Once the home of shlock drive-in movies AIP, American
International Pictures, slightly transformed in the seventies, giving plenty of
drive-ins movies to fill the screens but with more quality than had been seen
in the sixties. Granted those classic films, in particular the Edgar Allan Poe
flicks presented to us by Roger Corman, were great but times changed and so did
AIP. Budgets while still small were upped a tad and the actors employed had
name value other than as AIP stars. A perfect example of that was this film.
Andrew Braddock (Michael York) is a shipwrecked engineer who
finds himself casts adrift on the shores of an unknown island. When he goes in
search of water the only other survivor is carried off by an unseen force.
Unaware of this Braddock is being tracked as well and in running finds himself
caught in a ground trap, saved actually from what was behind him.
When he wakes he finds himself in bed and indoors, a man
named Montgomery (Nigel Davenport) at bedside. Montgomery tells him he is the
guest of Dr. Moreau, his employer and it isn’t long before Moreau (Burt
Lancaster) himself shows. Braddock is welcomed and told that it will be a while
before another boat arrives.
When feeling up to it, Braddock gets out of bed and sees
Moreau talking to a young woman. He finds out her name is Maria (Barbara
Carrera) and that as Montgomery puts it, is Moreau’s. He rescued her as a young
child and she is now willingly in his debt. Invited to dinner Moreau finds
himself called away to handle a situation on the island and excuses himself.
All moves along at a quick pace here with Braddock
eventually learning what was out there in the jungle and what Moreau is up to.
SPOILER ALERT. It seems that Moreau has been experimenting in gene therapy,
converting animals into human beings but not quite. That elusive last element
still eludes him and rather than humans he’s created humanimals, animals
standing on two legs with the ability to talk and think and yet still tied into
those instincts placed there by the creator. How Braddock reacts, what
transpires when he finds a group of these humanimals and the plans Moreau have
for him unfold before the final credits.
Based on the novel by H.G. Wells, the story has been used in
several movies as well as this one. It is actually the fourth time the story
was used. The movie is extremely well crafted with some great cinematography,
acting, directing and some find makeup effects. At the same time there is
nothing to make it stand out above the rest. It’s well-made and not quite
generic in how that comes across but not exceptional at the same time.
And yet the movie never fails to entertain. The story holds
your interests as does the telling of it which could have gone terribly wrong.
Instead we’re witness to one star whose glow was beginning to fade in Lancaster
(who still remains a strong presence), an actor who was at his peak in
popularity in York and an actress who made a splash with this film only to
never rise much higher. Their combined efforts make the movie an enjoyable old
style story that leans more towards science fiction than horror that will have
you staying with it till the end.
Olive Films has released this one with a minimum of extras
including a commentary track, a visual essay and the original trailer. Still,
the picture clarity is above most and the value is there. Fans will want to
pick the film up, AIP completest will want to add it to their collection and
horror/sci-fi fans will want to enjoy it as well.
Click here to order.
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