The Island of Dr. Moreau
Short description
After surviving a plane crash over the Pacific, United Nations negotiator Edward Douglas is rescued and brought to a remote island. There he meets Montgomery, the neurosurgeon who found him, and Dr. Moreau, a geneticist who owns the island. Douglas gradually learns that Moreau has been altering animal DNA to create human-like beings, and that the island's strange inhabitants live under his control.
The film is an adaptation of H. G. Wells's novel, with Marlon Brando as Dr. Moreau, Val Kilmer as Montgomery, David Thewlis as Douglas, Fairuza Balk as Aissa and Ron Perlman as the Sayer of the Law. John Frankenheimer directed from a screenplay by Richard Stanley and Ron Hutchinson. It was his thirteenth film as director, following Dead Bang, and preceded Andersonville.
Released in August 1996, the production cost around forty million dollars and took in roughly fifty million worldwide. Its ratings are low across the board: on IMDb it holds 4.6 out of 10 from about 38,000 votes, and on TMDB 4.9 out of 10 from some 585 votes. A critics' rating of 4.4 out of 10 from 35 reviews places it close to the audience scores, so viewers and critics alike received it without enthusiasm.
What's left behind the scenes
- Richard Stanley dreamed of making a film worthy of the source material: he spent several years writing the screenplay, and then went to Hollywood with a folder of concept art. New Line Cinema became interested in the project, Marlon Brando was chosen for the lead role at the studio, and Roman Polanski was considered to direct. Shocked, Stanley turned to a sorcerer to perform a luck ritual for him. The next day, Brando met with Stanley personally, and later persuaded the studio to reinstate him as director.
- This wasn't the first time Brando refused to learn his lines, and an assistant read the text to him through an earpiece, which is noticeable in some scenes.
- David Thewlis said that due to the constant script revisions, it was difficult to understand, so they improvised half of the dialogue with Brando.
- Marlon Brando was so impressed with actor Nelson De La Rosa that he demanded more screen time for him: a suit was made for him like Marlon's, and he became his miniature copy in the frame. It is believed that their duo inspired the screenwriters of the Austin Powers film series to create the character Mini-Me.
- The atmosphere on set was tense – Marlon Brando, haunted by his daughter's suicide, temporarily left Australia; Richard Stanley refused to meet with studio executives and was unable to control Val Kilmer, which ultimately led to his dismissal. He was promised his fee only on the condition that he return to Hollywood and stay away from the set. Stanley made it to the airport but didn’t board the plane and disappeared. After some time, it became known that he was living on one of the plantations. A group of volunteers found him and offered to return. To avoid breaking the agreement, Stanley disguised himself as one of the beastmen, infiltrated the set, and even appeared in one of the scenes.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
