Later remade as "Between Two Worlds."Later remade as "Between Two Worlds."Later remade as "Between Two Worlds."Later remade as "Between Two Worlds."Later remade as "Between Two Worlds."
Dudley Digges
- Thompson - the Examineras Thompson - the Examiner
- (as Dudley Diggs)
Alison Skipworth
- Mrs. Cliveden-Banksas Mrs. Cliveden-Banks
- (as Allison Skipworth)
Daisy Belmore
- Second Gossipas Second Gossip
- (uncredited)
Nora Cecil
- Third Gossipas Third Gossip
- (uncredited)
Walter Kingsford
- The Policemanas The Policeman
- (uncredited)
Tempe Pigott
- First Gossipas First Gossip
- (uncredited)
Henry and Ann are a young loving couple who have made a secret pact which they plan on executing at midnight. It involves stowing away on a passenger ship and leaving behind their beloved dog Laddy, a move they consider bittersweet. They seem somewhat apprehensive concerning their pact. Aboard the ship, a young man named Tom Prior, who seems to like his booze a little too much, has a feeling that something about the sailing is rather queer as everyone to who he speaks seems not to remember with who they are meeting or where they are going. The only exception is elderly socialite Mrs. Cliveden-Banks, who is off to meet her husband, Bunny. The only other passengers aboard are Catholic priest Reverend William Duke, wealthy business owner Mr. Lingley for who Tom used to work, and an uneducated working class elderly woman named Mrs. Midget. The only crew member is Scrubby, the steward. Tom eventually deciphers the nature of their trip, quicker than most that have taken it before have done. Before they reach their final destination, they each meet with a man named Thompson to discuss their life. Henry and Ann also want to meet with Thompson to take their pact to its intended conclusion, which may not be possible since they are not officially on the passenger list. —Huggo
Top review
A Play's Filmed Afterlife Remains Stagebound
One should probably view "Outward Bound" before reading reviews of it, because unlike its remake, "Between Two Worlds" (1944), it does withhold its premise for a brief period. These films would've been better, too, had they not resolved themselves as bluntly as a sermon. The best part of this adaptation is that it has some foggy and dreamlike atmosphere that's eerie at first, with passengers on a ship seemingly confused and suffering memory loss, which almost lifts this project from its origins as a stage play. The aged speckling and occasional audio deterioration on the surviving print I saw on the Turner Classic Movies TV channel may even add to this.
The staginess is announced from the beginning with three unnecessary and long-winded title cards describing the play's success. Additionally, as the filmed play unfolds, with its confined settings and plentiful dialogue, the limitations of "Outward Bound" being an early talkie become more apparent. What editing there is contains poor match cuts and even one or more jump cuts. The 1944 remake does a bit better with a brisker pacing, more camera movement and a musical score, but still largely succumbs to looking like a filmed play, as well. By the end of "Outward Bound," the camera lingers, static, on the actors, as they do all the work. I counted at least three shots that each last nearly two to three minutes each. Approximately, the film's overall average shot length is a languid 12.8 seconds by my count. "Between Two Worlds," by contrast, is only about 9 seconds on average despite containing several moving long takes.
The staginess is announced from the beginning with three unnecessary and long-winded title cards describing the play's success. Additionally, as the filmed play unfolds, with its confined settings and plentiful dialogue, the limitations of "Outward Bound" being an early talkie become more apparent. What editing there is contains poor match cuts and even one or more jump cuts. The 1944 remake does a bit better with a brisker pacing, more camera movement and a musical score, but still largely succumbs to looking like a filmed play, as well. By the end of "Outward Bound," the camera lingers, static, on the actors, as they do all the work. I counted at least three shots that each last nearly two to three minutes each. Approximately, the film's overall average shot length is a languid 12.8 seconds by my count. "Between Two Worlds," by contrast, is only about 9 seconds on average despite containing several moving long takes.
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- Cineanalyst
- Jul 25, 2018
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