Island of Lost Souls (1932)

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

Director:

Erle C. Kenton

Writers:

Waldemar Young (screenplay), Philip Wylie (screenplay)

Stars:

Charles Laughton, Bela Lugosi, Richard Arlen

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited 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

Storyline

After his ship goes down, Edward Parker is rescued at sea. Parker gets into a fight with Captain Davies of the Apia and the Captain tosses him overboard while making a delivery to the tiny tropical island of Dr. Moreau. Parker discovers that Moreau has good reason to be so secretive on his lonely island. The doctor is a whip-cracking task master to a growing population of his own gruesome human/animal experiments. He does have one prize result, Lota the beautiful panther woman. Parker's fortunes for escape look up after his fiancée Ruth finds him with the help of fearless Captain Donohue. However, when Moreau's tribe of near-humans rises up to rebel, no one is safe...

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Plot Keywords:

unnatural experiment | genetic science | man beast | human becoming an animal | genetic engineering | 

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Taglines:

The PANTHER WOMAN ... there was danger in her smile ... death in her embrace!

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Cantonese

Release Date:

December 1932 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Island of Dr. Moreau

Filming Locations:

Paramount Ranch - 2813 Cornell Road, Agoura, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$300,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kathleen Burke's costume cost only twenty-five dollars.

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Goofs

When the panther woman sneeks up at Parker, reading a book and smoking a pipe, he gets startled. He closes the book and takes the pipe from his mouth. Then, in a new camera angle, his book is open again and his pipe back in his mouth.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Mr. Montgomery: Mr. Hogan. Mr. Hogan! Derelict afloat with a man on board.
Mr. Hogan: Whereabouts?
Mr. Montgomery: Off your port bow.
Mr. Hogan: Aye.

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Connections

References J'accuse! (1919)

User Reviews

Envigorating and original horror classic!

Based on the novel by the great H.G. Wells, this classic film adaptation of The Island of Dr Moreau delivers as both a source of intrigue and a horrifying horror movie. Perhaps not as great as Val Lewton's horror classics, or the films that Ernest B. Schoedsack made for RKO in the early thirties, Island of Lost Souls still stands out as one of the decade's very best horror films. Unfortunately, this film hasn't got a good commercial DVD release anywhere in the world, and this meant I had to see it on a rather poor bootleg; but true greatness still shines through, and even in poor quality; Erle C. Kenton's film is still a shocking and well produced little film. The plot follows a young man who gets lost at sea. He wakes up on a distant island that seems to be ruled by a white-clad doctor calling himself Dr Moreau. The locals aren't quite normal in this place, and it soon transpires that the doctor's experiments into evolution have gone too far; as the people on the island are a result of the not so good doctor's experiments, over which he now rules as a God...

The standout performance of the entire film expectedly comes from Charles Laughton in the lead role. Laughton looks eerie in his purely white outfit, and his lines of dialogue ensure that the character always appears as the maniac that his experiments suggest him to be. Richard Arlen doesn't standout next to Laughton, but his acting is good; and the cast is rounded off by great supporting performances from the always welcome Bela Lugosi and Kathleen Burke in the role of the panther woman. One of the principle reasons why this film works so well is the way that director Erle C. Kenton creates the atmosphere. The island setting provides a perfect location for a film like this, as the action always feels isolated and this helps to give the film a surreal, otherworldly feel. The special effects aren't the best, but the way that the director handles the film overall means that they fit and a good job is made of the fact that most of the characters are indeed 'freaks'. The film doesn't last for long, and the director ensures that every second counts as a good story is told in the time that we have, and it all boils down to a fitting, chilling and somewhat shocking conclusion! Overall, Island of Lost Souls comes highly recommended to fans of classic horror!