Devil's Island (1939)





Dr. Gaudet, a respected brain surgeon, is falsely sentenced to ten years in prison on Devil's Island after treating a wounded political revolutionary. Upon his arrival, he faces the wrath of the cruel commandant, Col. Lucien. Dr. Gaudet leads an unsuccessful revolt against the inhumane conditions and as punishment, he and his comrades are sentenced to death. After the commandant's daughter suffers a head injury in a runaway accident, the commandant's wife forces him to ask Dr. Gaudet to save their daughter's life. Dr. Gaudet agrees, on the condition that they will not be executed. However, despite the successful operation, the commandant breaks his promise.

Madame Lucien arranges for Dr. Gaudet and his comrades to escape, but they are caught again. Sentenced to death once more, Dr. Gaudet is saved by Madame Lucien, who convinces the governor to stop the execution. Col. Lucien is also arrested for corruption. Dr. Gaudet is freed and a new regime promises reforms on the island.



Books with substantial mentioning of Devil's Island

Gary J. Svehla and Susan Svehla (editors)
Boris Karloff
Baltimore, 1996

James Robert Parish
Prison Pictures from Hollywood, Plots, Critiques, Casts and Credits for 293 Theatrical and Made-for-Television Releases
Jefferson, North Carolina, and London, 1991

Scott Allen Nollen
Boris Karloff, A Critical Account of His Screen, Stage, Radio, television and Recording Work
Jefferson, NC, 1991

Richard Bojarski and Kenneth Beals
The Films of Boris Karloff
Secaucus, NJ, 1974