Monday 4 February 2019

ONE WAY PASSAGE

One of the great romantic comedies of the thirties yet hardly anyone has seen it or even heard of it. It's a 'One Way Passage' for William Powell and Kay Francis since he's being taken to the gallows and she's only got a short time to live; yes, it's a comedy with the comic relief being provided by the great Aline MacMahon and Frank McHugh. MacMahon is excellent as usual but Powell and Francis are sublime as the doomed lovers.

It mostly takes place at sea on a journey from Hong Kong to San Francisco and Robert Lord won an Oscar for his original story. Tay Garnett directed beautifully, managing the transition from light comedy to something altogether more serious without the slightest trace of mawkishness. I haven't seen the George Brent/Merle Oberon remake "Til We Meet Again" but something tells me it couldn't hold a candle to this.
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