One Way Passage (1932)

79% of users liked it
(317 ratings)

William Powell plays a condemned murderer who is being transported from Hong Kong to San Quentin by way of a luxury liner. Also on board is the lovely Kay Francis, who is suffering from a fatal heart condition. The sympathetic detective (Warren Hymer) escorting Powell allows the prisoner to roam the… More William Powell plays a condemned murderer who is being transported from Hong Kong to San Quentin by way of a luxury liner. Also on board is the lovely Kay Francis, who is suffering from a fatal heart condition. The sympathetic detective (Warren Hymer) escorting Powell allows the prisoner to roam the decks without handcuffs, an opportunity Powell exploits by arranging an escape with two of his old cronies (Frank McHugh and Aline MacMahon). But when he meets Francis, Powell falls in love. Francis is equally smitten, and the two conduct an exquisite shipboard affair, neither telling the other of their impending doom. Powell makes his escape, but is halted in mid-flight when Francis has a heart attack. He rushes Francis back on board ship to her doctor, knowing full well that this will mean his recapture. As they bid goodbye, Powell and Francis promise to meet again one year later in Agua Caliente--a rendezvous that neither will survive to keep. A year passes. At a bar in Agua Caliente, two cocktail glasses suddenly shatter, as if having been joined in a toast by unseen hands. One Way Passage was remade in 1940 as 'Til We Meet Again. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 9 min.
Directed By: Tay Garnett
Written By: Wilson Mizner, Joseph Lee Jackson
Genres: Drama, Romance, Classics

In Theaters: Sep 1, 1932 Wide

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
This is a breezy story.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Stella D

what a great movie. the plot may sound ridiculous but it works like a charm. tragedy should always be this much fun. the supporting characters deserve special mention and i particularly enjoyed aline macmahon as the phony countess. 'don't smudge my bangs!'… More
what a great movie. the plot may sound ridiculous but it works like a charm. tragedy should always be this much fun. the supporting characters deserve special mention and i particularly enjoyed aline macmahon as the phony countess. 'don't smudge my bangs!' priceless
jay n

William Powell and Kay Francis are well matched in this ultra romantic but somewhat preposterous weepie. Frank McHugh and particularly Aline MacMahon are a lot of fun in secondary roles. The brevity of the running time keeps the story moving along.
Keith M

Great film about a couple of people who's futures do not look good, and they meet on a boat from Hong Kong to San Francisco. Just a great story, great supporting cast. This is one of those forgotten movies that you wonder why more people don't talk about more. Of course it… More
Great film about a couple of people who's futures do not look good, and they meet on a boat from Hong Kong to San Francisco. Just a great story, great supporting cast. This is one of those forgotten movies that you wonder why more people don't talk about more. Of course it stars the genius that was William Powell, so I am a little biased.
cody f

Very entertaing little gem about two doomed souls who meet and fall in love on a boat on it's way to San Francisco from Hong Kong. Powell and Francis have great chemestry and the supporting cast is great. If your a William Powell fan then this is a must see.