#27 in the illustrious #TuddGant Film Club was the 1932 sci-fi horror classic Island Of Lost Souls. Despite being released two years before the Hays Code was introduced, this was still heavily censored (as well as being banned in several countries). Why was it banned in 14 US states, I hear you ask? Was it the interspecies sex? The horrific live human experimentation? The constant violence and threat of violence? No. It was banned in 14 states because Charles Laughton's character, a scientist (mad, granted, but still a scientist), accepted evolution as a fact. Won't somebody PLEASE think of the children?! It was rejected three times by the BBFC, but our problem with it was more the aforementioned horrific live vivisection. Horses for courses. Directed by B Movie maestro Erle C. Kenton, it features a commanding and domineering performance by Charles Laughton, as well as a characteristically unhinged and superstitious turn by Bela Lugosi as some kind of wolf shamen priest chief type man. The first sound film adaption of HG Wells' The Island Of Dr Moreau, this drips menace, horror, and, to quote Zapp Brannigan, some other emotions which are weird and deeply confusing (probably to do with the pig men). Oh and you know that quote "The natives are restless" (sometimes growing restless)? Yeah well this is where it is from. Top writing. This smashes along at a great pace and, like so many 30s films of its ilk, runs with the idea as fast as possible then just gets out of there. Brilliant. I don't think Laughton has ever been anything but mesmerising, even in something like this, that could have been (and sometimes is) a bit laughable. Go watch it and escape to the island. Also there is an amazing scene where a drunk captain lobs someone off his ship. . . . . . . #IslandOfLostSouls #IslandOfDrMoreau #CharlesLaughton #BelaLugosi #LeilaHyams #Horror #ErleCKenton #HaysCode @jtudd