The Island of Dr. Moreau

I watched this movie by accident, due to a last-minute program change by the TV station. I had missed the first couple of minutes including the title, so I was just as unprepared as the shipwrecked Andrew (Michael York) when he set foot on this beautiful tropical island. To his horror, he finds out that an aging scientist, presumed long dead by the world, has populated the island with his "children," the results of his experiments in combining human and animal genes. What I found most astonishing was the authentic feel to the characters. Starting with Andrew. His initial repulsion develops into a discerning appreciation, without ever condoning the monstrosity of Dr. Moreau's project. The old scientist himself (Burt Lancaster, a rather shallow performance in comparison) is not an evil lunatic but a genius who got carried away, convinced to the end of his own noble goals and best intentions. However, the most amazing aspect is the differentiated portrayal of Moreau's more or less "successful" creatures. The movie manages to make your heart go out for them in their struggle to be human against their nature. The most poignant moment is the Lionman's farewell cry for his Master. An overall very satisfying movie, despite some weaknesses in the development of the plot towards the end (it feels like the director suddenly ran out of time). Quality science-fiction with good entertainment value. 7/10

I recently saw this version of The Island of Dr. Moreau for the first time courtesy of MGM Midnite Movies.

It was much better than I thought it would be. Of course that was mainly due to the fact that I had already seen the abomination made in 1996 starring Brando and Kilmer. After seeing that mess I had pretty low expectations for this one. I was pleasantly surprised by the acting, yes even Michael York's, as well as the make-up.

Barbara Carrera was beautiful as always even though her character seemed to be more window dressing then integral to the plot. I'm not complaining mind you, she makes lovely window dressing.

Lancaster did an excellent job as Moreau. His subdued, scientific detachment fit the part perfectly and it was interesting as he started going over the edge towards the end of the movie.

York managed a very good scene when he, as he was changing into an animal, managed to remember things from his childhood as he desperately tried to keep his identity and humanity.

Not the best movie that I've seen but it's in the top 10% or so. After watching this version it makes me even more appalled at the 1996 disaster. It's too bad that a lot of people now have an idea of what Island of Dr. Moreau based on that version instead of on this one.

I'd give it an 8 out of 10.

There's three principal reasons why this HG Wells' inspired horror adventure works, firstly the distinguished cast led by A-graders Michael York (as the shipwrecked engineer) and Burt Lancaster, as the reclusive title character whose gene experiments on the local animal population is resulting in terrible mutations trapped amid instincts that lay somewhere between man and animal, a precariously distorted eco-system.

Nigel Davenport plays the boozy mercenary protecting the island establishment from its own macabre experiments, while Richard Basehart is a transformed animal, human enough to be the law sayer and peace-keeper of the mutated island population. Then there's the ravishing Barbara Carrera as a naive orphan brought to the island as a child by Moreau, besotted by the chivalrous York, but equally mysterious like her young lynx companion. Nick Cravat and Dave Cass have minor supporting roles as manimals of various pedigree.

The second reason to tune in is the set design and make-up effects in which luminaries John Chambers and Dan Striepeke were involved. Moreau's half-breed experiments are impressively brought to life by Chambers' crew, the full effect more evident on close-up, particularly on the unrecognisable Basehart.

Finally, if it needs to be defended, the production of Samuel Z.Arkoff and Sandy Howard should please some, their AIP distribution lending a certain B-movie prestige, a badge that will in itself, attract a legion of fans (but equally, render others suspicious of the quality). Overall, while there were a plethora of plot-holes to be found, and the conclusion a little simplistic, the general tone and quality of the film remained highly entertaining, uncomplicated and straightforward, something the 1996 remake couldn't muster in spite of its (by relative standards) gold plated production.

Based on the excellent novel by renowned science fiction author H.G. Wells, this watchable and updated remake of the 1933 film starring Charles Laughton plays on the Frankenstein theme where man attempts to play God and improve upon Mother Nature. Andrew Braddock (Michael York) is a castaway of a shipwreck who serendipitously lands on an isolated island in the Pacific, and becomes the guest of the main inhabitant, Dr Moreau who appears seemingly hospitable enough at first. His other companions are ex-mercenary Montgomery (Nigel Davenport), and a beautiful yet emotionally distant woman Maria (Barbara Carrera),whom the doctor claims to have rescued from poverty from another country and brought up as his ward. Braddock's stay is normal albeit boring at first (not really much to do on an isolated island, is there?), then he begins to notice that things are not what they seem - the strange animal sounds that emanate from the forest at night, and the weird facial features of the servants who wait upon the doctor. His worst fears are confirmed when he encounters the results of the doctor's experiments - upright hairy creatures (who look like variations of the Wolfman of the old horror movies) that appear human and yet are not exactly men, though they wear clothing and can speak. He realizes that Dr Moreau is a madman doing modern Frankenstein-type experiments by messing up with the DNA of humans and animals, with Montgomery as a contemporary Igor - how the doctor obtains and maintains sterility of his concoctions and instruments without the benefit of refrigeration or sterilization in such primitive conditions is a moot point.

When Braddock protests at the cruel treatment of the creatures, Dr Moreau attempts to justify his experiments by explaining that by doing so, humanity would be benefited by elimination of birth defects and such, but Braddock is unconvinced.

Though they are repulsive-looking in appearance, the viewer can't help but sympathize with the plight of the "manimals", who live together in squalor in a dark cave, kept in line by The Laws established by Moreau - do not kill, do not shed blood, do not walk on all fours, etc. - repeated on an almost daily basis by their apparent leader the Sayer of the Law (Richard Baseheart), who looks the most "human" and "civilized" of the lot. Infractions of the Law results in being brought to the so-called House of Pain, where Moreau attempts to "correct" the miscreant and remind him that he is human and not animal.

The turning point in the film is when the Bullman (obviously originally a bison by the presence of a hairy hump on his back), having broken the law of shedding blood, attempts to flee rather than face punishment and is gunned down by Braddock. Yet despite having broken the law against killing, Braddock goes apparently unpunished, establishing in the minds of the other man-beasts of the unfairness of the Law - they seem to ask silently, why can this man kill and go scot-free and we can't?, and the eventual murder of Montgomery at the hands of Dr Moreau himself reinforces the double-standards of The Law in their eyes, and they eventually rise and revolt against the doctor, killing him, destroying the compound in which he lives in and setting it on fire. Ironically, it is this very act of staging a collective uprising which brings out the "humanity" of the creatures, as it shows that they can after all, think and plan and not merely act on their basic instincts, as the scenes where they suspend the doctor on a rope and systematically destroy the House of Pain and release the captive animals show. So in a way, Dr Moreau's experiments were not a total failure as he thought, they just didn't turn out the way he anticipated.

There exist several film version of H.G. Wells' famous tale, including a very old one starring Charles Laughton & Bela Lugosi, and the much more known and hyped 90's version starring Marlon Brando. This 70's version is the most obscure of the bunch, but it certainly should appeal to horror fanatics as well as to admirers of Wells' writings. The 70's way of film-making (gritty special effects, cheap atmosphere of sleaze, violence …) fits the story very well because it basically is a very grotesque, far-fetched and strangely unsettling political allegory. Burt Lancaster this time depicts, impressively I may add, the titular "mad" scientist, Nigel Davenport stars as his unaware accomplice Montgomery and the intruding castaway Adrew Braddock is no less than Michael York; a personal favorite of mine. As everyone probably knows, Dr. Moreau lives isolated because his genetic research and experiments aren't exactly easy to justify. Convinced that the basic DNA of whatever living species can be altered into any other species of preference, Moreau's island runs full of guinea pigs. The wild animals he attempts to turn into people are subjected to human laws and whoever breaks the rules will be punished harshly. Braddock disapproves of his work and when he also shows a romantic interest in Moreau's gorgeous wife Maria, he becomes next in line for a whole new different and risky type of experiment. The tropical island setting is magnificent and the production definitely benefices from sublime camera-work and enchanting music. The costumes and make-up effects aren't particularly menacing (the guinea pigs actually look like ancestors of the Ewoks) but the last half hour is exhilaratingly violent and Dr. Moreau's ultimate fate is truly nightmarish, even for a cruel being like him.