Rating: 
Summary: Charles Laughton in one of the best Thirties horror films
Review: "Island of Lost Souls," the 1932 adaptation of H. G. Wells' "Island of Dr. Moreau," features Charles Laughton in one of the best mad scientist performances you are going to find. This is not the ranting mad genius personified by Colin Clive in "Frankenstein," but a much more tempered madman who provides less obvious hints as to his insanity. The story begins with Edward Parker (Richard Arlen) being rescued from the sea by the ship Covena, which is delivering animals in cages to Dr. Moreau's Island. After a fight with the ship's captain, Parker ends up on the island, where the good doctor takes his visitor into his home, after using his whip to scare away man-like creatures in the jungle. On his island retreat, Moreau has been experimenting with turning animals into creatures capable of speaking. With Parker on the island Moreau can find out if Lota (Kathleen Burke), who has been evolved from a panther, can bear a child. But when Parker discovers Moreau in his "house of pain," doing vivisection, the horrible truth of what is happening on the island comes out. Meanwhile, Parker's fiancé, Ruth (Leila Hyams), arrives looking for her beloved. One of the most fascinating parts of this nightmarish film is how Moreau plays god with not only the bodies but also the minds of his creation. He has taught them "the law," which is not to walk on all fours and not to spill blood. As Bela Lugosi, playing the Sayer of the Law solemnly asks: "Are we not men?" It is when the animal-men come to a different answer to that question that "Island of Lost Souls" proves itself to be one of the best horror films of the 1930s. Director Erle C. Kenton does the most with the atmospheric setting, giving Laughton a perfect stage for his mad experiments. You will never recognize them, but both Buster Crabbe and Alan Ladd appear as beast men (yes, Randolph Scott is in the film, but he has a bit part as a "real" human). This story has been remade, as both uncredited versions (1959's "Terror Is a Man" and 1972's "The Twilight People") as well as under the novel's title in 1977, with Burt Lancaster as the title doctor, and again in 1996 with Marlon Brando. But with all things considered, "Island of Lost Souls" remains the best of the bunch, even though it offended the author. In fact, it was banned in England and parts of the United States (I assume because of the implied bestiality), which is always a strong recommendation that a horror film deserves to be checked out at least once.
Rating:
Summary: Charles Laughton in one of the best Thirties horror films
Review: "Island of Lost Souls," the 1932 adaptation of H. G. Wells' "Island of Dr. Moreau," features Charles Laughton in one of the best mad scientist performances you are going to find. This is not the ranting mad genius personified by Colin Clive in "Frankenstein," but a much more tempered madman who provides less obvious hints as to his insanity. The story begins with Edward Parker (Richard Arlen) being rescued from the sea by the ship Covena, which is delivering animals in cages to Dr. Moreau's Island. After a fight with the ship's captain, Parker ends up on the island, where the good doctor takes his visitor into his home, after using his whip to scare away man-like creatures in the jungle. On his island retreat, Moreau has been experimenting with turning animals into creatures capable of speaking. With Parker on the island Moreau can find out if Lota (Kathleen Burke), who has been evolved from a panther, can bear a child. But when Parker discovers Moreau in his "house of pain," doing vivisection, the horrible truth of what is happening on the island comes out. Meanwhile, Parker's fiancé, Ruth (Leila Hyams), arrives looking for her beloved. One of the most fascinating parts of this nightmarish film is how Moreau plays god with not only the bodies but also the minds of his creation. He has taught them "the law," which is not to walk on all fours and not to spill blood. As Bela Lugosi, playing the Sayer of the Law solemnly asks: "Are we not men?" It is when the animal-men come to a different answer to that question that "Island of Lost Souls" proves itself to be one of the best horror films of the 1930s. Director Erle C. Kenton does the most with the atmospheric setting, giving Laughton a perfect stage for his mad experiments. You will never recognize them, but both Buster Crabbe and Alan Ladd appear as beast men (yes, Randolph Scott is in the film, but he has a bit part as a "real" human). This story has been remade, as both uncredited versions (1959's "Terror Is a Man" and 1972's "The Twilight People") as well as under the novel's title in 1977, with Burt Lancaster as the title doctor, and again in 1996 with Marlon Brando. But with all things considered, "Island of Lost Souls" remains the best of the bunch, even though it offended the author. In fact, it was banned in England and parts of the United States (I assume because of the implied bestiality), which is always a strong recommendation that a horror film deserves to be checked out at least once.
Rating: 
Summary: A valuable piece of the Universal Monster Era.
Review: ...I was surprised by this film because I hadn't ever heard
much about it. It's on a par with other Universal fright
features from the same era, but is distinguished on two
fronts: first, it has some fine location work; second,
it seems to have eluded the censors of its time. (My
bet is that it snuck into theatres before the Hays office
came to power.) There's some fairly frank blasphemy and
overt sexual talk from the characters, a kinky looking
broad running around in a pair of matching handkerchiefs,
and, best of all, a remarkably vivid end for Dr. Moreau. I can't stand any of the other adaptations of Wells's
"Dr Moreau", but this one isn't half bad. For instance,
unlike the films of our day, this one introduces its
man-beasts not with a sudden close-up and a musical
sting, but merely by having them lingering around, until
your eye picks them up and you wonder, "Hey, that guy
over there has a really hairy back!" The film is a product
of a completely different era, and that seems to help its
story.
Rating:
Summary: A valuable piece of the Universal Monster Era.
Review: ...I was surprised by this film because I hadn't ever heard
much about it. It's on a par with other Universal fright
features from the same era, but is distinguished on two
fronts: first, it has some fine location work; second,
it seems to have eluded the censors of its time. (My
bet is that it snuck into theatres before the Hays office
came to power.) There's some fairly frank blasphemy and
overt sexual talk from the characters, a kinky looking
broad running around in a pair of matching handkerchiefs,
and, best of all, a remarkably vivid end for Dr. Moreau. I can't stand any of the other adaptations of Wells's
"Dr Moreau", but this one isn't half bad. For instance,
unlike the films of our day, this one introduces its
man-beasts not with a sudden close-up and a musical
sting, but merely by having them lingering around, until
your eye picks them up and you wonder, "Hey, that guy
over there has a really hairy back!" The film is a product
of a completely different era, and that seems to help its
story.
Rating: 
Summary: Uncanny and ahead of its time
Review: A superb adaptation of H.G. Well's frightening turn of the century novel, The Island of Doctor Moreau, this film stars Charles Laughton who plays the vivisectionist immoderate, Moreau, with a strangeness not often seen in today's cinema. Made in 1932 the progress of the story follows Well's idea fairly close. When I first read the novel about 8 years ago I was terrified. I must admit the film did not have the same effect but is still unique in in own right. After being rescued by a less than cordial sea captain, Edward Parker (played by Richard Arlen) is transported to the mysterious island and basically forced to be a prisoner of the Doctor's whims. We are introduced to some of Moreau's perverse experiments when Parker and a woman, who herself is one of the more successful vivisection experiments, try to explore the island's mysteries, and find a whole population of animal/humans inhabiting the island's interior. One thing leads to another and the island's animal/men begin to revolt and seize control killing Moreau in the process. Parker is able to escape although his animal/woman friend dies helping him and his fiancee (who had recently arrived on her own search and rescue mission) reach safety. Some of the special effects and fighting scenes are [not up to par] but the film maintains interest and is worth the price.
Rating:
Summary: ARE WE NOT MEN?
Review: Atmospheric thiller from Mr. Kenton. Laughton, one of the finest screen actors ever is fun to watch wether he is or is not over the top. The intensity of this actor is off the charts. His film legacy is stunning, you cant take your eyes off of him..even though he no notable features. Lugosi plays it for real in a somewhat campy arena.. From " The Big Clock" to " Les Miserables" to The Hunchback" Laughton reigns supreme
Rating:
Summary: ARE WE NOT MEN?
Review: Atmospheric thiller from Mr. Kenton. Laughton, one of the finest screen actors ever is fun to watch wether he is or is not over the top. The intensity of this actor is off the charts. His film legacy is stunning, you cant take your eyes off of him..even though he no notable features. Lugosi plays it for real in a somewhat campy arena.. From " The Big Clock" to " Les Miserables" to The Hunchback" Laughton reigns supreme
Rating:
Summary: Laughton and Lugosi are fantastic!
Review: Charles Laughton and Bela Lugosi perform brilliantly in this film. All though Lugosi was cast a minor character in the film, his performance could almost make him the leading role! He used unbelievable expressions throughout the film which sometimes made me back up from my seat. Laughton is also one of the best actors I have ever known. I used to know him especially for his performance as Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, but now it seems that I am more familiar with him as Dr. Moreau, who performance was both suspenseful and dramatic. If you are familiar with these two great actors, this film is a MUST!
Rating:
Summary: AN OUTSTANDING THRILLER FOR EVERYONE!
Review: Charles Laughton, Bela Lugosi, and Richard Arlen star in this eerie and haunting classic. It's about a shipwreck named Edward Parker(Arlen)who comes to Moreau's(Laughton) island along with Moreau's asisstant Montgomery. There, he learns of Moreau's unholy experiments that produce horrible monsters, "manimals" if you will. On the island, he sees where the creatures live. Their leader, Sayer of the Law, is played wonderfully by Lugosi. He finds out that Moreau treats them as slaves, as if he were a god. When a rescue expedition comes to the island in search of Parker, Moreau orders one of his creatures, one called Ouran, to kill the expredition's leader. Once the creatures find out that the Law(not to spill blood) was broken by their creator, they revolt. And as Parker and his fiance flee the burning island, the creatures give Moreau what's been coming to him.(I won't give it away because it would spoil the movie, but it's well done and very scary!). The fantastic set designs make this film extremely good for a 1930's thriller. Hauntingly entertaining, ISLAND OF LOST SOULS is a monster classic for anyone to enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: The Original is Always the Best
Review: Erle C. Kenton brings H. G. Wells' novel to life in "Island of Lost Souls." It is the story of a mad scientist on a remote island that transforms animals into half-human abominations. Through medical procedures he slowly turns animals to resemble a human form. Dr. Moreau's control over his creations is soon lost and a rebellion takes place. While the others escape Dr. Moreau does not and receives a taste of his own medicine. The film was of tremendous quality. Charles Laughton illustrates to the audience the insanity of this mad scientist and his quest to feeling like God. He does this by the way he shows the emotion of the character, with his quick mood swings of being violent to calm. Béla Lugosi also makes a great appearance as the "Sayer of the Law" who is one of the creatures Dr. Moreau created. He along with the other beast does a good job of acting as animals formed to function like humans. The beasts acted as they should, only having few words and fraises to guide their lives by such as "are we not men?'' The special effect where a great asset to the quality of this film. The make-up of the creatures was spectacular. Adding a lot of realism to the film. Also the sets were something to admire. An entire house that contained enormous plants formed from the Doctors experiments. There were many jungle scenes among other scenes to make this secret island come to life. The dark lighting also greatly added to the mood and suspense of the movie. With a fabulous story, wonderful acting, spectacular scenes and special effects Island of Lost Souls is a great film to view.
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