Island of Lost Souls (1932)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Erle C. Kenton

Writers:

H.G. Wells (novel)
Waldemar Young (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

December 1932 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Horror | Sci-Fi | Romance

Tagline:

TERROR! Stalked the Brush-Choked Island...Where Men Who Were Animals Sought the Girl Who Was All-Human!

Plot:

An obsessed scientist conducts profane experiments in evolution, eventually establishing himself as the self-styled demigod to a race of mutated, half-human abominations.

Plot Keywords:

Experiment | Island | Half Human | Escape | Doctor

Cast

Charles Laughton	...	Dr. Moreau
Richard Arlen	...	Edward Parker
Leila Hyams	...	Ruth Thomas
Bela Lugosi	...	Sayer of the Law
Kathleen Burke	...	Lota the Panther Woman
Arthur Hohl	...	Mr. Montgomery
Stanley Fields	...	Captain Davies
Paul Hurst	...	Captain Donahue
Hans Steinke	...	Ouran
Tetsu Komai	...	M'ling
George Irving	...	American Consul

Also Known As:

The Island of Dr. Moreau (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

70 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (1996) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-14 (TV rating) | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Santa Catalina Island, Channel Islands, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

In response to British censors, who claimed the film was "against nature", Elsa Lanchester (Mrs. Charles Laughton) is said to have stated: "Of course it's against nature. So's Micky Mouse!"

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: As the beast-men attack Moreau's lab one of them brushes against a flaming torch and sets his furry head alight.

Quotes:

Dr. Moreau: What is the law?
Sayer of the Law: Not to eat meat, that is the law. Are we not men?
Beasts (in unison): Are we not men?
Dr. Moreau: What is the law?
Sayer of the Law: Not to go on all fours, that is the law. Are we not men?
Beasts (in unison): Are we not men?
Dr. Moreau: What is the law?
Sayer of the Law: Not to spill blood, that is the law. Are we not men?
Beasts (in unison): Are we not men?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Sopranos: Full Leather Jacket (#2.8)" (2000)

This is a horror CLASSIC, pure and simple, and still one of the most extraordinary movies ever made!

The 1930s was a great decade for horror with classic titles like 'Dracula', 'Frankenstein', 'Bride Of Frankenstein', 'Freaks', 'King Kong', 'The Invisible Man' and 'White Zombie'. I always thought 'Bride Of Frankenstein' was the best of the lot, but a VERY close second would have to be 'Island Of Lost Souls'. It truly is an extraordinary movie and still able to chill the blood and fire the imagination! It's easily the best version of H.G. Wells' 'The Island Of Dr Moreau' to date, and literally years ahead of its time. Many of the 1930s films made before the self imposed censorship of the Hays Code are quite startling and really pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable on screen. This movie is seventy years old but it still pretty disturbing even now. At the time it must have been something else! Especially the super sexy Lota The Panther Woman (Kathleen Burke). Charles Laughton plays Moreau and he is one of the greatest of screen villains. The quintessential megalomaniac mad scientist figure. Richard Arlen is pretty good as the hero, Edward Parker, who finds himself trapped on Moreau's island, and horror legend Bela Lugosi is unforgettable as the Sayer of the Law. I watched an old video copy of this movie with a lousy transfer and was still utterly transfixed. If this is available on DVD with the care and attention given to it that Universal have taken on their classic horror titles I will add it straight to the top of my (ever expanding!) "must buy" list. 'Island Of Lost Souls' is one of the greatest horror movies I've ever seen, and one that I can't recommend highly enough to any horror buff whatever your age or taste.