Michel, a debonair young thief, and Jacques, an unscrupulous murderer, are sent to Devil’s Island, the French penal colony, where Vidal, the dictatorial warden, rules with an iron hand. His beautiful young wife, Madame Vidal, repelled by the island, becomes dangerously attracted to Michel when he is made her house servant, thus severing his friendship with Jacques. When Vidal hears gossip about his wife and Michel, he confronts her and then Michel with jealous accusations; frenzied, his wife turns on him, swearing Michel is innocent though she loves him. Michel is sent to solitary confinement on the dreaded island of St. Joseph. Learning Vidal plans to send her back to France, Madame Vidal communicates through Jacques with Michel, who effects an escape and conspires to meet her aboard a steamer. In the escape attempt, Vidal is drowned and Jacques is fatally shot; Michel surrenders but exchanges an oath of eternal fidelity with Lady Vidal. She cries as her ship pulls away from the island, but after Michel has served his time at Devil’s Island, she is there to greet him at a Paris railroad station. More on Wikipedia or Mubi
Festival Film- Awards & Festivals
Academy Awards, 1930- Nominee: Best Actor in a Leading Role
Watch Condemned (1929)
