Island of Lost Souls

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Cast & Crew

Charles Laughton
Dr. Moreau

Bela Lugosi
Sayer of the Law

Richard Arlen
Edward Parker

Leila Hyams
Ruth Thomas

Kathleen Burke
The Panther Woman - Lota

Arthur Hohl
Mr. Montgomery

Stanley Fields
Captain Davies

Paul Hurst
Captain Donahue

Hans Steinke
Ouran

Tetsu Komai
M'ling

Erle C. Kenton
Director

Waldemar Young
Screenwriter

Philip Wylie
Screenwriter

Karl Struss
Cinematographer

Fred A. Datig
Casting

Hans Dreier
Art Director

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Critic Reviews for Island of Lost Souls

Audience Reviews for Island of Lost Souls

• Dec 01, 2016

  This movie has great casting: Charles Laughton, playing the cruel genius Dr. Moreau who has been experimenting on animals to create a hairy group of man-beasts, Kathleen Burke as the cat-woman Lota, his only beautiful (and only female) creation, and Bela Lugosi as the 'Sayer of the Law', who intones among other things, "Are we not men?" (the line Devo would use in the title of their first album). The aura of the film is chilling as well, set on a tiny tropical island where Moreau carries out vivisections in the 'House of Pain', and eagerly tries to mate Lota with Edward Parker, a newcomer to the island who has been stranded there. Those scenes aren't incredibly erotic, but add some spice and were scandalous for the time. The special effects in 1932 were somewhat limited, but director Erle Kenton's use of shadows, tight shots on the faces of the troglodytes, and scenes were Moreau uses his whip to enforce his will on his creations create an eerie, claustrophobic effect. It's a little slow in getting started but at 71 minutes is otherwise well-paced. Definitely a classic horror film worth watching, if for nothing else, Laughton's brilliant performance.
  Antonius B Super Reviewer
• Oct 17, 2013

  The first and most fortunate adaptation of H.G. Wells' literary work. Released in the same year of Tod Browning's cult film "Freaks", also it does not shy away by showing very realistic and frightening make up effects, even if the former had real actors portraying the creatures, this picture is more elegant and elaborate. A brilliant Charles Laughton not only embodies the blindness and evil caused by hubris, but also humanizes his character.
  Pierluigi P Super Reviewer
• Sep 02, 2012

  Legendary makeup with a good, but familiar script with a twist.
  ZACHO D Super Reviewer
• May 05, 2012

  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), its 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.
  

  Alec B Super Reviewer

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