By Glenn Erickson
Men in Exile
Brief Synopsis
Gun smugglers clash with an island dictator.
Cast & Crew
Read More
John Farrow
Director
Dick Purcell
Jimmy Carmody
June Travis
Sally Haines
Victor Varconi
Colonel [Emanuel] Gomez
Olin Howland
[H. Mortimer] Jones
Margaret Irving
Mother Haines
Film Details
Genre
Drama
Release Date
Apr
4,
1937
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
58m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
5,203ft
(6 reels)
Synopsis
When jewel thieves use ex-convict Jimmy Carmody's taxi as a getaway car, Jimmy is accused of acting as an accessory and must leave town for an island in the Caribbean that has no extradition laws. Jimmy is helped in his efforts by gunrunner Rocky Crane, a former crony, who expects him to join him in his illegal activities. He introduces Jimmy to General Alcatraz, who is buying the smuggled guns in order to overthrow the current head of state, Colonel Emanuel Gomez. Jimmy turns Crane down, having decided to "go straight." He books a room at the Imperial, a hotel Mother Haines runs with help from her daughter Sally and son Danny. Sally immediately catches Jimmy's eye. She informs him that he must register with the police and then find a job in order to stay on the island. Not wanting to work for Crane, Jimmy asks Mother Haines for a job and she reluctantly agrees. Despite his mother's disapproval, Danny works with Crane, and is in love with Crane's wife Rita. In order to get Crane out of the way, Rita informs the police about his next smuggling trip, planning to run away with Danny after Crane is arrested. Crane escapes from jail, however, and after learning that Rita and Danny informed on him, decides to kill them both before leaving the island. Crane confronts Danny at the hotel, but Danny draws first and kills him. Sally witnesses the murder and helps Danny develop an alibi. On his way upstairs to pack, Danny slips the murder weapon into Jimmy's jacket pocket. When the police discover Crane's body and then find the gun, they arrest Jimmy. Although Mother Haines learns that Danny committed the murder, she refuses to let Sally clear Jimmy. Because she loves Jimmy, Sally ignores her mother's orders and goes to the police. Danny follows her, intending to speak to Gomez before she does. He claims that Sally is lying to save her lover's life, and Gomez orders his men to proceed with Jimmy's execution. At the last minute, Danny stops him and confesses everything. Gomez agrees to give Danny a break for his information and frees Jimmy, who proposes to Sally.
Director
John Farrow
Director
Cast
Dick Purcell
Jimmy Carmody
June Travis
Sally Haines
Victor Varconi
Colonel [Emanuel] Gomez
Olin Howland
[H. Mortimer] Jones
Margaret Irving
Mother Haines
Norman Willis
Rocky Crane
Veda Ann Borg
Rita
Alan Baxter
Danny Haines
Carlos Devaldez
General Alcatraz
Alec Harford
Limey
John Alexander
Witherspoon
Demetris Emanuel
Aide to Gomez
Crew
Film Details
Genre
Drama
Release Date
Apr
4,
1937
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
58m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
5,203ft
(6 reels)
Articles
Men in Exile -
In 1928, Bryan Foy directed Warner Bros.' first all talking feature, Lights of New York. But he spent most of the 1930s producing and supervising the studio's lowercase program pictures without screen credit, including the Torchy Blane and Nancy Drew series. 1937's Men in Exile is a curious little adventure drama about the Caribbean island of Caribo, run by a dictator who has no extradition treaties. The isle is therefore a haven for men like Jimmy Carmody (Dick Purcell), an unjustly convicted fugitive who refuses to join in with criminal and gunrunners attempting to overthrow the dictator, Colonel Gomez (Victor Varconi). Jimmy ends up framed for murder and slated for execution. Less than an hour long, the film attracted scant attention, although the trade reviews did praise the creative direction of its ambitious director, John Farrow. First-billed Dick Purcell would never reach top star status, but he does have the distinction of playing Captain America in Columbia's 1944 serial. After spending three years playing girlfriends in minor Warners pictures like this one, beautiful June Travis married well and left the industry behind. Supporting player Veda Ann Borg had worse luck in the form of a disfiguring traffic accident, but recovered well enough to continue acting, and eventually married director Andrew V. McLaglen. Screenwriter Roy Chanslor continued writing genre and adventure movies, but two of his novels were adapted into classic westerns: Johnny Guitar (1954) and Cat Ballou (1965).
By Glenn Erickson
By Glenn Erickson
Men in Exile -
In 1928, Bryan Foy directed Warner Bros.' first all talking feature, Lights of New York. But he spent most of the 1930s producing and supervising the studio's lowercase program pictures without screen credit, including the Torchy Blane and Nancy Drew series. 1937's Men in Exile is a curious little adventure drama about the Caribbean island of Caribo, run by a dictator who has no extradition treaties. The isle is therefore a haven for men like Jimmy Carmody (Dick Purcell), an unjustly convicted fugitive who refuses to join in with criminal and gunrunners attempting to overthrow the dictator, Colonel Gomez (Victor Varconi). Jimmy ends up framed for murder and slated for execution. Less than an hour long, the film attracted scant attention, although the trade reviews did praise the creative direction of its ambitious director, John Farrow. First-billed Dick Purcell would never reach top star status, but he does have the distinction of playing Captain America in Columbia's 1944 serial. After spending three years playing girlfriends in minor Warners pictures like this one, beautiful June Travis married well and left the industry behind. Supporting player Veda Ann Borg had worse luck in the form of a disfiguring traffic accident, but recovered well enough to continue acting, and eventually married director Andrew V. McLaglen. Screenwriter Roy Chanslor continued writing genre and adventure movies, but two of his novels were adapted into classic westerns: Johnny Guitar (1954) and Cat Ballou (1965).
By Glenn Erickson
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
This was John Farrow's first directorial effort.
