FAQ

After drifting shipwrecked on the Pacific Ocean for 17 days, seaman Andrew Braddock (Michael York) washes ashore a jungle island inhabited by scientist Dr Paul Moreau (Burt Lancaster), his assistant Montgomery (Nigel Davenport), his ward Maria (Barbara Carrera), and an assortment of grotesquely misshapen servants. Eventually, Braddock learns that Moreau's experiments involve attempts to turn wild animals into human beings. Disgusted by these unnatural experiments and the cruelty that Moreau shows the creatures, Braddock attempts to stop Moreau's work, but Moreau has another experiment in mind for Braddock.

The Island of Dr. Moreau is an 1896 science fiction novel by English writer Herbert George (H.G.) Wells. The screenplay for the movie was written by Al Ramrus and John Herman Shaner. The film was novelized in 1977 by Joseph Silva.

Moreau explains to Braddock that he has discovered a cell particle that contains the biological code controlling the development of an undifferentiated embryo into its specific adult form. From this particle, he has developed a serum that erases the natural instincts of the animal and, with a little surgery and some implants, he can change animals such as bears, lions, tigers, hyenas, apes, and oxen into human beings. There's only one problem. The animal must continue to be injected with the serum or it will revert to its original form.

Braddock and Maria make it to the lifeboat and push off into the water. One of the man-beasts follows them and tries to kill Braddock, but they beat it off with an oar. In the background, fire can be seen consuming the compound, the House of Pain, and all within. Some time later, as Braddock and Maria drift in the lifeboat, it can be seen that the serum has worn off and Braddock has returned to his human state. In the final scene, Braddock notices a ship in the distance, so he waves his arms in an attempt to attract it. Maria looks up, and they watch as the boat turns and starts heading in their direction.

Many viewers who first saw the film upon its release in 1977 remember an extended ending in which the camera focuses on Maria's face and shows her beginning to transform back into an animal, just as Braddock has transformed back into his original form. A photo of that scene can be viewed here, suggesting that the original final scene has been cut in order to portray a happy ending to the story.

The Island of Dr Moreau is in the public domain and available for downloading and reading on several websites including Project Gutenberg.