| The Island of Dr. Moreau | |
|---|---|
&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:The_Island_of_Dr._Moreau_1996_poster.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | John Frankenheimer |
| Screenplay by | |
| Based on | The Island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. Wells |
| Produced by | Edward R. Pressman |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | William A. Fraker |
| Edited by | Paul Rubell |
| Music by | Gary Chang |
| Distributed by | New Line Cinema |
Release dates |
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Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $40 million |
| Box office | $49.6 million |
The Island of Dr. Moreau is a 1996 American science fiction horror film, based on the 1896 novel The Island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. Wells. It was directed by John Frankenheimer (who was brought in half a week after shooting started) and stars Marlon Brando, Val Kilmer, David Thewlis, and Fairuza Balk. The screenplay is credited to the original director Richard Stanley and Ron Hutchinson.[1][2] It is the third major film adaptation of the Wells novel, following Island of Lost Souls (1932) and The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977).
The production was notoriously difficult, marred by issues with the cast, harsh weather and a skyrocketing budget. Bruce Willis was originally hired to play Edward Prendick, but allegedly dropped out as he started divorce proceedings from Demi Moore, his wife at the time. Willis was replaced by Kilmer, who made his availability limited, and later had anger issues with most of the cast after also being served divorce papers on set. Then actor Rob Morrow quit because of script rewrites.[3][4][5][6][7][8]
Brando's role as Moreau was supposed to be expanded, but following his daughter's suicide, Brando retreated to his private island, leaving production in limbo, not knowing when or even if he would show up. Brando also did not want to learn his lines, so he requested them through an earpiece and/or improvised his dialogue. Original director Richard Stanley was dismissed by New Line Cinema after problems arose during production, including a major hurricane, with Frankenheimer being brought in to replace him. The film received generally negative reviews and was considered a box office bomb.[3][4][5][6][7][8]
In 2014, the documentary Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley's Island of Dr. Moreau was released, covering Stanley's experiences while he conceived and developed the project, his time as director, and the aftermath of his departure and the effect it had on the cast, crew, and overall film.[9] Kilmer also shared some behind-the-scenes footage of the film in the 2021 documentary Val where he shared his side of events.[10]
- ^ Alberge, Dayla (16 September 2017). "Marlon Brando was my idol but he turned into a monster. He sabotaged my film". the Guardian. London, England. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
- ^ "Director Richard Stanley on Why His 'The Island of Dr. Moreau' Became Such a Notorious Flop". Vice. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
- ^ a b Kitchener, Shaun (27 April 2017). "Marlon Brando in The Island of Dr Moreau: Val Kilmer reveals truth behind disastrous movie". Retrieved 17 September 2017.
- ^ a b "Director Richard Stanley returns to 'The Island of Dr. Moreau' -- the film that destroyed his career". Entertainment Weekly. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
- ^ a b "Val Kilmer defends Marlon Brando over the awful Island of Dr Moreau". 27 April 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
- ^ a b "The Worst Film Ever Made: The Island of Dr. Moreau". Retrieved 17 September 2017.
- ^ a b "Brando's madness, Val Kilmer's ego, and the folly of Dr Moreau". The Telegraph. 25 April 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
- ^ a b "The Real Story Behind 'The Island of Dr. Moreau' Is Way More Bonkers Than The Movie Itself". 20 May 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
- ^ Mack, Andrew. Check Out This Sweet Poster For Lost Soul - The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley's Island of Dr. Moreau. Twitch Film. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
- ^ Ebiri, Bilge (2021-08-06). "Val Doesn't Know Who Val Kilmer Is and That's a Good Thing". Vulture.