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One Way Passage

Play trailer Poster for One Way Passage 1932,  1h 9m,  Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 100% 6 Reviews Tomatometer 81% 250+ Ratings Popcornmeter
100% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
When Dan Hardesty (William Powell) meets Joan Ames (Kay Francis) in a Hong Kong bar, he doesn't let on that he's an escaped murderer, nor she that she's suffering from a fatal illness. After Dan is caught by Sergeant Steve Burke (Warren Hymer), the two head back to America via ocean liner, and spot Joan also aboard. Dan talks Steve into letting him out of the cuffs, and for the duration of the trip, he and Joan indulge in a romance both know can never last.

Critics Reviews

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David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Oct 28, 2023
3/4
...a perpetually compelling drama that benefits from the magnetic efforts of its two stars... Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy May 24, 2023
3/4
A charming film that earned the Oscar for Best Original Story. Go to Full Review
Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television Nov 30, 2015
Tragic romance with a classic premise. Go to Full Review
Tim Brayton Antagony & Ecstasy Nov 25, 2013
10/10
The very best women's picture of the 1930s. Go to Full Review
Ken Hanke Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Jan 17, 2013
5/5
A beautiful little movie that has weathered its 80 years effortlessly. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Apr 18, 2003
B
This is a breezy story. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Kylo M Apr 26, 2019 A great film, a classic ending
Feb 2, 2019 The best romance movie ever made!
Harry G Jul 7, 2018 Beautiful and touching, 'One Way Passage' is filled with dreamy eyes and an intensity of feeling. William Powell plays a man who bumps into Kay Francis in a bar in Hong Kong, and they're instantly drawn to one another. They find each other again on an ocean liner bound for San Francisco, each not knowing a terrible secret about the other, and their love burns all the brighter knowing that it may not last. Powell and Francis are both brilliant and utterly charming, and director Tay Garnett does an excellent job of telling the story and filling his scenes with nice little touches. He also gives us some modern camera work, and while the film has some fantastic slang from years gone by, it also feels ahead of its time, and timeless. Brilliant ending too. See more
Kylo L Feb 19, 2018 One Way Passage is a decent film. It is about a terminally ill woman and a debonair murderer facing execution who meet and fall in love on a trans-Pacific crossing. William Powell and Kay Francis give okay performances. The screenplay is a little slow in places. Tay Garnett did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the drama and romance. See more
Hermione M Feb 16, 2018 An ambitious undertaking, that I felt never quite won me over.
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One Way Passage

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Tay Garnett

Director

William Powell

Dan

Kay Francis

Joan

Frank McHugh

Skippy

Aline MacMahon

Betty

Warren Hymer

Steve

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One Way Passage

One Way Passage (1932) One Way Passage (1932) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When Dan Hardesty (William Powell) meets Joan Ames (Kay Francis) in a Hong Kong bar, he doesn't let on that he's an escaped murderer, nor she that she's suffering from a fatal illness. After Dan is caught by Sergeant Steve Burke (Warren Hymer), the two head back to America via ocean liner, and spot Joan also aboard. Dan talks Steve into letting him out of the cuffs, and for the duration of the trip, he and Joan indulge in a romance both know can never last.
Director
Tay Garnett
Producer
Hal B. Wallis, Robert Lord
Screenwriter
Wilson Mizner, Joseph Jackson
Production Co
Warner Bros. Pictures
Genre
Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (DVD)
Oct 26, 2010
Runtime
1h 9m
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