One Way Passage

Sweet, tragic, beautiful just wish it was longer and a little more fleshed out.

A marvelous little doomed romance. As a pre-Code picture there's uncertainty about how things will end. Powell and Francis have wonderful, starry-eyed chemistry together and it's one of those only-in-the-movies affairs that ropes you in. There's also some terrific and often funny business involving the supporting players. The camerawork is really exceptional for its time, with a number of lyrical movements and expressive shots. A very enjoyable, impressive and touchingly sweet film.

The sound mixing hinders the comic timing but it's a very charming romance that carries a few mild surprises. The ending couldn't have been better.

A 1930s answer to a fluffy, star-driven rom-com of today, though the tragic poignance of the relationship between Powell and Francis is poorly undercut by the slapstick comic pairing of McHugh and MacMahon. Enjoyable enough, but would have either needed to be more intensely focused on the central relationship (ala BRIEF ENCOUNTER) or have a frivolity to match the comically counterpointed relationship. Almost worthy of a recommendation for the charming chemistry between Powell and Francis.

A única solução estreava há 90 anos nos EUA. Filme curtíssimo inversamente proporcional à sua potência, só aquele final valeria 5 estrelas. Garnet foi um diretor que permaneceu no seu ofício dos anos 20 aos anos 70 e embora talvez seja um tanto subestimado, aqui adentrou um campo do romance, da tragédia e do cômico que seria difícil dosar sem perder a mão, mas conseguiu. DVDRip (não lembro de onde).

Really impressed with this short early 1930s romance/drama. It really shines in a time where most movies just didn't connect or have heart; this one really did.

The leads' chemistry and a breezy, witty script afford this doomed romance a good deal of levity, and the fantastical ending, hinting at love's enduring power over death, is classily handled. The comic relief drunkard is a little hokey but doesn't detract from the film's enormous heart.

Damn the chemistry between William Powell and Kay Francis was magnetizing! Francis absolutely stole the camera with her smiles! It was so adorable watch them fall in love and knowing the troubles they secretly had. Powell being a convicted murderer going to San Quentin and Francis being so ill she could die if too much excitement. And with the sub-plots and supporting cast taking care of the comic elements they captured a lot of great moments on camera making it a surprisingly memorable movie.