Tonight a friend of mine and I watched The Island of Lost Souls, a 1932 adaptation of H.G. Wells’ The Island of Dr. Moreau. The island references Wells in the credits, and largely follows its plot although a shift in the setting (from 1896 to 1932) creates an opportunity for the plot to be wrapped up much more tidily — which it does, making for an easier and happier, but less philosophically interesting, story. Despite being nearly a century old, its costume effects and sound design make it a chilling and effective horror film.

Because the film is set the present day (1932), the Prendick character is allowed to fire off a wireless telegram to his fiance after being initially rescued, which raises questions when his rescue ship arrives in port sans rescuee — and leads to a ship being dispatched to investigate after the captain reveals he threw the man he rescued off at an uncharted island. On the island, the plot proceeds mostly as it does in the book, with one significant departure: Moreau (who is sometimes called Morrow, depending on the character) has successfully created a Woman creature, and he wants to test her out on the Prendick character. Prendick and the woman’s attraction to one another gives Prendick’s rebellion against his captor-host another dimension, though once his fiance arrives she’s conveniently left to fall victim to Plot Happenings.

Whereas in the book, we see Prendick left alone on the island with the Beast People and beginning to sink to Moreau’s level — falling from viewing them with compassion to viewing them with contempt — and later becoming some misanthrope at sea, the arrival of his fiance (played by the very photogenic Leila Hyams, wow) gives him the opportunity to skedaddle, letting Moreau fall victim to his own creations when Plot Things happen. This is much less pessimistic than H.G. Well’s original, and thus has less to say about the influence of power and fear on the human character — but it makes for a more enjoyable story, I will say. Enjoyed it throroughly.