Clark Gable

STRANGE CARGO

MGM, 1940.  Directed by Frank Borzage.  Camera:  Robert Planck.  With Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, Ian Hunter, Peter Lorre, Paul Lukas, Albert Dekker, Betty Compson.

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At a penal colony in French Guiana, Verne, an incorrigible prisoner, makes an escape attempt but is turned in by Julie, a prostitute whom he accosts.  Verne blackmails his way into another escape party led by Moll, a brutal killer who beats Verne in his sleep and leaves him behind.  Cambreau, a benevolent, mysterious stranger who has recently appeared at the prison, leaves Verne a map of the escape route, however, and he follows, stopping en route to rescue Julie, who has been evicted from the colony and is being held at the mercy of Marfeu, her cruel captor.

Julie and Verne join the escape party, which includes Telez (a religious hypocrite), Hessler (a cynical bluebeard), Flaubert (a repulsive paranoiac), Dufond (a cowardly young man), Moll, and Cambreau, whose inexplicable foresight and wisdom saves the party again and again.

As the convicts cross the jungle and leave the island in a boat, many of the party die, but are led to spiritual redemption by Cambreau at the moment of death.  Only Verne, Julie, Hessler and Cambreau reach the mainland.  Hessler, the only unrepentant convict, leaves the group while Julie, who has fallen in love with Verne, agrees to leave with the villainous M'sieu Pig, who covets her, to prevent him from reporting Verne.

About to kill Cambreau to prevent him from talking, Verne realizes that Cambreau is God and repents, turning himself in.  Julie, her sacrifice no longer necessary, agrees to wait for him.

American Film Institute Catalog

Additional photos courtesy of Gary