Charles Laughton is the original Dr. Moreau, the mad scientist who turns wild beasts into something resembling human beings but still containing their animalistic natures. it is up to new arrival Richard Arlen to stop him, messing around with nature in a way no man should have the power to do such. While Arlen is in love with the pretty Leila Hyams, he becomes the target of Panther woman Kathleen Burke. sultry and beautiful, Burke obviously wants to make Arlen her mate, but even in human form she is very catlike and becomes obsessively jealous of Hyams.
Then there is Bela Lugosi, playing a small but consequential role as the wise speaker who stands up against Laughton for messing around with nature and obviously offending God. Unrecognizable under a beard covered face, Lugosi gives a sense of his performance that is touching yes field with anger for what Lawton has done to alter their appearances.the tension builds into a horrific finale where time is of the essence for Arlen to get off the island + 4 the transformed animals to finally get their vengeance against Lawton in the most excruciatingly painful way.
One of the great science fiction films of the golden age of Hollywood, Island of Lost souls has been remade several times unsuccessfully. The 1977 version attempted to play it straight, but came off as very dated. even the presence of Burt Lancaster of Dr. Moreau couldn't save it from failure. be even worse we make in the 1990s with Marlon Brando as Dr. Moreau is considered a disaster in every sense of the word. it resembles a cartoon more than a reflection of its original HG Wells story, and it is obvious to me that the story needs to be left alone. Obviously, Hollywood knew how to make these types of films in the 1930s but they appear majorly dated or melodramatic when recreated today.
An excellent performance by Charles Laughton in the very same year he won an Oscar for playing Henry the 8this a strong leading character and certainly much more memorable then the unfortunate remix with Lancaster and Brando. Latin could be happy but here, he tones it down when he needs to and brings it up for the more complex moments of his character development. As for Kathleen Burke, she makes a lovely sight as the Panther woman, even wearing Panther's skin as human clothing. barely saying a word, Burke makes the feline aspects of her character obvious, doing more with less then the actors who played this part in the remakes.
Then there is Bela Lugosi, playing a small but consequential role as the wise speaker who stands up against Laughton for messing around with nature and obviously offending God. Unrecognizable under a beard covered face, Lugosi gives a sense of his performance that is touching yes field with anger for what Lawton has done to alter their appearances.the tension builds into a horrific finale where time is of the essence for Arlen to get off the island + 4 the transformed animals to finally get their vengeance against Lawton in the most excruciatingly painful way.
One of the great science fiction films of the golden age of Hollywood, Island of Lost souls has been remade several times unsuccessfully. The 1977 version attempted to play it straight, but came off as very dated. even the presence of Burt Lancaster of Dr. Moreau couldn't save it from failure. be even worse we make in the 1990s with Marlon Brando as Dr. Moreau is considered a disaster in every sense of the word. it resembles a cartoon more than a reflection of its original HG Wells story, and it is obvious to me that the story needs to be left alone. Obviously, Hollywood knew how to make these types of films in the 1930s but they appear majorly dated or melodramatic when recreated today.
An excellent performance by Charles Laughton in the very same year he won an Oscar for playing Henry the 8this a strong leading character and certainly much more memorable then the unfortunate remix with Lancaster and Brando. Latin could be happy but here, he tones it down when he needs to and brings it up for the more complex moments of his character development. As for Kathleen Burke, she makes a lovely sight as the Panther woman, even wearing Panther's skin as human clothing. barely saying a word, Burke makes the feline aspects of her character obvious, doing more with less then the actors who played this part in the remakes.