L'île du diable

DEVIL'S ISLAND proved an interesting change-of-pace for Karloff but one which, I agree, is hampered by its second-feature status: as it stands, potentially controversial issues like miscarriage of justice, as well as prison brutality and corruption, are not dealt with in much detail and the expected showdown between Karloff and the callous warden (James Stephenson, who would die only 2 years later and whose best role was his Oscar-nominated turn in William Wyler's THE LETTER [1940]) never occurs. Instead, we're made to believe that the warden's wife is so grateful for ex-brain surgeon Karloff's having saved their daughter's life that she is perfectly willing to see her husband's ruined by reporting his mistreatment of the prisoners to higher authority - when, prior to the girl's accident, she didn't seem to bother much with them since she used to frequently ride up to the labor camp, in her finest attire, as if going on a Sunday picnic! A brave and well-made B-movie all around but, ultimately, it doesn't really tread new ground and certainly doesn't carry the sheer emotional power of I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG (1932).

WEST OF SHANGHAI is a real oddity. Although set in China, the film resembles a Western with lots of horseback riding and a set that looks like distinctly Mexican. Then there's a crime angle with lots of graft and double dealing concerning a local oil field. Finally there's BK himself playing a Chinese warlord (in politically incorrect Asian make-up) with more than a hint of black comedy. He has some choice dialogue which he makes the most of. Sheila Bromley scores as a tough minded American woman as does Vladimir Sokoloff as a weary Chinese general. At 62 minutes the movie is enjoyable and doesn't wear out its welcome.

The same cannot be said of THE INVISIBLE MENACE which despite its sci-fi sounding title, is just an ordinary murder mystery taken from an unsuccessful stage play called WITHOUT WARNING (it closed after just 17 performances). It is set on an Army base where a newly wed private and his smuggled in bride stumble across a grisly murder. At 59 minutes it feels roughly 30 minutes too long with stock characters and a totally wasted BK although, as usual, he has his moments. Both movies were directed by John Farrow (Mia's dad) who would move up the Hollywood ladder to bigger and better things.

The last movie in the set, and the best of the three, is DEVIL'S ISLAND about an unjustly accused doctor who is sent to the infamous locale for treating an injured criminal. The parallels to the real life case of Dr Samuel Mudd (who set John Wilkes Booth's leg after Lincoln's assassination) and to Henri Charriere (made famous by Steve McQueen in the movie PAPILLON) are fairly obvious. This film, directed by B movie specialist William Clemens, is full of atmospheric photography (on the same Western set as SHANGHAI) with solid performances from everyone involved. A decent script also adds to the viewer's enjoyment...For more reviews visit The Capsule Critic.

Dr. Gaudet(Boris Karloff) is a respected brain surgeon, and is unjustly sentenced to ten years' imprisonment on Devil's Island. Gaudet draws attention to himself by complaining about the in-human conditions and leads an unsuccessful revolt. As punishment, the warden sentences Karloff and his comrades to death. Boris Karloff plays the lead convincingly, making himself as pathetic a character as possible. It is a very mild acting role for Boris, and that is probably why George Raft had turned the role down. France decided not to eliminate the notorious colony and attacked the film as anti-French at the preview in January 1939. They immediately banned all future Warner Bros. films. A year later it was released, but by this time, France was too busy with World War II to object.

And also William Clemens' best movie for me. I watched several films from this obscure director and I would have never bet a dime that the great Boris Karloff would ever work with such a lousy director, more specialized in NANCY DREW DETECTIVE, THE FALCON or PHILO VANCE adventures than in real movies, such as this one. Such a plot could have been made by a Michael Curtiz, Mervyn Le Roy or Raoul Walsh. Because Boris Karloff is excellent, as usual, and precisely because of his presence, whatever the William Clemen's skills are, this short movie is worth watching. It is inspired from actual facts.

Devil's Island (1939)

*** (out of 4)

Gritty prison drama from Warner Bros. features Boris Karloff as a brain surgeon who is sent to Devil's Island, although he's innocent. Once there he sees the torture brought on by the warden and plans on doing something about it. I was really surprised by how good this one was. The film would have benefited by a longer running time and some deeper scenes but it's still highly entertaining. Karloff was the best of the horror actors in my opinion but he could sleepwalk through roles every once in a while. Here he gives one of the best performances of his career outside the role of the monster. He had a burning energy throughout the film that was a lot of fun to watch. The ending doesn't work but this would be a good selection for Vol. 2 of the Controversial Collection since this film was originally banned in France and had the French government put a ban on all Warner films for a couple years (so I read).