tape recorded at Broadcasting House). The original tape no longer exists, and the issue included in Compendium Vol 3 was compiled from the TGS master tape (salvaged 1962), the POTG master tape and a domestic tape recording.

External links

• Transcript of Shangri-La Again GOON SHOW: TLO 90136, 6TH SERIES: No 8, BROADCAST: 8 Nov 1955, Script by: Spike Milligan)