Alright, it's kinda hard being subjective about a movie that was made 70 years ago considering the progression of special effects, but it does have some decent moments. It's definitely the classic tale, and some of the dialogue isn't the utterly flaccid junk you get out of some of those early B&W pictures (and even providing some Hollywood jabs in the process).
Big moviemaker Denham has big plans for his latest movie. He's discovered the map of a "lost" island that seems to be inhabited by some kind of primal god. Inventive and influential, he does whatever it takes to make his films. This time it involves coercing a young beauty who's down on her luck to star in his latest since no other actresses will commit to such a crazy picture. What isn't realized is the ramifications their trip will have on the modern world.
It is fairly blatant in its "Beauty and the Beast" storytelling, while showcasing some great groundbreaking work in integrating stop-motion animation by Willis H. O'Brien. This inspired the legendary Ray Harryhausen, who went on to make some of the most memorable stop-motion effects in films to date.
