Linbeymusol Wonderful character development!

Brendon Jones It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Allison Davies The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Kaelan Mccaffrey Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

a_chinn Samuel Z. Arkoff AIP production of the H.G. Wells novel is pretty entertaining. Burt Lancaster plays the mad scientist Moreau on his isolated desert island where he's created a pack of man-beasts who he controls like a maniac prison warden. Michael York (who in my mind is the epitome of oddball 1970s film heroes) plays our protagonist who's washed up on the island after his ship sunk at sea. York raises questions the ethics of Moreau's experiments and Moreau slowly beings to lose control of his creatures. Wells' story raises interesting questions about the animalistic nature of humans and despite this being an Arkoff exploitation flick, manages to also be smart. The special effects are good and Lancaster is particularly good in the lead as Moreau. However, the film does come off a pretty silly at times, particularly a fight between the bull-man and a real tiger, which although is fun to watch a stuntman go at it with a tiger felt corny and out of place with what otherwise seemed like a pretty smart bit of science fiction. Overall this film is probably the most faithful adaptation of Wells' story, though it's nowhere as good as 1932's "Island of Lost Souls" but is leaps and bounds better than the 1990s Marlon Brando/Val Kilmer debacle. Barbara Carrera and Richard Basehart also appear in the film

tavm This is the second film adaption of H. G. Wells' "The Island of Dr. Moreau" I've seen, the previous one being 1933's Island of Lost Souls. Perhaps because the first one seemed very primitive, I found this version more entertaining. The material changes also helped as this time an Andrew Braddock (Michael York) is washed ashore with someone else but that someone else disappears soon after. He is found by Montgomery (Nigel Davenport) who introduces him to Dr. Paul Moreau (Burt Lancaster). Living with him is the exotic and sexy Maria (Barbara Carrera). Also inhabiting the island are various creatures led by the Sayer of the Law (Richard Basehart). I'll stop there and just say compared with the Charles Laughton characterization, Lancaster is very much more charming and subtle before we find out what he is capable of. Also, Montgomery here seems a bit more cynical but is still convincing when he turns a corner. And this Braddock character doesn't have a fiancée at home so he's...oh, watch the movie. Besides more exciting action scenes, there's an actual score by Laurence Rosenthal that compliments every segment it accompanies. And the tropical background scenes are so breathtaking. Kudos to director Don Taylor for making such a rousing adventure/horror film. And to American International, usually known for making drive-in exploitation features, for such a fine quality product. Nothing much more to say except that I highly recommend this version of The Island of Dr. Moreau.

Woodyanders Shipwreck survivor Andrew Braddock (a solid and engaging performance by Michael York) washes ashore on a remote island run by determined, obsessive, and remorseless scientist Dr. Paul Moreau (splendidly played with firm resolve and conviction by Burt Lancaster). Braddock discovers that Moreau has created a grotesque, yet pitiable race of half-man, half-beast creatures and plans on using him as a guinea pig for his unscrupulous genetic experiments. Director Don Taylor, working from a smart and compact script by John Herman Shaner and Al Ramrus, relates the absorbing story at a steady pace, does an adept job of creating a spooky and mysterious mood in the opening third, and makes inspired use of the lush tropical setting. The uniformly sterling acting from a top-drawer cast constitutes as another substantial asset: York and Lancaster are terrific in the leads, the luscious Barbara Carrera is suitably enticing and enchanting as the sweet Maria, Nigel Davenport does well as Moreau's loyal, hearty assistant Montgomery, Richard Basehart excels as the stern, wise Sayer of the Law, and Lancaster's longtime friend and acrobatic partner Nick Cravat has a nice part as meek, mute servant M'Ling. The make-up f/x by John Chambers and Tom Burman are excellent and convincing. Gerry Fisher's glossy, sparkling cinematography gives the picture a beautifully bright look. Laurence Rosenthal provides a robust and stirring score. Moreover, there's even a provocative subtext about the fine line between man and beast. The movie delivers quite a few memorably powerful moments: an eerie nighttime Viking funeral for a slain mutant, Braddock fighting his baser animal impulses by drudging up poignant childhood memories, and the enraged beastmen revolting against their cruel oppressor Moreau during the lively, exciting, and harrowing climax. An intelligent and effective film.

Coventry There exist several film version of H.G. Wells' famous tale, including a very old one starring Charles Laughton & Bela Lugosi, and the much more known and hyped 90's version starring Marlon Brando. This 70's version is the most obscure of the bunch, but it certainly should appeal to horror fanatics as well as to admirers of Wells' writings. The 70's way of film-making (gritty special effects, cheap atmosphere of sleaze, violence …) fits the story very well because it basically is a very grotesque, far-fetched and strangely unsettling political allegory. Burt Lancaster this time depicts, impressively I may add, the titular "mad" scientist, Nigel Davenport stars as his unaware accomplice Montgomery and the intruding castaway Adrew Braddock is no less than Michael York; a personal favorite of mine. As everyone probably knows, Dr. Moreau lives isolated because his genetic research and experiments aren't exactly easy to justify. Convinced that the basic DNA of whatever living species can be altered into any other species of preference, Moreau's island runs full of guinea pigs. The wild animals he attempts to turn into people are subjected to human laws and whoever breaks the rules will be punished harshly. Braddock disapproves of his work and when he also shows a romantic interest in Moreau's gorgeous wife Maria, he becomes next in line for a whole new different and risky type of experiment. The tropical island setting is magnificent and the production definitely benefices from sublime camera-work and enchanting music. The costumes and make-up effects aren't particularly menacing (the guinea pigs actually look like ancestors of the Ewoks) but the last half hour is exhilaratingly violent and Dr. Moreau's ultimate fate is truly nightmarish, even for a cruel being like him.