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.
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Title: One Way Passage (1932)
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Won
1
Oscar.
See more awards »
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Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| William Powell | ... | Dan Hardesty | |
| Kay Francis | ... | Joan Ames | |
| Aline MacMahon | ... | Betty | |
| Frank McHugh | ... | Skippy | |
| Warren Hymer | ... | Steve Burke | |
| Frederick Burton | ... | The Doctor | |
Learn more
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Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
See All (34) »
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. Written by Gary Jackson <garyjack5@cogeco.ca>
Plot Keywords:
passenger ship | condemned man | terminal illness | new year's eve | hong kong |Taglines:
Romance...reaching the Heights of Heaven! See more »Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
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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: ...
[...]
See more »
(1932) (uncredited)
(published in 1939 as "Where Was I?")
Music by W. Franke Harling
In the score when Dan and Joan first meet and often throughout the picture
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
"Screen Director's Playhouse" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on December 30, 1949 with William Powell reprising his film role. See more »Goofs
When Steve fires his gun in Dan's room the noise is very loud but when they exit into the hallway the people are walking around as if they had heard nothing, quite unlikely in the close quarters of a ship. See more »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: ...
[...]
See more »
Crazy Credits
The opening title card has a cruise ship in the background. See more »Soundtracks
Theme(1932) (uncredited)
(published in 1939 as "Where Was I?")
Music by W. Franke Harling
In the score when Dan and Joan first meet and often throughout the picture
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
22 October 1932 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
S.S. Atlantic See more »Filming Locations:
Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USACompany Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
(TCM print)Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1Contribute to This Page
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A dying woman and a condemned man fall in love on an ocean liner; how's that for high concept, circa 1932. No, I'm not giving anything away about this tightly plotted, exquisitely produced melodrama. Upper class sophistication, personified by ever-glamorous Kay Francis and gentleman crook William Powell, characterizes the tragic aspect of the story, while ethic warmth and humor, in the classic Warner Bros. style, are perfectly supplied by Aline MacMahon, Warren Hymer, and Frank McHugh. Lots of marvelous small touches, not the least being the way McHugh plays the final scene. If it's on, don't miss it.