Island of Lost Souls” was released on January 12, 1933. The first film adaptation of H.G. Wells “The Island of Dr. Moreau”, most fans and critics agree the original Paramount production remains the best of the three films to-date that have been based on the book. Charles Laughton stars as Dr. Moreau, a scientist obsessed with accelerating evolution by surgically transforming animals into human beings. The half-animal/half-human results of his experiments inhabit an island with Moreau, with him set up as a kind of demi-god. (spoilers ahead) His manimals are kept under his control by his foreboding threats of punishment in the House of Pain – the surgery where Moreau created his creatures. Chief among the latter is the Sayer of the Law (Bela Lugosi), a preacher/lawgiver to his fellow manimals, and Lota the Panther Woman (Kathleen Burke), the most human of the creations. Lota falls in love with the shipwrecked Edward Parker (Richard Arlen), and when Moreau plans to mate the animal woman with the human man, his actions lead to Moreaus murder of a ship captain – a transgression of his cardinal law not to spill blood. As a result, he loses his tenuous grasp over his manimals and comes to a grisly and not-unexpected end. Wells himself wasnt fond of the film, saying that its horrific tone overshadowed his intended philosophies. And indeed it likely does, but not more so than in most commercial film adaptations of literature. The films horror - most effective in Moreaus climactic death, the agony of which, though played offscreen, is made acutely plain to the viewer by Moreaus shrieks as hes vivisected in his House of Pain at the hands of his manimals - was so effective that the film was banned in the U.K. until July of 1958. Laughtons sweaty performance as the amoral Moreau is a highlight of 30s and 40s mad doctor movies, with Lugosis tormented Sayer of the Law a close creepy second in the films unnerving cast of oddities. The latter are especially gruesome as they rush toward camera in a series of firelit shots, pursuing the hapless Moreau to his ghastly doom in the films closing minutes. Island of Lost Souls” enjoys something of a position of honor in the music world, with popular 70s/80s new-wave bands Devo and Oingo-Boingo featuring Moreaus laws in their song lyrics. “Are We Not Men?” was the title of Devos 1978 debut album, and Oingo-Boingos “No Spill Blood” features the refrain, “What is The Law? No spill blood!” Early lyrics of Van Halens “House of Pain” referenced the film, although they were changed for the songs incarnation on the “1984” album. Other lesser-known groups have homaged the film over the years, most notably the horror-rock/punk/metal band, Manimals. The films 1977 and 1996 remakes, the first starring Burt Lancaster as Moreau and the latter Marlon Brando, both use the title of the novel. The 1933 original is available from Criterion on both DVD and Blu-ray. Besides the usual picture and sound quality and scholarly attention to historical detail expected from Criterion. the discs feature commentary and interviews with filmmakers, film historians, and the founding members of Devo. The trailer linked to below includes commentary by “Schlock” (1973) and “An American Werewolf in London” (1981) director, John Landis.
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 05:00:12 +0000
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