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IMDbPro

Island of Doomed Men

  • 19401940
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 8m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
462
YOUR RATING
Peter Lorre and Rochelle Hudson in Island of Doomed Men (1940)
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Thriller
Undercover agent Mark Sheldon gets paroled to a remote tropical island with a diamond mine manned by slave labor run by sadistic Stephen Danel.Undercover agent Mark Sheldon gets paroled to a remote tropical island with a diamond mine manned by slave labor run by sadistic Stephen Danel.Undercover agent Mark Sheldon gets paroled to a remote tropical island with a diamond mine manned by slave labor run by sadistic Stephen Danel.
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
462
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Charles Barton
  • Writer
    • Robert Hardy Andrews(original screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Peter Lorre
    • Rochelle Hudson
    • Robert Wilcox
Top credits
  • Director
    • Charles Barton
  • Writer
    • Robert Hardy Andrews(original screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Peter Lorre
    • Rochelle Hudson
    • Robert Wilcox
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 24User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos47

    Peter Lorre and Kenneth MacDonald in Island of Doomed Men (1940)
    George E. Stone in Island of Doomed Men (1940)
    Peter Lorre in Island of Doomed Men (1940)
    Peter Lorre and Don Beddoe in Island of Doomed Men (1940)
    Peter Lorre and Don Beddoe in Island of Doomed Men (1940)
    Peter Lorre and Don Beddoe in Island of Doomed Men (1940)
    Stanley Brown, Kenneth MacDonald, and Charles Middleton in Island of Doomed Men (1940)
    Peter Lorre, Stanley Brown, Kenneth MacDonald, and Charles Middleton in Island of Doomed Men (1940)
    Peter Lorre in Island of Doomed Men (1940)
    Peter Lorre in Island of Doomed Men (1940)
    Peter Lorre in Island of Doomed Men (1940)
    Rochelle Hudson in Island of Doomed Men (1940)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Peter Lorre
    Peter Lorre
    • Stephen Danelas Stephen Danel
    Rochelle Hudson
    Rochelle Hudson
    • Lorraine Danelas Lorraine Danel
    Robert Wilcox
    Robert Wilcox
    • Mark Sheldonas Mark Sheldon
    Don Beddoe
    Don Beddoe
    • Brandas Brand
    George E. Stone
    George E. Stone
    • Siggyas Siggy
    Kenneth MacDonald
    Kenneth MacDonald
    • Doctor Roseneras Doctor Rosener
    Charles Middleton
    Charles Middleton
    • Captain Cortas Captain Cort
    Stanley Brown
    Stanley Brown
    • Eddieas Eddie
    Earl Gunn
    • Mitchellas Mitchell
    Sam Ash
    Sam Ash
    • Ames - Paroleeas Ames - Parolee
    • (uncredited)
    Raymond Bailey
    Raymond Bailey
    • Mystery Killeras Mystery Killer
    • (uncredited)
    Trevor Bardette
    Trevor Bardette
    • District Attorneyas District Attorney
    • (uncredited)
    Bruce Bennett
    Bruce Bennett
    • Hazen - Guardas Hazen - Guard
    • (uncredited)
    Bernie Breakston
    • Townsendas Townsend
    • (uncredited)
    Donald Douglas
    Donald Douglas
    • Department of Justice Officialas Department of Justice Official
    • (uncredited)
    Richard Fiske
    Richard Fiske
    • Haleas Hale
    • (uncredited)
    William Gould
    William Gould
    • Parole Board Memberas Parole Board Member
    • (uncredited)
    Chuck Hamilton
    Chuck Hamilton
    • Copas Cop
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Charles Barton
    • Writer
      • Robert Hardy Andrews(original screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The scenes of miners performing slave-labor for Peter Lorre were filmed in L.A.'s Griffith Park inside an area known as Bronson Canyon.
    • Quotes

      Stephen Danel: You ought to do something about your nervous condition, Mr. Brand. You must never talk too much. Nervous men sometimes talk too much, and they make mistakes, and you musn't make mistakes, Mr. Brand.

    • Connections
      Featured in TJ and the All Night Theatre: The Face Behind the Mask + Island of Doomed Men + Dracula's Castle (1982)

    User reviews24

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Condoomed Men!
    Island of Doomed Men is directed by Charles Barton, written by Robert D. Andrews and features cinematography by Benjamin Kline. It stars Peter Lorre, Rochelle Hudson and Robert Wilcox.

    Federal agent Mark Sheldon (Wilcox), by a strange quirk of fate, is framed for murder and sentenced to serve time on the Pacific Island penal colony he was to investigate anyway! Once there he finds harsh conditions and the camp run by a sadistic task master named Stephen Danel (Lorre). Catching the eye and befriending Danel's beautiful wife, Lorraine (Hudson), herself a prisoner of Danel's tyrannical behaviour, Sheldon knows he must act quick if he is to survive the Island of Doomed Men!

    Neither good nor bad, Barton's film is standard fare that features strong themes fighting to impact during the relatively short running time (just under 70 minutes). Much of it is a sweaty prison drama driven by Lorre doing another one of his insane antagonist portrayals. Within the narrative is sadism, spouse and animal abuse, bondage and corruption of power, but these are just shards of potency in an otherwise very talky piece. Performances around Lorre are adequate and Barton and Kline have a decent eye for mood via the black and white photography.

    Not very memorable and not nearly as throat grabbing as thematics suggest it could have been, but enjoyable while it's on and certainly one for Lorre completists. 6/10
    helpful•3
    2
    • hitchcockthelegend
    • Mar 9, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 20, 1940 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Dead Man's Isle
    • Filming locations
      • Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Columbia Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 8 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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