After watching HG Wells adaptation of his novel THINGS TO COME it is something of a blessing that he wasn't able to write the screenplay of this version of THE ISLAND OF DOCTOR MOREAU . It has dated somewhat but at least screenwriters Waldemar Young and Philip Wylie have made a cinematic story that appeals to an audience . There some flaws to the film but at least characters being used as a mouth piece for the author's opinion isn't one of them . It goes without saying Wells hated this movie
The flaws centre around what could and couldn't be shown on film in the 1930s . Bare this in mind and perhaps the most remarkable thng you'll notice how close the screenwriters and director Erle C Kenton sail close to the wind at some points . The subplot of Moreau wanting Edward Parker to mate with a woman who was born a panther does get one's head spinning and it's not disguised in an overly sophisticated way either . Also interesting is how disturbing Moreau's fate is as he screams in the house of pain but no doubt the censors let this pass as he's the villain who has tampered with the fundamentals of nature and The Hays Code stated that in a cinematic film any immorality must be punished on screen . There's a consistency and logic in that case . Moreau has been an exceptional baddie changing the very fundamentals of nature therefore must suffer an exceptional on screen death . Interestingly this film was banned from British cinema until the 1950s
The cast are very good . Richard Arlen as Edward Parker makes for a good hero . He isn't given much character development but he' there to function as a manly matinée hunky hero which he does very well . Arlen also has an on screen chemistry with Kathleen Burke as the much hyped " Panther Woman " which is just as well because much of the film succeeds or fails with this chemistry . Even the supporting players like Lugosi , Hohl and Hurst make an impression . There is a slight flaw to Laughton's portrayal . Not in his performance but the fact that he seems to have a mustache and beard that has been painted on . It is rather distracting and puzzling since the other make up effects are very good
All in all this is a fairly impressive film . You have to be slightly forgiving and view it with a 1930s mindset rather a 2010 one but if you do it's a rather impressive film . Even the title sequence has some thought put in to it and one can't help wondering why it isn't better regarded . It could that the 1930s was something of a golden age where horror movies were concerned , or it could be that the subject matter caused it to be banned in some countries until a time when Hammer horror movies with their technicolor blood hit the cinema . Nevertheless it remains a pretty good atmospheric horror
The flaws centre around what could and couldn't be shown on film in the 1930s . Bare this in mind and perhaps the most remarkable thng you'll notice how close the screenwriters and director Erle C Kenton sail close to the wind at some points . The subplot of Moreau wanting Edward Parker to mate with a woman who was born a panther does get one's head spinning and it's not disguised in an overly sophisticated way either . Also interesting is how disturbing Moreau's fate is as he screams in the house of pain but no doubt the censors let this pass as he's the villain who has tampered with the fundamentals of nature and The Hays Code stated that in a cinematic film any immorality must be punished on screen . There's a consistency and logic in that case . Moreau has been an exceptional baddie changing the very fundamentals of nature therefore must suffer an exceptional on screen death . Interestingly this film was banned from British cinema until the 1950s
The cast are very good . Richard Arlen as Edward Parker makes for a good hero . He isn't given much character development but he' there to function as a manly matinée hunky hero which he does very well . Arlen also has an on screen chemistry with Kathleen Burke as the much hyped " Panther Woman " which is just as well because much of the film succeeds or fails with this chemistry . Even the supporting players like Lugosi , Hohl and Hurst make an impression . There is a slight flaw to Laughton's portrayal . Not in his performance but the fact that he seems to have a mustache and beard that has been painted on . It is rather distracting and puzzling since the other make up effects are very good
All in all this is a fairly impressive film . You have to be slightly forgiving and view it with a 1930s mindset rather a 2010 one but if you do it's a rather impressive film . Even the title sequence has some thought put in to it and one can't help wondering why it isn't better regarded . It could that the 1930s was something of a golden age where horror movies were concerned , or it could be that the subject matter caused it to be banned in some countries until a time when Hammer horror movies with their technicolor blood hit the cinema . Nevertheless it remains a pretty good atmospheric horror