The Island of Dr. Moreau
1977  PG  SCIENCE FICTION  1h 39min
CAST— Burt Lancaster, Michael York, Nigel Davenport, Barbara Carrera, Richard Basehart
MUSIC— Laurence Rosenthal  DIRECTOR— Don Taylor  BASED ON— The Island of Doctor Moreau (novel), by H. G. Wells

     Rather murky interpretation of H. G. Wells’ tale of madness amid the animal kingdom. Drifting sailor Andrew Braddock (Michael York) land hos upon an island owned by one Dr. Moreau, played by Burt Lancaster. Immediately upon arrival sailor boy can tell that something’s up; he’s told to stay inside Moreau’s “compound”, a series of buildings surrounded by a high-walled perimeter (just why is left unsaid). But all is forgotten when he sees the exotic Maria, a woman who’s lived on the island for most of her life. It soon becomes apparent that Andrew’s trepidation was just when he discovers the nature of the beast; Moreau has been trying to give animals characteristics of human beings, at times more successful than others. Soon Andrew must struggle for his very sanity when Moreau’s God-complex becomes too much to bear. Slow-moving, slightly depressing, this could have used a boost in the chills and thrills dept.
OUR RATING— **
ORIGINAL— Island of Lost Souls (1933)
REMADE AS— The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)