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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Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| William Powell | ... | Dan Hardesty | |
| Kay Francis | ... | Joan Ames | |
| Aline MacMahon | ... | Barrel House Betty | |
| Frank McHugh | ... | Skippy | |
| Warren Hymer | ... | Steve Burke | |
| Frederick Burton | ... | The Doctor | |
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Plot Summary
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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 | pre code film |Taglines:
Romance...reaching the Heights of Heaven! See more »Parents Guide:
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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: ...
[...]
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(1914) (uncredited)
Music by James Kendis
Lyrics by Lou Klein
Sung in the bar by a vocal trio
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Did You Know?
Trivia
The remake 'Til We Meet Again is 32 minutes longer than One Way Passage. See more »Goofs
When Dan is carrying Joan back to the boat, her right arm swings about freely, then is neatly tucked underneath her (Dan's arm hasn't moved), then swings about freely -- after they've passed through a narrow passage and nearby passengers. 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
If I Had My Way(1914) (uncredited)
Music by James Kendis
Lyrics by Lou Klein
Sung in the bar by a vocal trio
See more »
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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
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The more I see of William Powell, the more impressed I am with him. Because he did a lot of light parts and is mostly known these days for the Thin Man movies, his reputation has suffered. He is a remarkably subtle actor, more so than many others in the early 30's, a transitional period as talkies wiped out silents and acting styles were in flux. His Thin Man movies, though fun, don't do him justice. I think his best acting is in earlier films like this one and MANHATTAN MELODRAMA.
William Powell plays a captured crook heading for execution at San Quentin. Kay Francis is a dying woman he meets in a bar in Hong Kong; they wind up together on a ship for San Francisco. The plot centers around their shipboard romance and how they try to keep their respective "terminal" conditions secret from each other. For a 1932 movie, it's quite modern in feel--lots of nice (but not grandiose) stylistic touches, like some sweeping camera movements, especially the ones along a bar that open and close the movie. Considering there is only one plotline, the supporting cast really gets a chance to shine; Aline McMahon plays somewhat against type as a con artist traveling as a duchess, and Frank McHugh is another crook who pulls con jobs while acting perpetually drunk. They team up to help Powell outsmart the cop who has him under lock and key (Warren Hymer). The character of the cop is interesting--he eventually is seen in a fairly favorable light, despite his antagonism toward Powell. I'm not a big Kay Francis fan, but she's adequate here.