L'île du docteur 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

Especially if you don't know what this movie is about before you're going to watch it, you'll be gripped by its mysterious and tense build up.

To be frank, this movie has one of the best and most tense story build ups I have seen in a long time. For a long time it remains unclear what exactly is going on and what the movie will be about. As the movie progresses the movie does loose some of its power and tension, when it falls into some obvious clichés and formulaic genre elements, plus some just plain odd and poorly done sequences. But all is forgiven. All in all this version of the H.G. Wells remains a well done one, with plenty of enough tense and mysterious moments in it, which absolutely makes this movie distinct itself from other genre movies. In a way the movie and its build up and atmosphere really reminded me of "Planet of the Apes (1968)"

The build up and atmosphere is amazing in the first halve. It doesn't use any fancy tricks but leaves lots of things up to the viewers own imagination. The second halve is however quite different and in fact is nothing more than a typical genre piece from the '70's. Everything gets explained but at the same time everything also is far from believable. The horror/monster elements are hardly refreshing or new and in a way degrade the story- and the movie in general. It definitely makes the second halve of the movie not as good as the first but the first halve builds up so many things in a great way, that the second halve can't really ruin it that much. "The Island of Dr. Moreau" at all times remains a perfectly good watchable movie that is unique and a standout in its genre.

Burt Lancaster does a good job at keeping his role simple and mysterious. Michael York works out way better as the main hero than you at first would expect.

The settings are nice and so is the rest of the visual look. The make-up effects might look perhaps a bit outdated in todays perspective but they're actually quite above par. Also the musical score from Laurence Rosenthal is surprising great and works effective in the movie.

Just forget the '96 version. This movie is in my opinion surprisingly a real must-see!

8/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

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.

On a desolate island a man (Michael York) discovers that its inhabitants are experimental animals being turned into strange looking humans, all of it the work of a visionary doctor (Burt Lancaster) , as he's horrified to uncover experiment transforming beasts into humans , Humanimals . The mad doctor isolated on the remote island has spent years creating half-men , half-animals , some real abominations . Acceptable adaptation based on H.G. Wells' novel realized by and with remarkable makeup by John Chambers . It's an excitingly produced remake of 1933's ¨Island of the lost souls¨ with Lancaster heading a solid casting as a nutty doctor who develops a process of transforming animals into half-humans at an desolated tropical island . Through experimentation Moreau-Burt has upset the balance of nature . It starts when Michael York is shipwrecked at sea and arrives in a strange island where he's terrified to discover the terrible genetic experiments realized by Dr. Moreau .

Passable horror-fantasy chiller that is developed up and down with some grotesque moments and in other side contains eerie and thrilling scenes. It results to be a strong rendition of H.G. Wells' novel about an isolated scientific who has spent several years creating half-animals turning beasts into half-human . Cast is frankly well. Lancaster's sturdy acting and good secondary casting as Richard Bashehart displaying a magnificent portrayal of one of the beasts ,the law-sayer , Nigel Davenport and a gorgeous Barbara Carrera . Watchable by excellent makeup by the late John Chambers . Colorful cinematography by the classic cameraman Gerry Fisher and thrilling musical score by Laurence Rosenthal. The motion picture is well directed by Don Taylor . He was an actor and director as TV as cinema , he played one of the leads in the Army-Air Force production of Hart's play, "Winged Victory¨ . Returning to civilian life, Taylor resumed his work in pictures with a top role in the trend-setting crime drama ¨The naked city (1948)¨ and played successful films as ¨Destination Gobi , Battleground and Stalag 17¨. In later years Taylor became a film and TV director, being nominated for an Emmy for his direction of an episode of "Night Gallery" (1969). Don met his wife Hazel Court when he directed her in a 1958 episode of "Alfred Hitchcock presents" (1955). Taylor was an expert filmmaker on adventures genre as ¨Adventures of Tom Sawyer¨ , Terror as ¨Damien : Omen 2¨ and science fiction as ¨Island of Dr. Moreau¨, ¨Escape from Planet of Apes¨, and ¨The final of countdown¨. Rating : Good . Acceptable and passable fantasy-terror fare although better viewed in big screen . The movie will appeal to Burt Lancaster devotees who will want to check out his excessive performance .

Other adaptation based on H.G. Wells' known novel are the following : The classic of 1933 titled ¨The island of lost souls¨ by Erle C. Kenton with Charles Laughton , Kathleen Burke , Bela Lugosi and Richard Arlen ; and remade in 1996 , retelling by John Frankenheimer with Marlon Brando -who hams it up a bit- , David Twellis ,Ron Perlman , Fauriza Balk , William Hootkins and Temuera Morrison

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.