Island of Lost Souls (1932)


Island of Lost Souls (1932) 

After his ship goes down, Edward Parker is rescued at sea. Parker gets into a fight with Captain Davies of the Apia and the Captain tosses him overboard while making a delivery to the tiny tropical island of Dr. Moreau. Parker discovers that Moreau has good reason to be so secretive on his lonely island. The doctor is a whip-cracking task master to a growing population of his own gruesome human/animal experiments. He does have one prize result, Lota the beautiful panther woman. Parker's fortunes for escape look up after his fiancée Ruth finds him with the help of fearless Captain Donohue. However, when Moreau's tribe of near-humans rises up to rebel, no one is safe... (IMDB Gary Jackson)

Based oh HG Wells "Island of Dr. Moreau"

The film was examined and refused a certificate three times by the British Board of Film Censors, in 1933, 1951, and 1957.

Bela Lugosi made the film for a salary of just over $800, which was less than any other actor on the project. Lugosi accepted the fee and the role because he was in the middle of bankruptcy. 

The film is the source of the saying "The natives are restless tonight." The actual dialogue is as follows:

Ruth Thomas (hearing chanting): "What's that?"
Dr. Moreau: "The natives, they have a curious ceremony. Mr. Parker has witnessed it. "
Ruth Thomas: "Tell us about it, Edward. "
Edward Parker: "Oh, it's... it's nothing. "
Dr. Moreau: "They are restless tonight."

Director: Erle C. Kenton 

Richard Arlen (L)

 Leila Hyams

Charles Gemora (playing an ape)
Also curious to me is that there is a scene with animals being loaded on a ship. All the animals are real except the gorilla which is Charles Gemora. Among his other skills, Gemora seems to have specialized in playing an ape. From what I can tell, he played an ape, most commonly a gorilla in at least 40 movies.


Charles Laughton (R)

Kathleen Burke as The Panther Woman


Bela Lugosi



Buster Brodie (Pig Man)





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