Il mostro dell'isola (1954)

An Italian government agent is assigned to break up a drug smuggling ring on the island of Ischia but his daughter is kidnapped by the gang.

Director:

Roberto Bianchi Montero

Writers:

Roberto Bianchi Montero, Carlo Lombardo (story),

Stars:

Boris Karloff, Franca Marzi, Renato Vicario

Cast

Credited cast:
Boris Karloff	...	Don Gaetano
Franca Marzi	...	Gloria D'Auro (as Frana Marzi)
Renato Vicario	...	Ten. Mario Andreani
Patrizia Remiddi	...	Fiorella Andreani (as Patricia Remiddi)
Jole Fierro	...	Giulia
Carlo Duse	...	Foster
Germana Paolieri	...	Adalgisa
Giuseppe Chinnici	...	Maresciallo Antonio Carcani
Giulio Battiferri	...	Il rapitore
Domenico De Nimmo	...	Uomo di Pozzuoli
Clara Gamberini	...	La contessa
Salvatore Scibetta	...	Col. Della Finanza
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Giuseppe Addobbati	...	Direttore 'Sirena'
Gianni Breschi
Bruna Camerini

Storyline

An Italian government agent is assigned to break up a drug smuggling ring on the island of Ischia but his daughter is kidnapped by the gang.

---

Plot Keywords:

daughter | island | drug smuggling | italian | gang | 

---

Genres:

Crime | Thriller

---

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Island Monster

Filming Locations:

Incir De Paolis Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Romana Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

User Reviews

Island Monster (Monster of the Island) (1953) *

If you've never had the displeasure of seeing this Italian ISLAND MONSTER (also known as LE MONSTRE DE LA ILE) let me assure you it's easily Boris Karloff's worst film, hands down (I'm not counting the Karloff-narrated MONDO BOLARDO). This is so bad it makes VOODOO ISLAND and his last Jack Hill Mexican "cameo" pictures look good.

Not at all a horror film, Karloff plays a seemingly good-natured old soul who's really involved in drug smuggling and all sorts of other underhanded activities on a secret island location. One of these involves him kidnapping the little daughter of an investigator who's been sent from Naples to monitor his movements.

The film makes little sense, but as lousy as it is there's still something oddly fascinating about watching Boris in such a production, amidst the picturesque setting. Style is non-existent with the exception of one fleeting moment where Karloff interrogates the crying child in darkness. The English dubbing is abysmal yet it provides unintended laughs as we hear some guy doing a really bad Karloff impression while an obviously adult woman provides the silly whines and whimpers of the frightened little girl who's been taken hostage. That's funny stuff, and prime fodder for all you MST3K nuts out there.