HorrorScience Fiction

Island of Lost Souls

- TERROR! Stalked the Brush-Choked Island...Where Men Who Were Animals Sought the Girl Who Was All-Human!

An obsessed scientist conducts profane experiments in evolution, eventually establishing himself as the self-styled demigod to a race of mutated, half-human abominations.

Release Date : 1932-12-24

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Paramount Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles : The Island of Dr. Moreau

Cast

Character Name : Dr. Moreau

Original Name : Charles Laughton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Edward Parker

Original Name : Richard Arlen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ruth Thomas

Original Name : Leila Hyams

Gender : Female

Character Name : The Sayer of the Law

Original Name : Bela Lugosi

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lota the Panther Woman

Original Name : Kathleen Burke

Gender : Female

Character Name : Montgomery

Original Name : Arthur Hohl

Gender : Male

Character Name : Capt. Davies

Original Name : Stanley Fields

Gender : Male

Character Name : Capt. Donahue

Original Name : Paul Hurst

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ouran

Original Name : Hans Steinke

Gender : Male

Character Name : M`ling

Original Name : Tetsu Komai

Gender : Male

Character Name : Consul

Original Name : George Irving

Gender : Male

Character Name : Undetermined Role (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Bardette

Gender : Male

Character Name : Undetermined Role (uncredited)

Original Name : Evangelus Berbas

Gender : Male

Character Name : Beast (uncredited)

Original Name : Joe Bonomo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pig Man - a Little Beast (uncredited)

Original Name : Buster Brodie

Gender : Male

Character Name : Beast (uncredited)

Original Name : Jacob Dance

Gender : Male

Character Name : Seaman (uncredited)

Original Name : James Dime

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gola (uncredited)

Original Name : Harry Ekezian

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gorilla on Pier (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Gemora

Gender : Male

Character Name : Beast (uncredited)

Original Name : John George

Gender : Male

Character Name : Samoan Girl (uncredited)

Original Name : Rosemary Grimes

Gender : Female

Character Name : Undetermined Role (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert P. Kerr

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Hogan (uncredited)

Original Name : Bob Kortman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Beast (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Milasch

Gender : Male

Character Name : Beast (uncredited)

Original Name : Constantine Romanoff

Gender : Male

Character Name : Furry Manimal (uncredited)

Original Name : Schlitzie

Gender : Male

Character Name : Undetermined Role (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Walters

Gender : Male

Character Name : Beast (uncredited)

Original Name : Duke York

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

We are Devo! There's an island somewhere out there in the goddamn foggy laden deep blue sea. Here resides Dr. Moreau (Charles Laughton), he has a God complex and he is conducting experiments, turning animals into humans. Unsurprisingly and terrifyingly the results are not exactly a success! Tod Browning's Freaks was released this same year, and when watching Erle C. Kenton's Island of Lost Souls, it makes for the perfect companion piece. Full of haunting imagery, aided no end by cinematographer Karl Struss' stunning photography, it's a film that stays with you long after the end credits have rolled. Berserker science marries up to human chaos to provoke and trouble in equal measure. Laughton gives top villainy, whilst Waldemar Young and and Philip Wylie adapt from the H.G. Wells novel with a cheeky glint in their eyes. The 1930s had some great horror movies, this is up with the best of them. 8/10

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-06-13

There is something almost "Hitler-esque" about Charles Laughton's performance in this stunningly eerie adaptation of HG Wells' novel "The Island of Dr. Moreau". I have to admit to a certain bewilderment as to the name change - if anything, it rather detracts from the original - but hey, I'm nitpicking. Laughton is perfect as the charismatic genius who is experimenting to turn animals into human beings. Not for us here, is that typically maniacal lunatic-scientist style of characterisation; our protagonist here is cold, calculating and evil - but he also has a structured - if entirely flawed - scientific theory with a goal that aims to facilitate his return to London to prove those previously sceptical of his claims that he was right. Were it not for the arrival of "Edward Parker" (Richard Arlen) who had been unceremoniously dumped from a passing freighter; and whom he introduces to his most promising subject "The Panther Woman" he might well have succeeded. This external intervention, however, changes all the dynamics on the island and we head to the ultimate clash of personalities. Bela Lugosi features sparingly, and - to be honest - his part could have been played by any tall man in a beard (real, or otherwise) and Arthur Hohl as his rather too acquiescent sidekick "Montgomery" lacked any sort of screen presence. The lighting contributes hugely to the spookily haunting imagery; more than making up for the, well, make up! It's all about Laughton - his menacing, almost megalomanic performance is captivating.