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Released by: Kino Lorber Studio Classics
Released on: June 23rd, 2015.
Director: Don Taylor
Cast: Michael York, Burt Lancaster
Year: 1977
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The Movie:
Don Taylor's 1977 adaptation of H.G. Wells' The Island Of Dr. Moreau tells the story of Andrew Braddock (Michael York) who escapes from his sinking ship with his life intact and who, after some time, eventually winds up being saved by a man named Montgomery (Nigel Davenport). Braddock is taken by Montgomery to the island on which the strange Dr. Moreau (Burt Lancaster) runs his clandestine operation - a mysterious laboratory of sorts. Moreau doesn't always take kindly to visitors, he wants to be left alone with his work, but he shows Braddock kindness and figures he'll get him off on the next supply ship that should arrive any day now.
Braddock, however, can't help but be curious just what it is exactly that his host is up to here. He starts snooping around, poking through journals that the Doctor has been keeping, and basically goes about spying on Moreau in hopes of figuring this out. Soon enough, Braddock falls for a beautiful woman named Maria (Barbara Carrera), the only female on the island that he's aware of. Of course, once Braddock eventually discovers that the doctor is behind some very unorthodox experiments involving humans, animals and whatever may lie in between, he does what he can to put a stop to this. When he finds where the doctor has been keeping his experiments, he frees them and leads some of them against Moreau, while the doctor himself has other plans for all of this…
This might not be the most high concept approach to Wells' original book, in fact you could argue that it dumbs things down and eschews some of the author's high concepts in favor of action and a chance to show the doctor's hybrid creations. It is, however, a fine mix of pulp style adventure with sci-fi and horror movie undertones very clearly running through it. Taylor keeps the period setting intact, never bothering to explain the science behind Moreau's efforts, instead seeming content to just let the audience get right to it - man-animal monster guys are pretty cool, after all. And there's nothing specifically wrong with it, this adaptation is a fun watch for sure, even if it isn't definitive or particularly heady. Entertainment value gets put before offering up a whole lot of food for thought, but this'll keep you interested from start to finish.
York makes for a good leading man here. He seems like a guy with a good head on his shoulders and he comes across as intelligent. He does well in the role, and the scenes he shares with Lancaster are really solid. As Moreau, Lancaster never hits the heights of insanity that others have in the role (Brando being the obvious example here) but he's got good screen presence and he uses that to the movie's advantage. Davenport and Carrera are good in their respective roles as well.
The movie is well paced. Tension is built effectively and while you know where it's all headed, the finale is executed pretty decently and getting there is a fun trip. Throw in a decent score, some great locations and solid effects work and the 1977 version of The Island Of Dr. Moreau makes for some pretty solid entertainment.
Video/Audio/Extras:
The Island Of Dr. Moreau debuts on Blu-ray properly framed at 1.85.1 widescreen in AVC encoded 1080p high definition. Colors are well reproduced here and while there are spots where things are a tiny bit flat, these moments are infrequent. We get a nice, clean picture here - print damage is never more than minor white specks and skin tones look good. No compression artifacts or edge enhancement here of any note, and the image is naturally grainy enough that it never looks like there's any noise reduction either. Detail is pretty solid here too, as is texture and for this reason we get some good depth throughout the movie.
The only audio option on the disc is an English language DTS-HD 2.0 track is serviceable if never mind blowing. The dialogue is clean, clear and properly balanced while the score does show frequent moments of depth. The sound effects are strong without becoming overbearing and the track is free of any hiss or distortion. Subtitles are provided in English.
Extras are slim but we get a trailer, a lengthier extended trailer and a 'deleted final image' that was made for the television version of the movie. Static menus and chapter selection are also provided.
The Final Word:
The Island Of Dr. Moreau, at least this version of it, isn't a masterpiece but it's a decent take on Wells' source material thanks to some interesting effects work and solid efforts from Michael York and Burt Lancaster in the leads. Kino's Blu-ray isn't stacked with extras but it looks and sounds quite good, making this a decent upgrade from the previous MGM Midnite Movies DVD releases that came out years back.
Click on the images below for full sized Blu-ray screen caps!
