Flaws and plot holes in Lost Horizon

With all its high sounding ethics, its religion of 'be kind' and it's dislike of violence, it comes as a shock that Sondra (yes, saintly Sondra!) apparently despatched a terrorist to murder a pilot, hijack a plane and kidnap some innocent bystanders just to get her hands on Conway, whom she had fancied since reading his books and whom she set about seducing (with flirting and games of kiss chase) the moment he arrived in Shangri-La. The High Lama approved of this harebrained scheme because he wanted Conway to take over as Lama after his death. No wonder George wanted to leave. Robert Conway must have been mad. Tying flutes to pigeons' tails does not sound very kind, either. But maybe 1937 was a crueler era?

The woman 'Maria' was said to have arrived in Shangri-La in 1888. This would make her, at most 70. After a healthy life, even if she aged to her real age because of the harsh weather conditions outside Shangri-La, it is far fetched that she should look as old as she did. Vigorous 70 year olds don't look like the ancient woman Maria turned into who looked at least 100. Also, she looked distinctly Asian, Maria was supposed to be Russian and Caucasian. If they had said she came to Shangri-La in 1788 that would have made much more sense in the context of the 300 year old Lama. I do not think the age of the equivalent character in the book - Lao Tsen - was mentioned, although it's a long time since I read it, but it was implied that she was in the same age range as Father Perrault. Of course, the arbitrary order in which films are shot means that it is possible that the character was intended to be Chinese and the later scenes were filmed alongside the opening scenes in an icebox and then when they came to cast her, they decided to cast a Westerner and change her name to Maria.

Don't get me wrong, it's a great film. It's up there with Citizen Kane, frankly, I think it's better than Kane. I just think they didn't think it through.