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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Taglines:

IS LOVE STRONGER THAN DEATH? (Print Ad- Philadelphia Inquirer, ((Philadelphia, Penna.)) 21 December 1930)

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy

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Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Leslie Howard's first American film. He had appeared in the stage version in London and New York, but not in the same role. Onstage he had played Henry.

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Connections

Version of Broadway Television Theatre: Outward Bound (1952)

User Reviews

Disquieting and Eerie Early-Talkie.

A group of assorted persons find themselves on a ship bound for no conceivable destination. Little do they know, that they are all dead and sailing towards judgment in this evocative and moving psychological drama about life and death.

The script-which was based off a broadway play-is very well done. The final results are still stagey and the whole movie seems to take place in one room, but because of the brisk pace and timeless themes of life, death, and what happens after you die there is never a dull or slow moment in the movie. It's dramatization of life after death is mesmerizing and still holds up after all these years. This is Leslie Howard's (Gone with the Wind) first American film, he acted in the stage version of this film, so his acting tends to be on the melodramatic side. Of the young couple, Helen Chandler (Dracula) gives the better performance. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. brings down Chandler's tragic intensity and the young couple story line with his over-the-top performance. As for the rest of the cast, some performances are better than others, but no performance gets too melodramatic to the point where it's distracting from the great story or the eerie, almost scary, atmosphere. I saw this movie on TCM recently and I noticed that it is not available on DVD or VHS and I think that's a real shame. Overall: a very thought-provoking, atmospheric, early-talkie drama. Would be great for rainy days. Beryl Mercer (Public Enemy), Lyonal Watts, Alison Akipworth, and Slec B. Francis also star.

*** out of ****

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