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Hollywood is filled to the brim with all kinds of movies. Some you never want to forget because of how good they are and some you just can’t forget because of how bad they were. Val Kilmer’sThe Island of Dr. Moreaufalls in the latter category. The film was supposed to be directed by Richard Stanley, but after a series of problems arose at production, the filmmaker was asked to leave by New Line Cinema. John Frankenheimer brought the film to the finish line but to no avail.
Not only didThe Island of Dr. Moreaubomb at the box office, but it was also heavily criticized by both critics and the audience. However, not everything was bad about the film. For example, Val Kilmer was extremely grateful for working with the late Marlon Brando and has a heartwarming memory of the actor offering to go out of his way for him.
Val Kilmer Recalls Working with Marlon Brando
While on tour forCinema Twain,the feature version ofVal Kilmer’s one-man stage showCitizen Twain,the actor took some time off to answer fans’ questions and just have a conversation with them. In order to do so, he logged ontoReddit‘s r/movies subreddit, where he opened an AMA and invited his fans to ask him anything their heart desired.
FromTombstonetoKiss Kiss Bang Bang,fans had a lot to say and ask about Kilmer’s many iconic projects, but there was one question that stood out from the rest. Instead of asking about his great works, a fan asked Kilmer what it was like working withMarlon Brandoon 1996’sThe Island of Dr. Moreau.
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The actor wrote back reminiscing the time when he was in the middle of a divorce on the set of the film and Brando stepped in and asked if Kilmer would want him to talk to his wife on behalf of their children.
Brando was everything you want the major icon in your world to be, a genius and a gentleman. I was getting divorced at the time and he was so gracious about offering me time and considered thought. He offered to call my ex on behalf of the children. He was one of the funniest men on earth. I still laugh out loud about some of the things he said and did. I mean he literally wore a salad bowl over his head.
However, his feelings for Brando do not resonate with his feelings for the film’s production. Let’s take a look at that, shall we?
Val Kilmer Talks about His Experience on the Film
While he has great respect for Brando and looks back at the time he spent with him with fondness, he does not hold the same emotions forThe Island of Dr. Moreau.
“We can’t even get you a reading or an audition”: Val Kilmer Took His Method Acting to the Extreme by Punching a Female Actress Whose Career Disappeared from Hollywood
The production of the film was littered with setbacks, and many of them were due to the problems actors were facing in their personal lives. Continuing his answer on Reddit, Kilmer recalled his experience on the set of the disaster film and put directorJohn Frankenheimeron blast.
Much has been said about how awful the experience was. There were several embarrassed execs who made it seem worse than it was to do because the film was so poorly received, and the replacement director was desperate for a comeback and blamed me for the films failure which doesn’t hold water when you watch it because I die in the film and the whole last half is just as bad as when I was alive so how could I have made stuff I wasn’t in not work? Doesn’t make any sense.
Kilmer also added that he begged the studio to allow him to film a behind-the-scenes documentary of the film as he believed the BTS clips would be“more interesting than what was happening in front of the camera.”Unfortunately, his idea never came to fruition.
As forThe Island of Dr. Moreau,which follows the story of a mad scientist who was turning animals into human-like beasts, the film was poorly received by everyone who watched it. It has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 22% and was a total flop at the box office.
You can rent/buyThe Island of Dr. Moreauon Prime Video.
Mishkaat Khan
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2257
A connoisseur of all things horror, fantasy, and the occasional chick flick, Mishkaat has been penning pieces for FandomWire since 2022. She started off as an intern and has worked her way up to a Senior Writer with over 2000 articles to her name.Outside of entertainment, she has also written well-researched medical content as a freelance writer and has experience in social media management.When not writing, you can find her relaxing with a romance novel and a tall glass of iced coffee in her hand or watching re-runs of ‘Supernatural’ and ‘The Office.’
