Tension on the Island of Dr. Egotism
an extract from Robert Cettl's book Film Tales: Movie Trivia in the Age of DVD (on sale now in print and soon in e-book)
Cult director Richard Stanley originally set up his version of the H.G. Wells science fiction story The Island of Dr. Moreau (filmed twice before) only to have it removed from his hands and extensively re-written when it was decided by the producers that his vision was too bizarre for audiences. Stanley left the project, disheartened, and at the last minute the producer arranged for a replacement director (John Frankenheimer). Frankenheimer had been called in to salvage other projects before and had turned them into solid hits so it was hoped that he would do the same here, even if Frankenheimer’s reason for taking the film was the same as many of the actors involved – the chance to work with the great Marlon Brando. Although Brando had an awe-inspiring reputation co-star Val Kilmer was apparently not concerned and his behaviour on set soon agitated the legendary Brando. Kilmer would reportedly show up late for set regularly, not knowing his lines as well as the other actors. Eventually Brando was so tired of his co-star’s antics that he said to Kilmer “your problem is you confuse the size of your paycheck with the size of your talent.” Despite the great Brando in flamboyant form, The Island of Dr. Moreau flopped, especially with the critics.