Devil's Island (1939 film)
| Devil's Island | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | William Clemens |
| Produced by | Bryan Foy |
| Written by |
Anthony Coldeway Raymond L. Schrock Kenneth Gamet Don Ryan |
| Starring |
Boris Karloff Nedda Harrigan |
| Cinematography | George Barnes |
| Edited by | Frank Magee |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 62 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Devil's Island is a 1939 American prison film directed by William Clemens and starring Boris Karloff. This film is notable for Karloff as the protagonist, opposed to the villain-like characters in his various horror roles.[1]
Plot
For treating a wounded revolutionary, respected surgeon, Dr. Charles Gaudet (Boris Karloff) is sentenced to life imprisonment to the infamous French penal colony on Devil's Island. It isn't long before he speaks out against the inhuman conditions and incurs the anger of the brutal prison commander, Colonel Armand Lucien (James Stephenson). But when Lucien's daughter Collette receives life-threatening wounds in an accident, the only person on Devils Island who can save her, is Gaudet.
Cast
- Boris Karloff as Dr. Charles Gaudet
- Nedda Harrigan as Madame Helene Lucien
- James Stephenson as Colonel Armand Lucien
- Adia Kuznetzoff as Pierre Leroux
- Rolla Gourvitch as Collette Lucien
- Will Stanton as Bobo Hawkins
- Edward Keane as Duval, Camp Doctor
- Robert Warwick as Demonpre, Minister of the Colonies
- Pedro de Cordoba as Defense Attorney Marcal
- Tom Wilson as Emil
- John Harmon as Andre Garon
- Sidney Bracey as Soupy, a Prisoner (as Sidney Bracy)
- George Lloyd as Dogface
- Charles Richman as Governor Beaufort
- Stuart Holmes as Gustave LeBrun
- Leonard Mudie as Advocate General
- Egon Brecher as Debriac, LeBrun's Henchman
- Frank Reicher as President of Assize Court
Reception
The depiction of Devil's Island upset the French government. Fear of something similar happening resulted in a proposed 1947 film from Columbia, The End of Devil's Island, being cancelled.[2]
See also
References
- ↑ Stephen Jacobs, Boris Karloff: More Than a Monster, Tomohawk Press 2011 p 221-223
- ↑ STUDIO DROPS FILM ON DEVIL'S ISLAND: Columbia Abandons Project in Line With Industry Policy on Foreign Markets By THOMAS F. BRADYSpecial to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 11 Apr 1947: 30.