Island of Lost Souls is a 1932 US Sci-Fi horror by Erle C Kenton. With Charles Laughton, Bela Lugosi and Richard Arlen. See IMDb
UK: Passed PG uncut for mild violence and scary scenes for:
- UK 2012 Eureka Masters of Cinema Limited Edition Steelbook RB Blu-Ray/R2 DVD at UK Amazon released today on 28th May 2012
- UK 2012 Eureka Masters of Cinema RB Blu-Ray/R2 DVD at UK Amazon released today on 28th May 2012
Robin Cooke explained:
Our view now is that if you compare it with the PG Harry Potters let alone the 12A Harry Potters or the PG Doctor Who it looks quite tame in comparison.
UK: Passed 12 uncut with previous cuts restored for:
Previously cut by the BBFC
Passed X (18) after BBFC cuts for:
Cuts included:
- Removal of Parker’s line: They’re vivisecting a human being. They’re cutting a man to pieces!
- Removal of the sight of Moreau’s less successful experiments walking on a treadmill.
Previously banned by the BBFC
Banned by the BBFC for:
- UK 1957 cinema release
- UK 1933 cinema release
Robin Cooke explained:
The precise reasons for its rejection in 1933 were lost when BBFC records were destroyed during World War II.
There are themes to do with vivisection, animal experimentation and animal hybrids and it looks as though that was regarded as completely beyond the pale in 1933. In 1932, an H for horror category had been introduced but Island of Lost Souls wasn’t even regarded as suitable for that.
There was no one set of guidelines from the early days . Some of them are very alien from the kind of things we would have now. Things like no mixed bathing, no lascivious dancing.
Summary Review: Mad Doctor Doctoring Animal
The story sees Edward Parker (Richard Arlen) shipwrecked on an isolated South Seas island, where he discovers Dr Moreau (Charles Laughton) is conducting sadistic experiments to transform animals into humans.
