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This first film version of H.G. Wells' Island of Dr. Moreau stars Charles Laughton as Dr.Moreau, a dedicated but sadly misguided scientist who rules the roost on a remote island. Shipwrecked sailor Edward Parker Richard Arlen finds himself on Moreau's island, agreeing to stick around until another boat can come along and take him home. But that's not quite what Moreau has in mind: he'd rather Parker stay on the island and marry the exotic Lota (Kathleen Burke), who curiously possesses the characteristics of the panther. In fact, all the island's natives seem more animal than human, especially the hirsute Bela Lugosi. And why not? They are animals who've been transformed by Moreau into humanlike creatures via surgery. Moreau's plans to mate Parker and Lota are complicated by the arrival of Parker's fiancee Leila Hyams, who has been brought to the island by ship's captain Stanley Fields, one of Moreau's flunkies. When Moreau kills Fields for this insubordination, he makes the mistake of breaking one of the rules he himself has imposed on the island: That no creature shall kill another. Island of Lost Souls does its job of inducing goosebumps so well that one can forgive the cherubic excesses of Charles Laughton in his portrayal of Dr. Moreau. The film would be remade under Wells' original title in 1978, with Burt Lancaster in the Laughton role.
Condition:NEW. Brand New Factory Sealed
Cast & Crew - Island of Lost Souls
Charles Laughton
(Films)(Biography)(Music) Dr. Moreau
Bela Lugosi
(Films)(Biography)(Music) Sayer of the Law
Richard Arlen
(Films)(Biography) Edward Parker
Leila Hyams
(Films)(Biography) Ruth Thomas
Kathleen Burke Lota, the Panther Woman
Arthur Hohl Montgomery
Stanley Fields Capt. of the Covena
Bob Kortman Hogan
Hans Steinke Ouran
Harry Ekezian Gola
Rosemary Grimes Samoan Girl
Paul Hurst Capt. Donahue
George Irving American Consul
Joe Bonomo Actor
Larry "Buster" Crabbe Actor
John George Actor
Robert Kerr Actor
Tetsu Komai M'ling
Alan Ladd Ape Man
Bob Milasch Actor
Constantine Romanoff Actor
Randolph Scott Bit Part
Jack Walters Actor
Panther Woman Actor
Duke York Ape Man
Technical Credits
Erle C. Kenton Director
Gordon Jennigns Special Effects
Karl Struss Cinematographer
Wally Westmore Makeup
Philip Wylie Screenwriter
Waldemar Young Screenwriter
Product Details
Actors: Charles Laughton, Richard Arlen, Leila Hyams, Bela Lugosi, George Irving
Directors: Erle C. Kenton
Format: Black & White, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English
Subtitles: English
Region: (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Criterion Collection
DVD Release Date: October 25, 2011
Run Time: 70 minutes
Special Features:
Audio commentary featuring film historian Gregory Mank;
New conversation between filmmaker John Landis,
Oscar-winning makeup artist Rick Baker,
and genre expert Bob Burns;
New interviews with horror film historian David J. Skal;
filmmaker Richard Stanley, the original director of the ill-fated 1996 adaptation;
and Gerald Casale and Mark Mothersbaugh of the band Devo; Short 1976 film by Devo,
featuring the songs "Secret Angent Man" and "Jack Homo";
Stills gallery; Theatrical trailer;
Plus: a booklet featuring an essay by writer Christine Smallwood
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