"I'm wanted everywhere and welcome nowhere."

brilliant film...just proves how much drama can be squeezed into a 69 minute run-time.

One Way Passage is tragic romance between the natural pairing of William Powell, as a just recaptured criminal being deported to a death sentence, and Kay Francis, as a woman dying of an unspecified illness. Both secretly. I feel like the image of the broken champagne glasses could have been on the poster, as it tells there story elegantly and efficiently. This could be quite melodramatic and even dour, but the actors have such easy-going screen personae that you'd rather feel their elation at having found each other, rather than focus on the bleak endings that await them. The "one way passage" isn't just a reference to the cruise ship they're on, but you're allowed to hope for them to change their destinies. There's also some levity to be had by a couple of grifters who help our lovers and have their own side-stories. Sometimes these are a little broad, Frank McHugh's drunk shtick especially, but he also got my biggest laugh, so no hard feelings). Pleasant and touching, even at a short 68 minutes.