Outward Bound (1930)

Later remade as "Between Two Worlds."

Directors:

Robert Milton, Ray Enright (uncredited)

Writers:

Sutton Vane (by), J. Grubb Alexander (screen play)

Stars:

Leslie Howard, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Beryl Mercer

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Leslie Howard	...	Tom Prior
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.	...	Henry
Beryl Mercer	...	Mrs. Midget
Dudley Digges	...	Thompson - the Examiner (as Dudley Diggs)
Helen Chandler	...	Ann
Alec B. Francis	...	Scrubby
Montagu Love	...	Mr. Lingley
Lyonel Watts	...	Rev. William Duke
Alison Skipworth	...	Mrs. Cliveden-Banks (as Allison Skipworth)

Storyline

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....

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Plot Keywords:

dog | socialite | afterlife | judgment day | immortality | 

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 November 1930 (USA)

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Vitaphone)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The play opened in New York on 7 January 1924 and in London on 17 September 1925.

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Connections

Version of Between Two Worlds (1944)

User Reviews

Decent Drama

Outward Bound (1930)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and Helen Chandler play lovers who commit suicide and then find themselves on an ocean liner with various other characters. None of them are quite sure where the boat is going but soon they learn that they're all dead and heading to Heaven or Hell. This film was based on a well known play, which was suppose to have been very good but it doesn't translate to the screen very well. The film opens up with over a minute of notes from the studio asking people not to laugh at the story and to take it seriously so you have to wonder if the studio itself was worried about the movie. The film is all dialogue, which naturally could kill the film and it partially does. The dialogue whenever the characters are just sitting around talking about typical things is quite boring and doesn't contain anything interesting. Whenever the people are talking about life and death then it comes to life somewhat but the film eventually goes on way too long. There are a few nice twists at the end but the actual ending is a letdown but I'm not sure if it was changed from the original play. Fairbanks Jr., and Chandler deliver fine performances as does the rest of the cast including Leslie Howard as a drunk. The film was later remade as Between Two Worlds with John Garfield.