Boris On Devli's Island

 

 

 (imdb)

DEVIL'S ISLAND-1939-Dr. Charles Gaudet (Boris Karloff) is charged with treason after giving aid to a convicted traitor Le Brun who was shot escaping. The court judges (including Frank Reicher & Leonard Mudie) sentenced him to 10 years in the infamous penal colony. He's given hard labor by the pompous ignorant warden Col. Lucien (James Stephenson) who brands him a troublemaker. When one convict (John Harmon) with tuberculosis asks for the night off, the island doctor tells him he's just lazy despite pleas from Gaudet to put him in the hospital. Later after his appeal is turned down, Lucien needs Gaudet to operate on his young daughter. Madame Lucien (Netta Harrigan) is very grateful but Lucien couldn't care less. He has Gaudet's mates killed and puts the doc in "The pit". A black prisoner (Earl Smith) and Mme Lucien plot to help Gaudet escape. He and 5 other prisoners do escape but before almost dying at sea they are picked up by another prison ship (John Hamilton is the captain) going to Devil's Island. Through some stolen papers, Gaudet learns Lucien is corrupt. Lucien plans to have Gaudet guillotined at dawn. Fortunately, Mme. L gets word to the governor and Gaudet is saved and pardoned. 

Good little Warner Brothers drama with nice production values directed by William Clemens who oddly enough was also directing the “Nancy Drew” series of films at the same time for the studio. Some familiar character actors appear including George Lloyd, Henry Cording and Pedro de Cordoba.

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