Island of Dr. Moreau, The |
  • USA • 1977 • 99m •   • Directed by: Don Taylor. • Starring: Burt Lancaster, Michael York, Nigel Davenport, Barbara Carrera, Richard Basehart, Nick Cravat, The Great John L., Bob Ozman, Fumio Demura, Gary Baxley, John Gillespie, David S. Cass Sr.. • Music by: Laurence Rosenthal.      Shipwrecked Andrew Braddock washes ashore on a remote, tropical island in the Pacific. There he is attended to by the seemingly kindly Dr. Moreau and his dour assistant Montgomery. Also living in Moreau's stockaded fort is the beautiful and exotic Maria, to whom Braddock is immediately attracted. The island's natives appear very strange to Braddock, who questions both Moreau and Montgomery on their unusual appearances and behavior. Not satisfied with their explanations, Braddock discovers that these monstrosities are actually wild predator animals that have been imported to the island and, as a result of genetic manipulation and surgery, have taken on human characteristics, including rudimentary speech. Lionmen, hyenamen, bearmen, and other mutant monsters are kept in check by their fear of Moreau's whip and surgical laboratory, ''The House of Pain.'' Disgusted by these unnatural experiments and cruelty, Braddock attempts to stop Moreau's work... with tragic consequences.
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Review:
Andrew Braddock (Michael York) is a shipwrecked engineer who finds himself casts adrift on the shores of an unknown island. When he goes in search of water the only other survivor is carried off by an unseen force. Unaware of this Braddock is being tracked as well and in running finds himself caught in a ground trap, saved actually from what was behind him.
When he wakes he finds himself in bed and indoors, a man named Montgomery (Nigel Davenport) at bedside. Montgomery tells him he is the guest of Dr. Moreau, his employer and it isn't long before Moreau (Burt Lancaster) himself shows. Braddock is welcomed and told that it will be a while before another boat arrives.
When feeling up to it, Braddock gets out of bed and sees Moreau talking to a young woman. He finds out her name is Maria (Barbara Carrera) and that as Montgomery puts it, is Moreau's. He rescued her as a young child and she is now willingly in his debt. Invited to dinner Moreau finds himself called away to handle a situation on the island and excuses himself.
All moves along at a quick pace here with Braddock eventually learning what was out there in the jungle and what Moreau is up to. SPOILER ALERT. It seems that Moreau has been experimenting in gene therapy, converting animals into human beings but not quite. That elusive last element still eludes him and rather than humans he's created humanimals, animals standing on two legs with the ability to talk and think and yet still tied into those instincts placed there by the creator. How Braddock reacts, what transpires when he finds a group of these humanimals and the plans Moreau have for him unfold before the final credits.
Based on the novel by H.G. Wells, the story has been used in several movies as well as this one. It is actually the fourth time the story was used. The movie is extremely well crafted with some great cinematography, acting, directing and some find makeup effects. At the same time there is nothing to make it stand out above the rest. It's well-made and not quite generic in how that comes across but not exceptional at the same time.
And yet the movie never fails to entertain. The story holds your interests as does the telling of it which could have gone terribly wrong. Instead we're witness to one star whose glow was beginning to fade in Lancaster (who still remains a strong presence), an actor who was at his peak in popularity in York and an actress who made a splash with this film only to never rise much higher. Their combined efforts make the movie an enjoyable old style story that leans more towards science fiction than horror that will have you staying with it till the end.
Olive Films has released this one with a minimum of extras including a commentary track, a visual essay and the original trailer. Still, the picture clarity is above most and the value is there. Fans will want to pick the film up, AIP completest will want to add it to their collection and horrorsci-fi fans will want to enjoy it as well.
Review by Mark Turner from the Internet Movie Database.
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