Strange Cargo

1940
Approved
1h 53m

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

3.1K

YOUR RATING

Clark Gable and Joan Crawford in Strange Cargo (1940)

Play trailer2:33

1 Video

35 Photos

Adventure Epic Prison Drama Adventure Drama Romance

Convicts escaping from Devil's Island come under the influence of a strange Christ-like figure.Convicts escaping from Devil's Island come under the influence of a strange Christ-like figure.Convicts escaping from Devil's Island come under the influence of a strange Christ-like figure.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

3.1K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Videos1

Trailer 2:33

Trailer

Photos35

Top cast37

Edit

Clark Gable

Verne

Joan Crawford

Julie

Ian Hunter

Cambreau

Peter Lorre

M'sieu Pig

Paul Lukas

Hessler

Albert Dekker

Moll

J. Edward Bromberg

Flaubert

Eduardo Ciannelli

Telez

John Arledge

Dufond

Frederick Worlock

Grideau
(as Frederic Worlock)

Bernard Nedell

Marfeu

Victor Varconi

Fisherman

Jack Adair

Guard
(uncredited)

Richard Alexander

Guard
(uncredited)

Stanley Andrews

Constable
(uncredited)

Betty Compson

Suzanne
(uncredited)

Gene Coogan

Convict
(uncredited)

Harry Cording

Guard
(uncredited)

More like this

6.9

6.3

6.8

6.4

6.9

6.4

The Last of Mrs. Cheyney

6.5

6.3

6.0

6.6

7.0

7.2

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
Received a "Condemned" rating from the Catholic Legion of Decency for "irreverent use of Scripture" and "lustful complications." Even after the studio made the changes demanded, distribution was sharply cut by cities refusing to book it. Contemporary articles in The Hollywood Reporter noted the film was banned in Detroit. Other sources state it also was banned in Boston and Providence, Rhode Island.

Goofs
At one point, Verne (Clark Gable) escapes by jumping out a window into the water. A short while later, on land, he pulls a out a Bible from inside his shirt to check a map printed inside. As he flips through the pages, there is no sign whatsoever that the book got wet. The unprotected Bible should have shown signs of water immersion (damp edges, soggy paper, etc.), but it appears to be perfectly dry.

Quotes
André Verne: So you outsmarted me, huh?
Julie: That's what happens, they tell me, when smart people get together. One of them winds up ahead.

Alternate versions
There is an Italian edition of this film on DVD, distributed by DNA Srl: "VOLTO DI DONNA (1941) DONNE (1939) STRANGE CARGO (1940)" (3 Films on a single DVD), re-edited with the contribution of film historian Riccardo Cusin. This version is also available for streaming on some platforms.

Connections
Featured in Hero at Large (1980)

User reviews54

Review

Featured review

7/10

Pretty darn strange!

This entertaining conflation of "Rain," "Island of Doomed Men," and "The Passing of the Third Floor Back" throws Joan Crawford and Clark Gable into a lifeboat with the incarnation of Jesus Christ, which is worth the price of the video already. Add a lovesick Peter Lorre (clearly worth ten Gables) pattering after the unreceptive Miss Crawford, who keeps calling him "Monsieur Pig," and you've got substance. Unforgettable camp of the highest order.