Movies on DVD Review: The Island of Dr. Moreau

Starring Burt Lancaster, Michael York, Nigel Davenport, and Barbara Carrera. Directed by Don Taylor. Based on the novel by H.G. Wells.

The setting: turn of the century (19^th-20^th).

The story: Andrews Braddock (York) is one of a few shipmates to survive the disastrous events of the ship, the Lady Vain. Lost at sea for days he spots an island and he, along with the other shipmate that has survived sun exposure, rows toward it. Upon reaching land both shipmates explore the territory and guess who dies...

Braddock awakens days later under the care of Dr. Moreau (Lancaster). Moreau is a scientist who controls the "compound" that he evidently created. Assisting him is a guy named Montgomery, who just happens to be there because it pays well. Moreau also keeps a beautiful woman named Maria (Carrera) whom he saved from the slums when she was the age of 10.

Braddock spends time getting to know Moreau, Montgomery, and Maria (what's the 'M' theme?) He notices that several of Moreau's servants, like M'Ling (Nick Cravat), are not quite men nor are they animals. This is further proved when he goes outside the compound and meets the man-imals. Sayer, the Law (Richard Basehart), their leader, asks, "Are we not men?" ("We are Devo" is not the answer). Moreau shows up ("What is the law?") and saves Braddock.

Putting together that Moreau made the island compound, and the man-imals, Braddock hatches a plan to escape with Maria. Unfortunately Moreau is way ahead of Braddock, injecting him with "serum." Braddock is caged and slowly starts turning into a creature like the ones outside the compound while Moreau sits, writes, and observes like he's being paid by the hour.

I'm not going to spoil the rest for you (man-imal uprising). It's an okay time-killer movie and for $5, I've paid more and gotten less entertainment (read: "Untraceable"). I remember watching this movie on the local Fox affiliate growing up and it was interesting comparing what I recalled from then versus seeing it now. No doubt that being six years old and seeing a warthog-man is freakier than when you're thirty.

My grade: B-