One Way Passage (1932)

A terminally ill woman and a debonair murderer facing execution meet and fall in love on a trans-Pacific crossing, each without knowing the other's secret.

Director:

Tay Garnett

Writers:

Wilson Mizner (screenplay), Joseph Jackson (screenplay),

Stars:

William Powell, Kay Francis, Aline MacMahon

Won 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
William Powell	...	Dan
Kay Francis	...	Joan
Aline MacMahon	...	Betty
Frank McHugh	...	Skippy
Warren Hymer	...	Steve
Frederick Burton	...	The Doctor

Storyline

Suave Dan Hardesty, a convicted murderer, is apprehended by Steve Burke, a police detective, in Hong Kong and accompanied on the SS Maloa headed for San Francisco. On board, Dan romances Joan Ames, a terminally ill socialite. She is unaware that his ultimate destination is San Quentin. Both realize that their time together is fleeting so they make a pact to meet at a Mexican night club on New Years Eve. When they part in San Francisco they know that the odds are against them.

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Plot Keywords:

new year's eve | hong kong | lovers rendezvous | engine room | bar | 

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Taglines:

Romance...reaching the Heights of Heaven!

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 October 1932 (USA)

Also Known As:

S.S. Atlantic

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

67 min 67 min (TCM print)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on March 6, 1939 with William Powell reprising his film role.

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Goofs

In the scene where Dan and Joan meet at a bar and toast one another, keep an eye on Dan's drink. (It's a rare concoction that appears cloudy when first poured.) There are many shots spliced together to show the ensuing dialogue and toast. In each, the cloudiness and quantity of Dan's drink change quite noticeably after a fateful spill and before he even takes a sip.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Hong Kong Bartender: [mixing a very complex drink] I haven't made one of these since the fourth of July. I was making one when the quake hit Frisco. Believe me friend, I wouldn't go to all this trouble for any of these foreigners. Uh, uh, gotta wait a minute to let the oil sink in. There you are partner, you can tell your grandchildren about that one.
Dan: [before Dan can take a sip, the contents of the glass are knocked out of his hand by Joan backing into him] Say what in the name of...
Joan: Why... I'm so sorry.
Dan:
Joan:
Dan:
Joan: [...]

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Connections

Referenced in This Property Is Condemned (1966)

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Soundtracks

"Auld Lang Syne"
(uncredited)
Traditional Scottish 17th century music
Played during the New Year's Eve bash

User Reviews

Bittersweet Pair Find Love On A Pacific Voyage

This runs at 69 minutes. But it seems like so much is packed into those 69 minutes. Nice story directed by Tay Garnett. William Powel plays a convicted man on the run from the law. The marvelous Kay Francis is a terminally ill woman. They are both passengers on a trans-Pacific voyage to San Francisco. Powell's character avoids getting caught by police agents on the ship. At the same time he romances Francis. The interplay between Powell, Francis & even the rest of the cast is great. Warren Hymer as the detective who eventually gets Powell plays his usually shifty self.(Hymer was excellent in The Unholy Garden with Ronald Colman.) A great character actor the likes of which we don't see anymore. Also in the cast are Aline McMahon and Frank McHugh. Parts of this movie may remind one of the Marx Bros. "Monkey Business", which came out the year before, but without the comic shenanigans. This could also be Leo & Kate from Titanic but with a different outcome. The ship don't sink. 9 out of 10.