Island of Lost Souls (1932)

Charles Laughton: Dr. Moreau

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Quotes 

• Dr. Moreau : What is the law?

  Sayer of the Law : Not to eat meat, that is the law. Are we not men?

  Beasts (in unison) : Are we not men?

  Dr. Moreau : What is the law?

  Sayer of the Law : Not to go on all fours, that is the law. Are we not men?

  Beasts (in unison) : Are we not men?

  Dr. Moreau : What is the law?

  Sayer of the Law : Not to spill blood, that is the law. Are we not men?

  Beasts (in unison) : Are we not men?

• Dr. Moreau : Have you forgotten the house of pain?

  Sayer of the Law : You! You made us in the house of pain! You made us... things! Not men! Not beasts! Part man... part beast! Things!

• Ruth Thomas : [hearing chanting]  What's that?

  Dr. Moreau : The natives, they have a curious ceremony. Mr. Parker has witnessed it.

  Ruth Thomas : Tell us about it, Edward.

  Edward Parker : Oh, it's... it's nothing.

  Dr. Moreau : They are restless tonight.

• Edward Parker : Those poor things out there in the jungle. Those animals. They - They talk.

  Dr. Moreau : That was my first great achievement. Articulate speech controlled by the brain. And it was a great achievement! Oh, it takes a long time and infinite patience to make them talk.

  [Moreau gives an impish smile and a chuckle] 

  Dr. Moreau : Someday I will create a woman and it'll be easier.

• Dr. Moreau : She's never seen anything like him.

  Mr. Montgomery : No?

  Dr. Moreau : You and I don't count. The only reactions we get from her are fear and terror.

  Mr. Montgomery : That's understandable.

  Dr. Moreau : But how will she respond to Parker where there's no cause for fear? Will she be attracted? Is she capable of being attracted? Has she a woman's emotional impulses? I could scarcely hope for a chance like this short of London.

• Dr. Moreau : Did you see that, Montgomery? She was tender like a woman. Oh, how that little scene spurs the scientific imagination onward.

• Dr. Moreau : Mr. Parker, do you know what it means to feel like God?

• Captain Donahue : What kind of a place did you say this was, Doc?

  Dr. Moreau : I didn't say.

• Dr. Moreau : You understand, Mr. Parker, you are an uninvited guest.

  Edward Parker : Certainly.

  Dr. Moreau : You may perhaps find our domain rather strange. I shall have to rely on your caution while you are here and your silence when you're gone. You understand that?

  Edward Parker : Of course, doctor.

• Dr. Moreau : I can't have this man. I can't have him aboard.

  Captain Davies : Well, throw him overboard. That's what I did.

• Dr. Moreau : [to Parker]  You're an *amazingly* unscientific young man.

• [Edward Parker is stirred by an unworldly howl, but remains seated] 

  Dr. Moreau : Yes. You are a man of discretion, Mr. Parker.

  [Edward nods affirmatively] 

  Dr. Moreau : I hope so.