“If losers and themes of entrapment and defeat are characteristics of film noir, then this grim William Wellman film is noir with a vengeance, despite its sunny island locale for much of its length. There's some black humor--including caustic comments about the ‘wrigglers' in the drinking water--but it's decidedly downbeat fare. A beautiful performance from Dorothy Mackaill and good ones from Donald Cook and a large cast of Warners regulars.” W.K.E. Mackaill stars as Gilda, a fiery woman who burns down a New Orleans hotel within the first five minutes of the film, and is spirited off by her boyfriend to a tropical island where fugitive criminals live safe from extradition.