When initially released in 1977 Don Taylor’s version of H. G. Wells’ classic novel The Island Of Dr. Moreau was very much a morality tale of the times. Amidst a backdrop of growing intolerance for medical experiments on animals appeared a film wholeheartedly dealing with that very topic. The very experiments the titular doctor was carrying out seemed to be entirely relatable to audiences’ changing opinion but now, when such things are so abhorrently unacceptable, this is a film that suddenly feels very dated. To dismiss it however would be to ignore a strikingly interesting film.
Washed up on a strange island Braddock (Michael York) falls under the care of the mysterious Dr. Moreau (Burt Lancaster). Initially a guest, latterly a subject, Braddock soon discovers the true nature of the doctor’s experiments in combining the DNA of man and animal, with unpredictably mixed results.
Less a horror film and more an action adventure, The Island Of Dr. Moreau must be judged on its own merits and the time of its release. Michael York’s indignant upper class Brit remains firmly on the higher ground throughout, offering sympathy and understanding to the island’s mixed species inhabitants, even so far as falling in love with the only evident female. Lancaster’s bearded Moreau is perhaps less sinister than in other incarnations but is nonetheless just as insane, blindly pursuing his work in the face of potentially catastrophic consequences.
The film itself is stunning to look at. The sets and locations perfectly portray the Eden-like paradise setting for Moreau’s unnatural experiments. The creatures themselves are superbly crafted with each clearly signifying the unfortunate beast they developed from. And while the issues and moral stances central to the film’s narrative are valid in any era, today’s audiences may find them less shocking, with the subject matter being less subversive.
OVERALL SUMMARY
There is no doubt this is a film that is worth watching, if for no other reason than an attempt to eradicate the memory of John Frankenheimer’s 1996 bloated version featuring an uninterested Marlon Brando. This is a beautifully designed interpretation of the classic story and while perhaps not retaining the impact of its original release, is still a film worth seeking out.
