THE ISLAND OF DR MOREAU

US, 1977, 98 minutes, Colour.
Burt Lancaster, Michael York, Nigel Davenport, Barbara Carrera, Richard Basehart.
Directed by Don Taylor.

The Island of Dr. Moreau is tongue-in-cheek science-fiction played very straight-facedly, especially by Burt Lancaster, generally quietly portraying the mad doctor playing God and Michael York as the dapper shipwrecked sailor. With a monstrous variation on Frankenstein and mutations, the adventure appeals more to the boyish imagination than to reflection on themes of science and power. However, with Dr. Lancaster trying to turn victim York into an animal for research purposes, and with the grotesque-looking humanimals, points are melodramatically made. The island looks lovely, the happenings are sinister and climaxes snarling and gruesome. H.G. Wells might scorn the adaptation, but on a matinee level, it is stylish and actionful.

1. The appeal of science-fiction? Science-fantasy? The present in terms of the past? A different world, comparison with the present? An imaginary world - the future? Insight into human nature through science-fantasy?

2. The appeal of adventure, science fiction? For popular audiences, for the young?

3. This film in the tradition of the mad doctor playing God? The exaltation of science and the disillusionment? The monsters and the freaks tradition? How well were they blended?

4. H.G. Wells and his books, science-fiction? Prophet of doom, interpretation of the world by fantasy? How serious was his science fiction? A serious or an adventure adaptation of his novel?

5. The film as having Saturday matinee ingredients? Well presented, for the popular audience?

6. The framework of Andrew Braddock and his shipwreck, his finally being rescued? Audience interest in him, identification, entry into the island with him? Shipwrecked, a strange other world? Curiosity and sharing adventure and fear, interest?

7. The choice of Burt Lancaster for the role of Dr. Moreau? Burt Lancaster's style, his more restrained playing? His diction and intensity of speech and yet his not ranting and raving? An appropriately sinister mad doctor? Was his presence on the island credible? As a character, his background as a doctor, his beliefs and skill? His experiments? His relationship with Montgomery and hold over him? His control over Maria? His friendship with Braddock? His work, people's response to his work and Braddock's response? His imagination and mentality to tamper with humans and animals? His law and the words of The Sayer of the Larv? His threats to the humanimals? The house of pain? His eventual breaking of his own law and his inconsistency? The decision to use Braddock? His lack of human feeling, the predominance of science? Braddock's revolt, the revolt of the humanimals and their callousness in his death? Did he change his mind in his death? The ominous hanging and his seeming to be alive? How successful a characterisation of an insane doctor? How much insight into the insane genius?

8. Michael York's style as Andrew Braddock, the popular hero, the wreck? His fear, reassurance on the island? His health and being restored by Dr. Morceau his curiosity? The bond with Maria? His being repelled by Moreau's work? The cynicism of Montgomery? The prospect of two years and his adapting to it? His repairing the boat? His reaction to the humanimals? To the saying of the law? To Dr. Moreau's research? His having to adjust his mentality to Moreau's work? His curiosity. finding out more, reaction to punishment? His wanting to escape? Moreau's hold over him and victimising him? His persistence in keeping his memory and his human identity? The importance of Moreau's death, his hanging him? His escaping with Maria and yet his fear? His reassurance at the end?

9. The character of Maria, feminine presence and beauty on the island, Moreau’s control, her love for Andrew, the fear that she was a humanimal? The escape and the happy ending?

10. Montgomery as the callous human being, his working for Moreau and rounding up the humanimals? His despising of Moreau? Sneering at Braddock? The violence of his death and its triggering off the revolt? Audience response to the humanimals and the conception of changing humans into animals and animals into humans? The servant and his presence, his later helping Braddock? His getting the water and drinking the water from the pool? The revelation to Braddock? The women at the washing? The variety of the animals? The Sayer of the Law? The House of Pain? The wide variety of animals and the various mutations and freaks? The laboratories, prisons, the caves?

11. The animals acting as animals, reacting against the law? The importance of blood? The revolt and the chases?

12. The importance of the disillusionment with Moreau, the rebellion, the mayhem and the destruction of the laboratories, letting out the fierce animals and their being killed? The importance of the humanimal that pursued Braddock and Maria to the boat, the final fight with his persistence in the water and the violence of his death?

13. The nightmare aspects of the film, realism? Themes of power, human will, rights?

14. How satisfying as matinee science fiction? On a more serious level?