One Sheet Poster
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Adapted from H.G. Wells’ 1896 novel The Island of Dr. Moreau, this tale of vivisection and attempted inter-species breeding proved too much for the censors in Britain, where it remained banned until 1959. H.G. Wells himself was critical of the, in his view, over-emphasis of the horrific in the film. Bela Lugosi had the small, but memorable role of the Sayer of the Law, an unidentified animal turned into a man-like creature by Charles Laughton’s sadistic Dr. Moreau. Kathleen Burke was awarded the part of Lota the Panther Woman after winning a highly publicized nationwide competition to find an actress for the role. Future stars Alan Ladd and Randolph Scott are rumoured to appear in uncredited roles. Buster Crabbe is also often cited as appearing in the film as a lion man, but this is not so. The misconception probably arose as the result of a staged meeting between Kathleen Burke in Panther Girl costume and Crabbe in costume for King of the Jungle, filmed by Paramount, in which he played Kaspa the Lion Man.
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Production Company: Pamount Pictures
Director: Erle C. Kenton
Screenplay: Philip Wylie and Waldemar Young
Based on the novel The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells
Cinematography: Karl Struss
Assistant Cameramen: Paul Cable, Cliff Shirpser and Fleet Southcott
Camera Operators: George T. Clemens and Otto Pierce
Still Photographer: Mack Elliot
Art Direction: Hans Dreier
Special Effects: Gordon Jennings
Make-up: Wally Westmore
Casting: Fred A. Datig
Running Time: 67 minutes
Copyright Number: LP3518, December 29 1932
Cast:
Charles Laughton: Dr. Moreau
Bela Lugosi: the
Richard Arlen: Edward Parker
Leila Hyams: Ruth Walker
Kathleen Burke: Lota, the Panther Woman
Arthur Hohl: Montgomery
Stanley Fields: Captain Davies
Robert Kortman: Hogan
Tetsu Komai: M’ling
Hans Steinke: Ouran
Harry Ekezian: Gola
Rosemary Grimes: Samoan girl
Paul Hurst: Donahue
Georger Irving: The Consul
Bob Kortman: Mr. Hogan
Alan Ladd: Manimal
Joe Bonomo: Manimal
Randolph Scott: Manimal
John George: Manimal
Duke York: Manimal
Schlitze: Manimal
Buster Brodie: Pig man
Charles Gemora: Gorilla
Constantine Romanoff
Jack Bardette
Robert Milasch
Robert P. Kerr
Evengelus Berbas
Jack Walters
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Spokane Daily Chronicle, July 4, 1932
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Unknown Newspaper
Courtesy of http://immortalephemera.com/
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The Spokane Review, July 4, 1932
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Unknown Newspaper
Courtesy of http://immortalephemera.com/
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Pitsburgh Post-Gazette, July 15, 1932
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Unknown Newspaper
Courtesy of http://immortalephemera.com/
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The Pitsburgh Press, July 24, 1932
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The Evening Independent, August 26, 1932
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The Evening Independent, September 2, 1932
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The Evening Independent, September 9, 1932
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The Milwaukee Sentinel, October 27, 1932
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Schenectady Gazette, October 29, 1932
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The Milwaukee Journal, November 18, 1932
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The Pitsburgh Press, November 20, 1932
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The Milwaukee Journal, November 24, 1932
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Spartanburg Herald, November 29, 1932
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The Spokesman Review, December 29, 1932
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Unknown newspaper
Courtesy of http://immortalephemera.com/
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Schenectady Gazette, December 29, 1932
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Trade Advertisement
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The Evening Independent, January 5, 1933
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The Desert News, January 5, 1933
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The Evening Independent, January 6, 1933
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The Desert News, January 6, 1933
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The Desert News, January 7, 1933
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Unknown Newspaper
Courtesy of http://immortalephemera.com/
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Ottawa Citizen, January 7, 1933
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Unknown Newspaper
Courtesy of http://immortalephemera.com/
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Schenectady Gazette, January 12, 1933
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Unknown Newspaper
Courtesy of http://immortalephemera.com/
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The New York Times, January 13, 1933
Charles Laughton as a Mad Scientist in a Pictorial Conception of an H.G. Wells Story.
Charles Laughton, who portrays Nero in Cecil B. De Mille’s “The Sign of the Cross” is cast as a mad scientist in “Island of Lost Souls,” a very free translation of H. G. Wells’s book, “The Island of Dr. Moreau.” In this picture, which is now at the Rialto, Mr. Laughton assuredly has ample opportunity to spread terror among audiences, for as Dr. Moreau his aim is to convert wild animals into creatures that walk and talk like human beings.Although the attempt to horrify is not accomplished with any marked degree of subtlety, there is no denying that some of the scenes are ingenously fashioned and are, therefore, interesting. The general effect of the film is enhanced greatly by Mr. Laughton’s urbane impersonation. The ghoulish surgeon is for the most part calm and earnest in his strange activities, but when he leads the way to his house on the small mysterious island, he wields a whip on the hideous muttering group of creatures, explaining to a refugee from a ship that he learned to crack the big whip in Australia. In one sequence the ape-like creatures are asked several times by Dr. Moreau, “What is the law?” And they reply: “Not to eat meat; are we not men? Not to run on all fours. Not to gnaw the bark off trees. Not to spill blood.”There is a suggestion of “Frankenstein” and also something akin to “Emperor Jones” in this ghastly affair. The ape-men look upon the white-clad Moreau, with a pistol strapped to his wrist, as the one who made them, the one who heals them and the one who runs the House of Pain. Dr. Moreau’s greatest triumph is Lota, who is referred to as the Panther Girl. She is docile, and Moreau introduces her to Edward Parker, the survivor of a shipwreck. The insane surgeon has reason one day to believe that the wild animal in Lota is returning despite his scientific treatment.The story reminds one of “Emperor Jones” when the muttering ape-men hear that Dr. Moreau has drawn blood and because he has broken the law set down among them, they decide to take him to the so-called House of Pain—the place where Moreau performs his operations and the mere mention of which had hitherto made them cringe and mutter with fright. The hairy creatures whom Moreau had given the power of limited speech and had taught to walk on two legs, dispose of their master in his own chamber of horrors.Needless to say there is little sympathy for this demoniacal scientist. However, as it as a melodrama that hopes to make one’s blood curdle, but only hopes, one can be thankful that the ape creatures permit the best actor in the tale to survive until nearly the end.Richard Arlen portrays Parker acceptably. Arthur Hohl does quite well as Moreau’s agent, Montgomery. Kathleen Burke with a weird make-up interprets the rôle of Lota. Leila Hyams is attractive and quite satisfactory as the girl Parker is engaged to marry.ISLAND OF LOST SOULS, an adaptation of H. G. Wells’s book, “The Island of Dr. Moreau”; directed by Erie Kenton; a Paramount production. At the Rialto. Dr. Moreau . . . . . Charles Laughton Edward Parker . . . . . Richard Arlen Ruth Walker . . . . . Leila Hyams Lota . . . . . Kathleen Burke Montgomery . . . . . Arthur Hohl Captain Davies . . . . . Stanley Fields Hogan . . . . . Robert Kortman M’Ling . . . . . Tetsu Komai Ouran . . . . . Hans Steinke Gola . . . . . Harry Ekezian Samoan Girl . . . . . Rosemary Grimes Captain Donahue . . . . . Paul Hurst American Consul . . . . . George Irving Leader of the Ape-Men . . . . . Bela Lugosi
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Unknown Newspaper
Courtesy of http://greenbriarpictureshows.blogspot.jp/
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The Milwaukee Sentinel, January 16, 1933
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Unknown Newspaper
Courtesy of http://greenbriarpictureshows.blogspot.jp/
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The Reading Eagle, January 27, 1933
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Eugene Register-Guard, January 28, 1933
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Unknown Newspaper
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The Reading Eagle, January 29, 1933
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Unknown Newspaper
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Eugene Register-Guard, January 29, 1933
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Eugene Register-Guard, January 30, 1933
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The Pitsburgh Press, January 30, 1933
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The Reading Eagle, January 30, 1933
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Photoplay Magazine, February 1933
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The Spokane Daily Chronicle, February 1, 1933
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Trade Advertisement
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The Reading Eagle, February 1, 1933
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Unknown Newspaper
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The Pitsburgh Press, February 12, 1933
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Unknown Newspaper
Courtesy of https://scenesfromthemorgue.wordpress.com
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Mt. Pleasant Daily Times, February 13, 1933
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Unknown Newspaper
Courtesy of https://scenesfromthemorgue.wordpress.com
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Unknown Newspaper
Courtesy of https://scenesfromthemorgue.wordpress.com
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The Pitsburgh Post-Gazette, March 4, 1933
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San Jose Evening News, April 22, 1933
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French Trade Advertisement
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Sydney Morning Herald, May 15, 1933
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The Milwaukee Journal, June 5, 1933
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Spokane Daily Chronicle, July 13, 1933
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Spokane Daily Chronicle, July 14, 1933
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The Pitsburgh Press, July 11, 1940
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Posters
(Thank you to Andy Dobson for his assistance in correctly identifying these posters)
Window Card
Three Sheet Poster
French Poster
Belgian Poster
Spanish Poster
Argentinian Poster
1958 Re-Release One Sheet
British Poster
French 1970s Re-Release Grande
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Lobby Cards
1958 Re-Release Lobby Cards
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Glass Slide
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Heralds
American Herald
Spanish Heralds
Japanese Herald
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Pressbook
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Stills
Bela Lugosi in a rejected makeup test
(Courtesy of Paul Seiler)
Bela Lugosi in a rejected makeup test
Charles Laughton
Charles Laughton
Kathleen Burke
Kathleen Burke
Kathleen Burke
The four finalists in Paramount’s search for the Panther Woman, Gail Patrick, Lona Andre, Verna Hillie and winner Kathleen Burke
Kathleen Burke, Lona Andre, Verna Hillie and Gail Patrick,
Richard Arlen and Charles Laughton
Richard Arlen, Leila Hyams and Kathleen Burke
Bela Lugosi and Charles Laughton
Charles Laughton
Charles Laughton, Erle C. Kenton and Richard Arlen
Kathleen Burke and Richard Arlen
Kathleen Burke
Richard Arlen and Leila Hyams
Kathleen Burke and Richard Arlen
The Bela Lugosi Blog 