Island of Lost Souls (The Island of Dr. Moreau) poster & wallpaper
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Charles Laughton, Bela Lugosi, Richard Arlen, Leila Hyams, Kathleen Burke ... see more see more... , Arthur Hohl , Stanley Fields , Bob Kortman , Hans Steinke , Harry Ekezian , Rosemary Grimes , Paul Hurst , George Irving , Joe Bonomo , Buster Crabbe , John George , Tetsu Komai , Alan Ladd , Bob Milasch , Constantine Romanoff , Jack Walters , Duke York , Randolph Scott , Robert P. Kerr , Panther Woman

This first film version of H.G. Wells' Island of Dr. Moreau stars Charles Laughton as Dr.Moreau, a dedicated but sadly misguided scientist who rules the roost on a remote island. Shipwrecked sailor Ed... read more read more...ward Parker Richard Arlen finds himself on Moreau's island, agreeing to stick around until another boat can come along and take him home. But that's not quite what Moreau has in mind: he'd rather Parker stay on the island and marry the exotic Lota (Kathleen Burke), who curiously possesses the characteristics of the panther. In fact, all the island's natives seem more animal than human, especially the hirsute Bela Lugosi. And why not? They are animals who've been transformed by Moreau into humanlike creatures via surgery. Moreau's plans to mate Parker and Lota are complicated by the arrival of Parker's fiancee Leila Hyams, who has been brought to the island by ship's captain Stanley Fields, one of Moreau's flunkies. When Moreau kills Fields for this insubordination, he makes the mistake of breaking one of the rules he himself has imposed on the island: That no creature shall kill another. Island of Lost Souls does its job of inducing goosebumps so well that one can forgive the cherubic excesses of Charles Laughton in his portrayal of Dr. Moreau. The film would be remade under Wells' original title in 1978, with Burt Lancaster in the Laughton role. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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76% liked it

1,911 ratings

Critics

95% liked it

19 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 11 min.

Directed by: Erle C. Kenton

Release Date: January 1, 1933

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DVD Release Date: September 1, 1993

Stats: 151 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (151)

  • rubystevens
    January 26, 2012
    rubystevens
    love laughton and he is dead creepy here but the bad makeup effects really put me off. the movie was banned for years for it's suggestion of bestiality and it is indeed very strange. kind of like 'the most dangerous game' only with mutants
  • fb100001493964409
    January 23, 2012
    fb100001493964409
    In the world of 1930s films, the pre-code era is looked upon as one of the greatest times for filmmaking. Hollywood hadn't cracked down on immoral thins being filmed. If anything was edited, it was usually sound clips that referenced God (the worst offending example was a horrifi... read morec edit on the 1931 "Frankenstein" and the "IT'S ALIVE" speech) and other little things. But most scenes with disturbing themes and deaths made their way to theaters unscathed. "Island of Lost Souls" is one of those films that Hollywood left relatively untouched. "Lost Souls" is not really scary, not in the sense that when you watch it you'll leap out of your seat in terror. Instead, it is relentlessly creepy with some weird themes that haven't even been thoroughly examined in desensitized times (mainly the ethics of bestiality). The only moment that might be regarded as scary happens almost right at the end of the movie, and let me say, I did leap off of my couch and shriek "OH MY GOD." In total, this is an underrated gem from the pre-code era, and now Criterion has finally released it on DVD and Blu-Ray (prior to last year, the only way to watch the film was on LaserDisc or VHS), so check it out.
  • kenstachnik
    January 3, 2012
    kenstachnik
    Hands down the best adaptation of the Island of Dr. Moreau. Now that's not saying a lot as the other adaptations are REALLY weak, but seeing Laughton and Lugosi work together is well worth the watch.
  • FilmFanatik
    November 11, 2011
    FilmFanatik
    Island of Lost Souls, being based on the H.G. Wells novel The Island of Dr. Moreau, is a masterpiece of the genre. Charles Laughton is absolutely flawless as the mad scientist. He's creepy, unforgiving and absolutely crazy, but at the same time, completely calm and under control.... read more It's an astonishing performance by one of film's finest artists. It's also interesting to see Bela Lugosi take such a minor role underneath so much make-up. You wouldn't even know it was him unless you read the credits. Overall, it's an amazing film that stands out as the best adaptation of the original novel, despite the detractors.
  • ajv2688
    September 6, 2010
    ajv2688
    This is the best movie about dr. moreau and the island of lost souls. If you're interested in mad scientist and haunted islands you should see this movie.
  • webalina
    June 10, 2007
    webalina
    Atmospheric flick about the dangers of taking science where it wasn't meant to go. Charles Laughton is the best of the Dr. Moreau's -- malevolent, sadistic, but truly believes that what he's doing is important to science.
  • moviewaffle
    January 11, 2012
    moviewaffle
    Kenton's adaptation of HG Wells' "Island of Doctor Moreau" has been an unfairly forgotten work of pre-code horror. Until it's bluray release late in 2011 it was unavailable on DVD, possibly due to it being a Paramount release. The Universal horrors of the era are widely available... read more but those of other studios haven't received the same attention.
    If you're unaware, the term "pre-code" refers to those movies made before the introduction of the Hays code in the thirties. For the first thirty-plus years of cinema it was "anything goes" as far as content was concerned. Traditionally with so many unconnected sects of Protestantism no single religious group had the power to challenge Hollywood on it's morality, or perceived lack thereof. At the start of the twentieth century however mass immigration from Italy, Poland, and Ireland led to Catholicism becoming America's single biggest religion. At first, partly due to widespread anti-Catholicism, Hollywood turned a blind eye to the fact that a huge group of potential cinemagoers were avoiding the "palaces of sin" on the advice of their priest. With the coming of the depression in the thirties Hollywood realised it was no longer viable to ignore such a huge audience and film-makers were forced to play by a set of rules imposed by religious leaders and overseen by former Postmaster General Will Hays.
    Had Kenton made "IOLS" a couple of years later he would have had to seriously tone things down.
    When Arlen finds himself on a strange island after being shipwrecked he encounters the mad Doctor Moreau, played with manic relish by Laughton, and the natives who have fallen victim to his experimenting. Moreau has been creating a race of "Manimals", including a panther woman who he hopes will mate with Arlen. This kind of implied bestiality could only have come pre-code. Arlen almost does the deed but then notices the claws on the hands of his feline lover.
    This movie features some fantastic make-up work, the manimals are downright gruesome. I can only imagine how audiences must have reacted to such sights in 1932. Bela Lugosi is hidden under a face of fur as the leader of the natives who ultimately turn on Laughton.
    If you're a fan of classic horror or even "Planet of the Apes" then this has to go on your to-watch list.
  • staindslaved
    December 19, 2011
    staindslaved
    "Are We Not Men!" Great script with some decent performances, unfortunately the make-up effects were probably not advanced enough to really make the shocking and lasting impact that this film should have had. The romantic lust between the two leads also suffers from the product... read moreion codes of the time. I think this would have been a much better film if it was made in the 60's or 70's. The actor who plays Moreau does a fine job and Bela Lugosi is a stand-out in his role as one of the jungle "men". It's great to see Bela Lugosi in anything and always a treat when he's not being Dracula.
  • fb20312798
    May 5, 2012
    fb20312798
    Its a decidedly fun and lurid little film. I love how the brief running time is used to break down the story to its most basic levels. No scene is wasted but it also never feels rushed. While its clearly a pre Hayes Code film (the suggestion of bestiality almost made me faint), i... read morets still reserved. Tension is drawn from the constant potential of mayhem and when it finally does unleash, the ending gets fairly disturbing even by today's standards. Oh and Laughton gives a reserved and complex performance that may be a little too good for this movie.
  • fb208103125
    November 10, 2011
    fb208103125
    H.G. Wells' first film version stars Charles Laughton as Dr. Moreau and explores some dark and haunting themes especially for the year it was made. While some of the scenes are over the top and lines a little melodramatic but overall very good from its leads. The half man half be... read moreast extras are quite disturbing and prove their human counterparts fears in the end of the film. The fact that back in its release days it was edited and yet still made theater patrons vomit may seem a little too hard to believe, but this was nearly 80 years ago after all! A great horror film and good adaptation of an engaging and controversial story.

View All Island of Lost Souls (The Island of Dr. Moreau) Reviews

Critic Reviews

October 17, 2011
TIME Magazine

Laughton, as he managed to do in Devil and the Deep and The Sign of the Cross, gives the role of the villain a peculiarly horrifying quality by humanizing it far beyond the demands of the script. Full Review

Variety Staff
October 17, 2011
Variety Staff, Variety

While the action is not designed to appeal to other than the credulous, there are undoubtedly some horror sequences which are unrivaled. Full Review

Dave Kehr
October 17, 2011
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

It's a grand, hokey chiller, dripping with sex and sadism and photographed in dense, Sternbergian shadows by the great cinematographer Karl Struss. Full Review

Mordaunt Hall
January 28, 2006
Mordaunt Hall, New York Times

Although the attempt to horrify is not accomplished with any marked degree of subtlety, there is no denying that some of the scenes are ingenously fashioned and are, therefore, interesting. Full Review

Tim Brayton
March 14, 2012
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy

What pushes it over the edge into the realm of actual genius... is Laughton's absurdly good performance as Moreau, one of the great pieces of horror movie acting. Full Review

R. L. Shaffer
January 29, 2012
R. L. Shaffer, IGN DVD

An eerie, atmospheric pre-code horror tale, adapted from H.G. Wells classic book, The Island of Dr. Moreau. Full Review

James Kendrick
November 1, 2011
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk

a disturbing and provocative horror gem Full Review

Ian Nathan
October 17, 2011
Ian Nathan, Empire Magazine

This may have been made (and banned) in the 1930s, but it remains a neatly disturbing horror with a definitive ending. Full Review

Scott Nash
September 7, 2010
Scott Nash, Three Movie Buffs

Laughton is great, but overall misses the mark. Full Review

Steve Crum
January 10, 2009
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Chilling, unforgettable Dr. Moreau telling with creeps supplied by Laughton and Lugosi.

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    • Ruth Thomas: [hearing chanting] What's that?
    • Dr. Moreau: The natives, they have a curious ceremony. Mr. Parker has witnessed it.
    • Ruth Thomas: Tell us about it, Edward.
    • Edward Parker: Oh, it's... it's nothing.
    • Dr. Moreau: They are restless tonight.
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  • Who starred as Dr. Moreau in the 1932 film of "The Island of Lost Souls"?  Answer »
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