The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977/1996)
THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU (15)
D: Don Taylor
AIP/Cinema 77 (Skip Steloff & John
Temple-Smith)
US 1977
98 mins
Fantasy/Horror/Adventure
W: John Herman Shaner & Al Ramrus [based on the story
by H.G. Wells]
DP: Gerry Fisher
Ed: Marion Rothman
Mus: Laurence Rosenthal
Burt Lancaster (Dr. Moreau), Michael York (Andrew
Braddock), Nigel Davenport (Montgomery), Barbara Carrera (Maria), Richard Basehart (Sayer of the Law)
In the early 20th century, a sailor becomes shipwrecked on
an island where a mad scientist creates a group of half-man, half-beast creatures.
Certain elements of the production are incredibly well
done considering the age of the film, but the story is very much a weak link, serving only as a platform to showcase John Chambers' impressive makeup creations.
Remade in 1996.
4/10
THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU (15)
D: John Frankenheimer
Entertainment/New Line (Edward R. Pressman)
US 1996
95 mins
Fantasy/Horror/Adventure
W: Richard Stanley & Ron Hutchinson [based on the story by
H.G. Wells]
DP: William A. Fraker
Ed: Paul Rubell
Mus: Gary Chang
Marlon Brando (Dr. Moreau), Val Kilmer (Dr. Montgomery), David
Thewlis (Edward Douglas), Fairuza Balk (Aissa), Ron Perlman (Azazello)
Bigger budget remake of the above with the focus on CGI
effects rather than physical transformations using prosthetics and makeup effects.
The story manages to be even more boring and incoherent here,
with Marlon Brando chipping in with a batshit crazy cameo appearance.
The film was a flop, only grossing £28m back from its budget
of £50m.
3/10
