Island of Lost Souls (1932)

Director:

Erle C. Kenton

Writers:

Waldemar Young (screen play) and
Philip Wylie (screen play) ...
(more)

Release Date:

December 1932 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Horror | Romance | Sci-Fi

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 | Ship | Escape

Cast

Charles Laughton	...	Dr. Moreau
Richard Arlen	...	Edward Parker
Leila Hyams	...	Ruth Thomas
Bela Lugosi	...	Sayer of the Law
Kathleen Burke	...	The Panther Woman
Arthur Hohl	...	Montgomery
Stanley Fields	...	Captain Davies
Paul Hurst	...	Donahue
Hans Steinke	...	Ouran
Tetsu Komai	...	M'ling
George Irving	...	The Consul
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jack Bardette	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Evangelus Berbas	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Joe Bonomo	...	Beast (uncredited)
Buster Brodie	...	Pig Man - a Little Beast (uncredited)
Buster Crabbe	...	Beast (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Harry Ekezian	...	Gola (uncredited)
Charles Gemora	...	Gorilla on Pier (uncredited)
John George	...	Beast (uncredited)
Rosemary Grimes	...	Samoan Girl (uncredited)
Robert P. Kerr	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Bob Kortman	...	Mr. Hogan (uncredited)
Alan Ladd	...	Beast (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Robert Milasch	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Constantine Romanoff	...	Beast (uncredited)
Schlitze	...	Furry Manimal (uncredited)
Randolph Scott	...	Beast (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Jack Walters	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Duke York	...	Beast (uncredited)

Directed by
Erle C. Kenton

Writing credits
Waldemar Young		(screen play) and
Philip Wylie		(screen play)
H.G. Wells		(from a novel by)

Cinematography by
Karl Struss		(photographed by)

Casting by
Fred A. Datig		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Hans Dreier		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Wally Westmore	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
M.M. Poggi	....	sound (uncredited)
Loren L. Ryder	....	re-recording engineer (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Gordon Jennings	....	special photographic effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Joe Bonomo	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Paul Cable	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
George T. Clemens	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Mack Elliott	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Otto Pierce	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Cliff Shirpser	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Fleet Southcott	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Music Department
Arthur Johnston	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Sigmund Krumgold	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures (copyright owners) (as Paramount Productions, Inc.)

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1933) (USA) (theatrical) (A Paramount Picture)
• MCA/Universal Pictures (1958) (USA) (TV)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Home Entertainment (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• L'Atelier 13 (2009) (Spain) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-Ray)
• Universal Pictures (????) (USA) (TV) (as Universal)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

70 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Catalina Island, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The identity of the actor who played "Owl Man" is unknown.

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:Have you forgotten the house of pain?
Sayer of the Law:You! You made us in the house of pain! You made us... things! Not men! Not beasts! Part man... part beast! Things!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "A History of Horror with Mark Gatiss: Frankenstein Goes to Hollywood (#1.1)" (2010)

A Chilling Classic!

This chilling adaptation of the H.G.Well's novella, "The Island of Dr Moreau" remains unsurpassed, despite two later wretched attempts to improve upon it. Banned in England upon release! An exotic, but sinister atmosphere pervading Moreau's privately-owned island is enhanced by filming in Black & White, whose shadowy contrasts imbue the setting which a dark, suspenseful tone. Moreau amorally attempts to "play God" by creating "manimals" - hybrid humans and animals - via surgical vivasection and blood transfusion in his laboratory, The House of Pain. Charles Laughton has never been more campily devilish as when playing Moreau - an exquisite performance by a great actor.

Bela Lugosi plays a small, but effective part as "The Sayer of the Law": "Are we not men?" Kathleen Burke as the beautiful, erotic "Panther Woman" who develops an ill-fated romance with the protagonist, Edward Parker (played by Richard Arlen). Crisp direction by Erle Kenton, with nice make-up effects by Wally Westmore. The cutaway from the grisly ending when Moreau is about to be subjected to "surgery of the most fatal kind" in The House of Pain is most appreciated and is what I consider to be an exercise in directorial restraint and finesse. My imagination more than filled in the horrific details. Kudos to Mr. Kenton!