Given his reputation as the archetypal crazed villain, in his long film career Peter Lorre played relatively few such characters, but his Stephen Danel in "Island of Doomed Men" is powerful enough to imprint such an image in generations of movie-watchers. With typical grace and intelligence, Lorre crafts this pulp heavy into an intricate portrayal of the quintessential fascist bully, winning through intimidation, gratified at bending others to his will yet genuinely puzzled and hurt by his inability to earn the love of his cherished captive-wife. As with so many other films he appeared in, the mercurial actor brings something real and human to this typically false and silly Hollywood pantomime.
30 Reviews
Peter Lorre at his most menacing
dbborroughs7 November 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Peter Lorre gives one of his most evil performances as the owner of the titled place. The plot has a new government agent being put on the track of Peter Lorre's character. When the G-man's contact his killed by one of Lorre's agents, the G-man is sent to prison for the killing even though everyone knows there is more to the story. Lorre has the man paroled into his care and brought to his island where he is mining diamonds. Lorre wants to know what our hero knows, but he isn't talking and a battle of wills is set in motion.
This is a good solid little thriller that doesn't quite make a great deal of sense plot wise, but even so the film holds your interest. I had put the film on last night in order to use it as something to drift off to, instead I found the tale riveting enough I was up an extra 70 minutes. Lorre is the reason that one falls into this. His quite demeanor is unnerving. He does very little but its clear from his orders and the way everyone reacts to him (watch how they light his cigarettes) that he is a bad dude.
Worth a look if you should run across it.
This is a good solid little thriller that doesn't quite make a great deal of sense plot wise, but even so the film holds your interest. I had put the film on last night in order to use it as something to drift off to, instead I found the tale riveting enough I was up an extra 70 minutes. Lorre is the reason that one falls into this. His quite demeanor is unnerving. He does very little but its clear from his orders and the way everyone reacts to him (watch how they light his cigarettes) that he is a bad dude.
Worth a look if you should run across it.
Seen on Pittsburgh's Chiller Theater in 1966
kevinolzak13 January 2014
1940's "Island of Doomed Men" was among the 11 Columbia titles included in the SON OF SHOCK television package in the late 1950s, one of three to star Peter Lorre, followed by "The Face Behind the Mask" and "The Boogie Man Will Get You." The ill-fated actor Robert Wilcox ("The Man They Could Not Hang") is cast as Mark Sheldon, undercover agent from the Department of Justice, who certainly picks a roundabout way to conduct his investigation; convicted of a murder he didn't commit, orchestrated by the very man he's investigating, Lorre's Stephen Danel, winding up exactly where he intended to be all along after several uncertain months of good behavior. Dead Man's Isle is the place where Danel employs parolees as slave labor to mine diamonds when not being flogged for disobedience, with only three armed guards (Charles Middleton, Don Beddoe and Bruce Bennett) and an electrified fence to protect his home ("to keep out the animals and snakes!"). Also held captive is Danel's beautiful wife Lorraine (Rochelle Hudson), habitually clinging to Sheldon despite her husband's protests and seeking aid from houseboy Ziggy (George E. Stone), whose pet monkey throws a fit at the sight of the boss ("keep that monkey away from me!"). The script's characters are fairly one-dimensional, much like Warners' 1939 Karloff vehicle "Devil's Island," but Lorre's quiet, soft-spoken presence is more unnerving than any bombastic, overdone performance, making those moments when he does lose his cool quite chilling (what was it about that monkey anyway?). Every time he needs a light someone is there to fearfully do it with shaking hands, and the reactions of others matter more since Hollywood didn't dare show any depravity. The supporting cast is surprisingly strong but it's Lorre's show all the way, actually one of the few vehicles in which he's top billed as the main heavy (he and Rochelle Hudson had previously co-starred in "Mr. Moto Takes a Chance"). Despite its SHOCK! pedigree, "Island of Doomed Men" aired just once on Pittsburgh's Chiller Theater on Oct 1 1966.
Based on True Story?
betsmith619 June 2009
The basic story of Island of Doomed Men seems to be based on the true story of Narvassa Island. The main difference was in real life, the men were mining guano, not diamonds and they were black contract workers from the Balitmore area, not paroled convicts. Like in the movie, the men were treated brutally like slaves. This eventually led to an uprising with several of the overseers murdered. Some of the black workers were then put on trial for murder but when the true story of what was allowed to occur was publicized, they were pardoned by President Harrison. Narvassa Island, located between Cuba and Haiti, was designated a wildlife refuge in the 1990s.
Lovely lashings of Lorre!
Anne_Sharp27 February 2000
This delicious low camp kinkfest proves that studio-era censorship wasn't nearly as thorough as it's purported to have been. In what seems almost like a rehearsal for the tormented lustmurderer Dr. Rothe in "Der Verlorene," Lorre gives unexpected depth and nuance to the melodramatic villain Stephen Danel, with just a dash of his patented quirky humor. Though the film itself is crude and pulpy, with an extreme BDSM quotient (Danel's prisoners are kept in line with cat o' nine tails, as, it's strongly implied, is Mrs. Danel) Lorre's deft performance lifts "Island of Dommed Men" from the realm of the ridiculous into sublimity.
Devil in disguise
unbrokenmetal17 May 2020
Special agent Sheldon (Robert Wilcox) is sent to a desolate island where Danel (Peter Lorre) keeps convicts for forced labour. Danel took his wife Lorraine (Rochelle Hudson) to the island, but the promise of a tropical paradise was not exactly true; meanwhile she hates him. Sheldon now has the double task to put an end to the slave trade methods of Danel and help Lorraine to escape, while the prisoners don't sympathize with him, either.
Peter Lorre (previously starring in the Mr Moto series) is a brilliant villain in this movie. With his quiet voice and mild manners, he becomes menacing like a devil in disguise. I remember Rochelle Hudson from "The Savage Girl", she also appeared in one of Lorre's Mr Moto movies. The problem of the movie is that the hero (Wilcox) doesn*t make a big impression; partly that is in the script because he has to keep his mouth shut not to reveal his identity to Danel. Still the movie is worth watching for its dominant villain.
Peter Lorre (previously starring in the Mr Moto series) is a brilliant villain in this movie. With his quiet voice and mild manners, he becomes menacing like a devil in disguise. I remember Rochelle Hudson from "The Savage Girl", she also appeared in one of Lorre's Mr Moto movies. The problem of the movie is that the hero (Wilcox) doesn*t make a big impression; partly that is in the script because he has to keep his mouth shut not to reveal his identity to Danel. Still the movie is worth watching for its dominant villain.
Island with a Doomed Plot
marshalskrieg8 May 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I did enjoy watching this film, but the absurdity of the plot made it impossible for me to properly suspend my disbelief. I kept asking myself, 'huh'? The protagonist is given a secret government mission to infiltrate an island where questionable goings-on are thought to be happening. Then he ends up in prison for a crime he did not commit, is miraculously paroled after one year into the care of the man (and island) he was suppose to originally penetrate- at this point your head begins to explode with obvious questions like "Why wont the govt just send someone to the island to look around?" And many more... The plot holes in the film are too deep and wide... you better watch your step!
OK, the real point of this film is Peter Lorre. That's why we watch the movie- we just cannot get enough of the guy. His creepiness is in full force here,he plays a sadistic man of wealth with a barely concealed rage, impeccably dressed, with good taste, a soft spoken seething monster with a menacing yet polite manner- this is what we want, and Lorre completely delivers. 5.8 stars.
OK, the real point of this film is Peter Lorre. That's why we watch the movie- we just cannot get enough of the guy. His creepiness is in full force here,he plays a sadistic man of wealth with a barely concealed rage, impeccably dressed, with good taste, a soft spoken seething monster with a menacing yet polite manner- this is what we want, and Lorre completely delivers. 5.8 stars.
No escaping from Dead Man's Island.
michaelRokeefe28 June 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Peter Lorre plays sadistic Stephen Danel lording over Dead Man's Island. Danel uses paroled convicts as slaves digging in his diamond mine. Undercover Government agent Mark Sheldon(Robert Wilcox)is framed for murder, so Danel can arrange for him to be transferred under his custody to his remote island. It doesn't take long for Sheldon to set his eyes on Danel's beautiful wife Lorraine(Rochell Hudson). Plans are made to escape with one of Danel's workers. The glamorous Lorraine is fed up with her prison of a marriage and wants to escape too. The attempt is foiled by Danel's spy, Brand(Don Beddoe). All will not be lost as the undercover agent convinces several of the diamond diggers they are not totally doomed, because Danel can easily be out numbered. Will anyone, even just one, get off Dead Man's Island alive? Lorre is outstanding in this role. The movie is well paced under the direction of Charles Barton. Other players include: George E. Stone, Charles Middleton, Earl Gunn, Stanley Brown and Kenneth MacDonald.
Digging for diamonds.
bkoganbing17 April 2017
Island Of Doomed Men has Peter Lorre in the lead as the lord and master of his own private island where he has convict labor assigned there and has them digging for diamonds.
It doesn't look like the men are finding a lot of diamonds, but Lorre is sure living well, complete with trophy wife in Rochelle Hudson.
In a rather stupidly handled plot Robert Wilcox plays a government agent sent to investigate. He's convicted on a real murder charge though. I attribute the clumsy handling to some bad editing.
Not a great picture, but Lorre carries the whole thing with a Doctor Moreau like character. He may not be doing experiments on animals, but he's sure getting his jollies.
Peter Lorre fans will like this.
It doesn't look like the men are finding a lot of diamonds, but Lorre is sure living well, complete with trophy wife in Rochelle Hudson.
In a rather stupidly handled plot Robert Wilcox plays a government agent sent to investigate. He's convicted on a real murder charge though. I attribute the clumsy handling to some bad editing.
Not a great picture, but Lorre carries the whole thing with a Doctor Moreau like character. He may not be doing experiments on animals, but he's sure getting his jollies.
Peter Lorre fans will like this.
Peter Lorre Creepfest
Calaboss5 May 2009
Warning: Spoilers
The story in this movie is fairly implausible B grade stuff, but the script called for a creepy guy to play the lead, and in 1940, that meant Peter Lorre. And Peter is at his creepiest in this one as island owner Stephen Danel, who gets prisoners paroled to his custody to work at his island diamond mine. Upon arrival the parolees discover that they are slave mine workers that can be beaten or killed at the whim of Danel.
Only two things seem to have it worse off than the slaves; Danel's wife, and monkeys. Monkeys tick him off so much that his violence towards them probably leads to the only meat the slaves get.
Lorre is perfect in his role here, and creeps up the screen in industrial-strength fashion. Although the script is not Casablanca caliber, the editing is very tight and there are no wasted scenes. This is a very watchable story, but I'm not sure what niche this movie filled. Too long for a short subject, and too short for a feature length film, I'm not sure how this was marketed to theaters.
I just caught this for the first time on a late night/early morning TCM showing. Lorre fans will not want to miss this one if they haven't seen it.
Only two things seem to have it worse off than the slaves; Danel's wife, and monkeys. Monkeys tick him off so much that his violence towards them probably leads to the only meat the slaves get.
Lorre is perfect in his role here, and creeps up the screen in industrial-strength fashion. Although the script is not Casablanca caliber, the editing is very tight and there are no wasted scenes. This is a very watchable story, but I'm not sure what niche this movie filled. Too long for a short subject, and too short for a feature length film, I'm not sure how this was marketed to theaters.
I just caught this for the first time on a late night/early morning TCM showing. Lorre fans will not want to miss this one if they haven't seen it.
"You dirty slave-trading rat!"
bensonmum214 July 2015
Warning: Spoilers
If I have one problem with Island of Doomed Men, it's the complete lack of logic on display. Here's the storyline from the movie's main page on IMDb: "Sadistic Stephen Danel owns a penal island, and when he is not humiliating and mistreating his wife, he is torturing his convict prisoners and using them for slave labor. Government agent Mark Sheldon is sent to infiltrate the island and bring Danel to justice." There are a couple of glaring inaccuracies in this quote that go to my argument about a lack of logic.
First, Stephen Danel is not torturing "convict prisoners". Instead, he is torturing parolees. Parolees would undoubtedly be missed. How Danel gets away with his operation without someone becoming wise to what he's doing defies all logic. Like I said, these are parolees. Some would presumably have families that would be outraged if their loved ones just disappeared after being paroled. Also, I'd think the U.S. prison system would do a better job of monitoring parolees. Sure, a few might fall through the cracks, but not the dozens Danel has gone through over the years.
Second, Sheldon's plan to bring down Danel is so convoluted and illogical that it will make your head hurt if you think about it long enough. The quote makes it sound as if the Justice Department (or some other government agency) sent him to the island on a mission. Not true. Instead, to get to the island, Sheldon allowed himself to be convicted of a murder he didn't commit, serve a whole year in jail, and have himself conveniently paroled into Danel's custody. What a ridiculous plan! Sheldon's predecessor appeared to have enough information on Danel to justify a search warrant. When Sheldon was arrested, why not come forward with that information instead of going through the ridiculous steps he took to get to Danel? Utterly illogical.
If it weren't for Peter Lorre's performance, some decent tension in the film's finale, and Rochelle Hudson, I'd easily rate this one much lower.
First, Stephen Danel is not torturing "convict prisoners". Instead, he is torturing parolees. Parolees would undoubtedly be missed. How Danel gets away with his operation without someone becoming wise to what he's doing defies all logic. Like I said, these are parolees. Some would presumably have families that would be outraged if their loved ones just disappeared after being paroled. Also, I'd think the U.S. prison system would do a better job of monitoring parolees. Sure, a few might fall through the cracks, but not the dozens Danel has gone through over the years.
Second, Sheldon's plan to bring down Danel is so convoluted and illogical that it will make your head hurt if you think about it long enough. The quote makes it sound as if the Justice Department (or some other government agency) sent him to the island on a mission. Not true. Instead, to get to the island, Sheldon allowed himself to be convicted of a murder he didn't commit, serve a whole year in jail, and have himself conveniently paroled into Danel's custody. What a ridiculous plan! Sheldon's predecessor appeared to have enough information on Danel to justify a search warrant. When Sheldon was arrested, why not come forward with that information instead of going through the ridiculous steps he took to get to Danel? Utterly illogical.
If it weren't for Peter Lorre's performance, some decent tension in the film's finale, and Rochelle Hudson, I'd easily rate this one much lower.
Best Lines ever delivered by Peter Lorre
ice_9-111 February 2006
Peter Lorre was born to play Stephen Danel with lines like: "Mr. Smith, you shouldn't hold my wife like that." and "I told you not to keep the monkey in the house!" The poster for this film is an eerie green and Peter Lorre leers in way that makes you never want to go to his penal colony / island. This film is not available on DVD although it is a classic and very rarely shown on TV. What exactly is the relationship between Stephen Danel and the monkey? Why does the monkey upset him so much. We will never know. The film should be colorized by someone and excerpts should be made into a Kinks video. The film was re-released in the 1950s and only a few of the Peter Lorre biographies spend any text on this film. Casablanca was right around the corner. Bogart could have been on that island but they surely did not have the budget for him
Condoomed Men!
hitchcockthelegend9 March 2013
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
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
Peter Lorre left Twentieth Century-Fox to make this sort of film?!
planktonrules26 May 2009
Warning: Spoilers
From 1936-1939, Peter Lorre made a string of highly successful Mr. Moto films. While technically B-films, they were much better made than typical films of the genre. However, Lorre tired of making these highly repetitive films and told friends he wanted out of the series. When it was canceled in 1939, Lorre was thrilled but his plans of getting more complicated and satisfying roles did not materialize when he moved to Columbia Pictures. ISLAND OF DOOMED MEN is one of these films and it's pretty obvious the studio isn't putting much effort into the movie, as I think the plot was written by penguins. Talented penguins, perhaps...but still the movie made little sense at all.
It begins with a guy agreeing to be an undercover agent for the government. He is to infiltrate an island in the US where something strange is amiss. Now they easily could have just got a search warrant to do this. But, given that penguins were writing the film, the agent takes the rap for a murder he didn't commit and spends a year in prison for this. He apparently hopes that he'll be paroled to this island, as many parolees are sent there when they finish the term.
There are some more serious problems with this idea. First, they only have him serve a year before getting paroled--but he was convicted of MURDER and he refused to divulge who he really was. They would never parole anyone in a case like this. Second, what if he wasn't paroled to the island? He would have spent an entire year in jail for nothing! Third, why not just have scuba divers or paratroopers or cops in boats come to the island?! Talk about a contrived plot!
Once on the island, the agent discovers that evil Peter Lorre has set up his own private prison and staffed it with guys on parole as slave labor. What about the men having to report to their parole officers? This was never explained, but Lorre was using them to mine for diamonds and they were treated abominably. Now, another question I had was that if Lorre was discovering huge diamonds there, he was a very wealthy man. So, why not just PAY people to mine for the diamonds?! Why set up your own version of Devil's Island and savagely beat and kill the men?!
Eventually, Lorre gets what's his and the island's slaves are released. Unfortunately, by then, I really didn't care. Overall, watchable but rather dumb. Lorre's career only took a turn for the better when he moved the following year to Warner Brothers. With films like ISLAND OF DOOMED MEN, I could see why his stay at Columbia was short.
It begins with a guy agreeing to be an undercover agent for the government. He is to infiltrate an island in the US where something strange is amiss. Now they easily could have just got a search warrant to do this. But, given that penguins were writing the film, the agent takes the rap for a murder he didn't commit and spends a year in prison for this. He apparently hopes that he'll be paroled to this island, as many parolees are sent there when they finish the term.
There are some more serious problems with this idea. First, they only have him serve a year before getting paroled--but he was convicted of MURDER and he refused to divulge who he really was. They would never parole anyone in a case like this. Second, what if he wasn't paroled to the island? He would have spent an entire year in jail for nothing! Third, why not just have scuba divers or paratroopers or cops in boats come to the island?! Talk about a contrived plot!
Once on the island, the agent discovers that evil Peter Lorre has set up his own private prison and staffed it with guys on parole as slave labor. What about the men having to report to their parole officers? This was never explained, but Lorre was using them to mine for diamonds and they were treated abominably. Now, another question I had was that if Lorre was discovering huge diamonds there, he was a very wealthy man. So, why not just PAY people to mine for the diamonds?! Why set up your own version of Devil's Island and savagely beat and kill the men?!
Eventually, Lorre gets what's his and the island's slaves are released. Unfortunately, by then, I really didn't care. Overall, watchable but rather dumb. Lorre's career only took a turn for the better when he moved the following year to Warner Brothers. With films like ISLAND OF DOOMED MEN, I could see why his stay at Columbia was short.
A hidden gem perhaps...
Bawoof9 October 2017
Okay so this is NOT "Island of Lost Souls" or "The Big House" but I do think that fans of Peter Lorre would enjoy it. No need to hash out the plot here, and yes of course this is nothing more than a 1940s B-Movie. Nonetheless, if you grew up decades ago and have fond memories of staying up late and watching the old horror movies and science fiction monster movies on TV over the weekends, then watching this movie might be an enjoyable way to spend a late Friday or Saturday night, even though it's more of a "semi-noir" movie instead of a horror film.
Slick but flat
gridoon202430 March 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Peter Lorre is the whole show here, and his soft-spoken line delivery is frequently awesome ("You should have remembered that I am a very light sleeper"), but he doesn't have much to play against; his favorite pastime is psychologically terrorizing his younger wife (Rochelle Hudson). The film is slickly produced (and the DVD print is in pristine condition), but the script is too simple, too pat; it doesn't have enough complications in it. **1/2 out of 4.
Outstanding Lorre, good support from Hudson, Wilcox
adrianovasconcelos16 September 2022
ISLAND OF DOOMED MEN was shot in 1940 with WWII already raging in Europe. Lorre, who had first grabbed international attention with his lead role in Fritz Lang's M in Germany, just before the Nazis came to power and he fled for France and then the UK, must have appreciated playing a part very reminiscent of the dictatorial figure of Hitler, ordering his wife and servants about on pain of various types of physical punishment ranging from whipping to getting shot.
Lorre serves up a truly magnificent performance as someone totally blinded by power. His somnolent eyes carry menace and even his uneven teeth look creepy! He is well supported by Rochelle Hudson, as the wife who realizes the mistake of gold digging and marrying for money only to end up an inmate in her own abode; and Wilcox, as secret agent Sheldon, aka John Smith, also provides convincing acting support. Curiously, Sheldon gets his operation orders in a manner that must have been a blueprint for the Mission Impossible series 20 years later.
Acceptable B quality cinematography, reasonably solid script despite the predictable ending, and Charles Barton's typically effective direction render 69' minute long ISLAND OF DOOMED MEN most watchable.
Lorre serves up a truly magnificent performance as someone totally blinded by power. His somnolent eyes carry menace and even his uneven teeth look creepy! He is well supported by Rochelle Hudson, as the wife who realizes the mistake of gold digging and marrying for money only to end up an inmate in her own abode; and Wilcox, as secret agent Sheldon, aka John Smith, also provides convincing acting support. Curiously, Sheldon gets his operation orders in a manner that must have been a blueprint for the Mission Impossible series 20 years later.
Acceptable B quality cinematography, reasonably solid script despite the predictable ending, and Charles Barton's typically effective direction render 69' minute long ISLAND OF DOOMED MEN most watchable.
A solid example of the Hollywood "B" movie
dinky-46 April 1999
G-Man Robert Wilcox goes "undercover" as "Mr. Smith" to expose brutal conditions on an island -- somewhere in the Pacific Ocean? -- where paroled men perform slave-labor in a mine owned by Peter Lorre. In the process, Wilcox falls in love with Lorre's wife, Rochelle Hudson, who's just as much a prisoner on Dead Man's Island as he is. Timed to run just over an hour, this tightly-constructed B-movie is a fine example of its genre -- brisk, efficient, and always entertaining, though it does take awhile to actually reach the island in question. As expected, Lorre dominates the proceedings with one of his trademark performances in which he manages to be both creepy and cultured, smooth and sadistic. He even adds a homoerotic undertone to his scenes with Robert Wilcox, particularly the one in which he watches a shirtless Wilcox being bound to a post in preparation for a late-night flogging. "Don't overdo it, Captain," Lorre warns the man with the whip. "There's a lot Mr. Smith ought to tell me and he may want to tell me before you finish. Oh, and be sure that he's able to work tomorrow." Curiously, Lorre departs the scene before the whip starts cutting into Wilcox's back, but you can be sure he'll derive a great deal of pleasure in thinking over the young man's pain and suffering. Incidentally, this is one of the few movies, (along with "Damn the Defiant!"), in which two men are given separate floggings during the course of the story. Earlier in the movie, Lorre oversees the flogging of a prisoner played by Stanley Brown. It's Wilcox's flogging, however, that is of real interest. Along with Alan Ladd's meeting with a cat-o'-nine-tails in "Two Years Before the Mast," this scene qualifies as one of Hollywood's most memorable floggings of the 1940s and it ranks 16th in the book, "Lash! The Hundred Great Scenes of Men Being Whipped in the Movies." Wilcox, of course, looks much too strong, determined, and virile to faint dead away after just fourteen blows with a whip, but his loss of consciousness provides a convenient way for the scene to come to an end.
Lorre at his most menacing
Leofwine_draca1 April 2023
ISLAND OF DOOMED MEN is a typical B-movie of its type in which an FBI agent is tasked with going undercover as a prisoner on a penal colony on a remote Pacific island. The place is run by Peter Lorre, delivering a typically ultra-creepy performance as the softly-spoken boss who runs the place with an iron fist. In many respects this is similar to THE ISLAND OF LOST SOULS, the classic adaptation of the Wells novel with Charles Laughton, but shorn of any supernatural content. It's nonetheless atmospheric and violent at times, with Rochelle Hudson adding allure and plenty of suspense as we witness some of humankind's darkest behaviour.
Heart of Dimness
richardchatten31 January 2017
With a title like that, and the prospect of Peter Lorre presiding over his own private island of slave labourers, you'd think this couldn't fail; but actually watching this movie is like watching paint dry. Glossily photographed by Benjamin Kline, the elegance of the home surrounded by an electrified fence that Lorre shares with his bored high maintenance wife Rochelle Hudson (probably standing sets from other productions) manages to make the film seem even more inert than it already does, since it makes what passes for action on his premises seem even more detached from the supposedly rugged desert island setting than already seemed possible.
Although Lorre could in better films underplay very seductively, here he just looks bored, except whenever he sees George E. Stone's pet monkey, when he suddenly and abruptly goes berserk. Just as Clint Eastwood's mistreatment of Pamelyn Ferdin's pet turtle Randolph brought about his doom in Don Siegel's 'The Beguiled' (1971), so Lorre's Achilles' heel proves to be Stone's monkey.
Although Lorre could in better films underplay very seductively, here he just looks bored, except whenever he sees George E. Stone's pet monkey, when he suddenly and abruptly goes berserk. Just as Clint Eastwood's mistreatment of Pamelyn Ferdin's pet turtle Randolph brought about his doom in Don Siegel's 'The Beguiled' (1971), so Lorre's Achilles' heel proves to be Stone's monkey.
Another great villain courtesy of Peter Lorre
Stevieboy6663 December 2022
American convicts are worked to death in a diamond mine owned by one Stephen Danel (Peter Lorre) on a small remote island, undercover agent Mark "64" Sheldon manages to get sent there with the aim of breaking up Danel's evil racket. Once there he is told by a fellow con/slave "There's only one way out of here - make them kill you!" As usual Lorre gives a wonderful performance and here he rightly gets top billing, Robert Wilcox is pretty good as Sheldon too. Danel is married to the beautiful Lorraine (Rochelle Hudson, another good reason to watch this movie) but theirs is a very unhappy marriage. Lorre once again is very creepy though this is a crime drama, not a horror movie. Despite its low budget the movie is atmospheric, has some good performances, cinematography and a tense finale, it sails through its 67 minutes running time. Great title too!
"What I own I keep."
utgard143 August 2021
Routine B picture with Peter Lorre as a sadistic slaver who owns a diamond mine on a private island. His newest slave is a government agent (Robert Wilcox) wrongfully convicted of murder. The new guy wastes no time romancing Lorre's beautiful wife (Rochelle Hudson), who desperately wants to leave the island and her evil husband. Lorre's the whole show here. He rises above the mediocre material. Wilcox is the kind of hero that makes you root for the villains. Hudson is sympathetic enough but it's hard to gain sympathy when the bad guy is portrayed with more color and charisma than the heroes. If you're a Peter Lorre fan, you'll like this more than most. I wouldn't recommend it to the more casual classic film fan though.
Watch it for Peter Lorre.
Maverick19628 February 2024
I love these 1940's b/w thriller movies for the nostalgic atmosphere of Hollywood. Too many reviewers on here seem to want a documentary by analysing the holes in the story. Who cares? It's 80 minutes of fantasy with a stand out villain in the great Peter Lorre. Here he definitely looks like he's on something extremely relaxing in his tea, as his evil eyes, ever so slowly, almost close, then even more slowly open again, all the while quietly speaking in a voice to chill the devil.
A government agent goes to the island, after a somewhat convoluted plot about getting locked up for murder and released a year later (??) He infiltrates the island in order to investigate rumours of the owner, Lorre, using convicts as slaves to mine for diamonds, and who treats them savagely if they are awkward.
He has a beautiful trophy wife thrown into the mix, Rochelle Hudson, who would still look great on the screen today, and a servant with a pet monkey that he hates.
All very 1930/40 melodrama with familiar supporting actors, but all glued together by the formidable Peter Lorre.
A government agent goes to the island, after a somewhat convoluted plot about getting locked up for murder and released a year later (??) He infiltrates the island in order to investigate rumours of the owner, Lorre, using convicts as slaves to mine for diamonds, and who treats them savagely if they are awkward.
He has a beautiful trophy wife thrown into the mix, Rochelle Hudson, who would still look great on the screen today, and a servant with a pet monkey that he hates.
All very 1930/40 melodrama with familiar supporting actors, but all glued together by the formidable Peter Lorre.
Terminal Island.
morrison-dylan-fan11 March 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Moving to ICM after IMDb stupidly shut down its message boards,I decided to take part in a poll on the best titles of 1940. Originally planning to end my viewings with the Peter Lorre-starring Stranger on the Third Floor,I was sadly unable to find the movie in time,but thankfully stumbled on another 1940 Lorre film which looked like it had a similar mood,which led to me going to the island.
The plot:
Working undercover with his partner, undercover secret service agent Mark Sheldon is told by his friend that he has found out about a desert island where men are being sent to for modern slavery. Just before he reveals who is in charge of the island,Sheldon's pal is shot in the back. Desperate to get his revenge,Sheldon goes deeper undercover in order to secure his own tickets to the sadistic island.
View on the film:
Shooting Sheldon's friend in the back with ultra-stylish low lighting,director Charles Barton & cinematographer Benjamin H. Kline swing the fruit of the jungle between early proto-Film Noir espionage and burning hot proto-007 "Adventure." Peeling open baddie Stephen Danel's lair,Barton make up a hideout worthy of Bond,as Barton and Kline cover the island in bright lights that create a scorching hot atmosphere.
Kept to a smooth 68 minutes,the screenplay by Robert Hardy Andrews keeps the action on a razor edge,via pulling Sheldon out of his big city Noir and into a jungle where he is out of his depths. Whilst keeping Sheldon's manner blunt,Andrews gives the flick shots of a mischievous nature by giving Danel peculiar edges that includes a hatred for a rather cute monkey. Joined by a rough and ready Robert Wilcox as Sheldon and a glamorous Rochelle Hudson as island babe Lorraine Danel, Stephen Danel deliciously chews every scene as Peter Lorre,thanks to Lorre linking Danel's menace with a wicked playfulness,on the island of doomed men.
The plot:
Working undercover with his partner, undercover secret service agent Mark Sheldon is told by his friend that he has found out about a desert island where men are being sent to for modern slavery. Just before he reveals who is in charge of the island,Sheldon's pal is shot in the back. Desperate to get his revenge,Sheldon goes deeper undercover in order to secure his own tickets to the sadistic island.
View on the film:
Shooting Sheldon's friend in the back with ultra-stylish low lighting,director Charles Barton & cinematographer Benjamin H. Kline swing the fruit of the jungle between early proto-Film Noir espionage and burning hot proto-007 "Adventure." Peeling open baddie Stephen Danel's lair,Barton make up a hideout worthy of Bond,as Barton and Kline cover the island in bright lights that create a scorching hot atmosphere.
Kept to a smooth 68 minutes,the screenplay by Robert Hardy Andrews keeps the action on a razor edge,via pulling Sheldon out of his big city Noir and into a jungle where he is out of his depths. Whilst keeping Sheldon's manner blunt,Andrews gives the flick shots of a mischievous nature by giving Danel peculiar edges that includes a hatred for a rather cute monkey. Joined by a rough and ready Robert Wilcox as Sheldon and a glamorous Rochelle Hudson as island babe Lorraine Danel, Stephen Danel deliciously chews every scene as Peter Lorre,thanks to Lorre linking Danel's menace with a wicked playfulness,on the island of doomed men.
Watchable But Still Kind of Doomed
daoldiges20 March 2024
Initially it was the title of Island of Doomed Men that caught my attention. Then when I then noticed Peter Lorre I knew I had to check it out. Lorre and to a lesser degree Wilcox, brought something of real interest to the film with solid performances, Lorre in particular stands out. Unfortunately, the story set-up is oddly sequenced and then becomes so straightforward in its delivery that the viewer has a challenging time really getting into the proceedings. I think this film had some potential to be so much more than what it ended up being. Nevertheless and despite quite a few shortcomings, the Island of Doomed Men is still a watchable film.
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