Dangerous Passage (1944) User Reviews

An OK (2-stars out of 4) adventure on a tramp freighter.

[ronvieth · 5/10 · 14 March 2005]

Dangerous Passage is an OK (2-stars out of 4) adventure about a US oil worker from South America who inherits $200,000.00 in 1940's dollars (equivalent to more than 10 times that today). Problem is, how can he get to the US in one piece to cash in?

To keep things interesting, Phyllis Brooks, who was the beautiful real-life Ipana toothpaste girl of the 1930's and 40's just happens to be along for the long boat ride to the US. Hard to believe that at the tender age of 30, making only 2 more movies the following year.

A couple of twists to the plot seem to come from nowhere and defy understanding. But they keep it all interesting.

Dangerous Passage is as action packed as the cowboy adventures of the era. A touch slow in spots, but it does keep moving through its 1-hour running time. If you really like this movie (and it is pretty likable), then the movie, "Captain Scarface" is also for you. Both are adventure dramas set on tramp freighters, with the tough guy and the beautiful girl... a classic combination.

A very good story undone by a liberal dose of cheapness

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 26 July 2009]

The film begins with an American expatriate being told about his inheriting $200,000. However, shortly after this, an attempt is made on his life--so it's obvious that someone wants that money. When he books passage on a steamer, it seems that he's fallen into ANOTHER plot--and the crew mistakes him for someone else....someone they want to kill! Talk about bad luck! DANGEROUS PASSAGE is a pretty well-written film--with an interesting plot that could have been handled a lot better. The problem is that the film was made by Pine-Thomas Productions--a very low-budget independent company that had only been making films for a short time before this film. As a result, the acting is only adequate, at best, and the direction is limp. In fact, given better direction, the film really could have been something worth seeing. As is, it's just a time-passer and it's easy to see why this film passed into the public domain.

Frying pan to fire

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 2 March 2015]

Robert Lowery gets some news that he's inherited $200,000.00 and he's got to leave his job as an oil rigger and get to Galveston to claim it. He gets himself mugged on the docks in Tampico and decides to take an earlier sailing tramp freighter as a passenger. But there are some people who want to do him out of the inheritance.

Not only that there's a mysterious dame played by Phyllis Brooks on board, a solicitious steward in Alec Craig and all kinds of other people with mixed motives.

There's two situations going at the same time. Some people are out for the inheritance that he has and another group that means harm to the ship itself. Lowery has to deal with both.

This is not one of the better Pine-Thomas B films from Paramount. It's cheap and it shows. But I will say that Charles Arnt plays a most intriguing and voluble villain. Arnt is definitely taking his cues from Dudley Digges and Sydney Greenstreet as Casper Gutman, though without the gut. Lowery is nowhere near the 'character' that Humphrey Bogart was.

If you watch this film, do it mainly to see Charles Arnt.

Good Story, Otherwise Not Much Going For It

[Snow Leopard · 2 February 2006]

The good story setup keeps this action feature going, and makes it worth seeing even though the rest of it is not of particularly good quality. The cast is only adequate, and the production is low-budget in almost every respect. Some of it is covered over by the use of fog, dark passageways, and similar devices in many of the scenes, which gives it a little bit of atmosphere.

The story idea itself is a good one. It follows an American who is living in semi-exile in Central America when he receives news of a large inheritance back in Texas. As he returns to claim it, he finds himself in the middle of two hazardous situations, with one group planning to get him out of the way so that they can grab his inheritance, and part of the ship's crew wanting to get rid of him for reasons of their own. For much of the story, he's not sure whom, if anyone, he can trust.

It's the kind of story that can make a great movie with the right cast and director. Here, it has little help, although it's good enough to make the rest of the movie watchable. The cast is largely unexceptional, although Alec Craig provides a good characterization of the frightened ship's steward, and Phyllis Brooks is at least pleasant to look at. The shady lawyer character is rather obviously intended to be a low-budget version of Sydney Greenstreet's character in "The Maltese Falcon". He provides a few mildly amusing moments, while at other times he falls a bit flat.

A Slow Boat to Texas

[Uriah43 · 5/10 · 3 September 2016]

After being informed that he has just inherited $200,000, "Joe Beck" (Robert Lowry) is then told that he needs to catch the ship departing from Honduras in a couple of days en route to Texas in order to claim it. However, after he is stalked by a man who subsequently tries to kill him, Joe decides to take the first cargo ship out instead. Unfortunately, this particular ship has a captain and first mate who share a sinister agenda that doesn't coincide with taking on passengers like Joe. And they are determined to get rid of him one way or another. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that, although this movie was rather short (60 minutes) it still managed to maintain my interest for the most part. Admittedly, it had a grade-B look to it but the acting was adequate and having an attractive actress like Phyllis Brooks (as "Nita Paxton") certainly didn't hurt in any way. In any case, while it certainly didn't win any Academy Awards for that particular year, I thought this movie was good enough for a rainy day and I have rated it accordingly. Average.

Suddenly The Script Turned Into THE MALTESE FALCON

[boblipton · 6/10 · 11 October 2019]

A lawyer tells Robert Lowery his grandfather has died and left him a lot of money. Lowery needs to get to Texas ASAP. When someone tries to mug him, he decides not to wait and takes the first ship heading his way. However, there are strange things happen onboard. Fellow passenger Phyllis Brooks is suspicious of him; there's an "accident" involving cut lines that almost kills him.

This is a movie that starts out very nicely, with lots of foggy noir camerawork by DP Fred Jackman Jr. As the movie unreels, Daniel Mainwaring's script falls into standard tropes, and suddenly, Charles Arndt is talking like Casper Gutman. Still, in the end, the story is wrapped up very satisfactorily by director William Berke, one of those fast-working B specialists about whom you wonder what he might have accomplished had he been given an A production.

In short, it's another decently made B production by Pine-Thomas, using proven formulas and good, if cheap actors. It's a very nice time-waster.

....on a Sinking Boat!!!

[kidboots · 5/10 · 6 July 2010]

William Pine and William Thomas were shoestring producers (Pine Thomas Productions), affectionately called The Dollar Bills. Because they released through Paramount they were able to use stars (usually on their way down) that added to marquee value. From their 40s movies, they had one gem - "Fear in the Night" (1947), but this movie is not one. It was just one of many churned out to keep war weary audiences entertained.

Joe Beck (Robert Lowery) a U.S. oil rigger, inherits $200,000 provided he can get back to the U.S. from Panama to claim his inheritance. Before he can board, he survives an attempt on his life by - who else but Jack LaRue!!! "Merlin", the boat Joe finally boards, is a rust bucket with a villainous looking crew. Nita (Phyllis Brooks), a singer with a wise crack ever at the ready is another passenger who is escaping back to civilization. Joe has another mysterious accident - a hand cuts the rope securing some barrels and Joe almost meets a watery grave. The plan is to get Joe off the boat at the next port and bring Mike Zomano (Jack LaRue again) aboard to pose as Joe Beck, then the crooks can claim the inheritance.

But Joe returns and Nita confesses that she and Dawson, an old bartender, who has just met a sticky end, are insurance investigators, who were looking into the mysterious disappearance of some old ships. When the crooked Captain turns the ship's course toward some rocks - everyone abandons ship, except Nita and Joe, who has been knocked unconscious. The last third of the film really picks up pace as the survivors await their fate on the sinking ship - then prepare for the race to claim the money.

It is definitely a cut above the usual programmer fare. Robert Lowery was a very busy actor through the 40s, who then turned to television. Phyllis Brooks was a very decorative actress who was never called on to display much personality.

"Nothing like a ship wreck to change a man's sense of values."

[classicsoncall · 6/10 · 27 July 2007]

Interesting little programmer that builds it's intrigue with slow, deliberate revelations of what's going on aboard the self described bucket, 'The Merman'. I liked the way steward Dawson (Alec Craig) and passenger Nita Paxton (Phyllis Brooks) took an interest in Joe Beck's (Robert Lowery) welfare up until the point he was too deep into the thick of things to let go. All the while it seemed like his impending inheritance was behind the nefarious events, until Nita's revelation about the insurance scam. Too bad about Dawson, he seemed like a nice guy.

The print I watched was a pretty dark and scratchy affair, though that lent the picture some atmosphere, along with the creaky night time and seasick worthy ocean shots. All except for the shore scene at St Angel, which made me wonder about Beck's choice of beach attire. Sneaking some smooch time with Nita under the beach umbrella, didn't it seem like he could have relaxed a little better without the suit and tie?

Voyage of the Damned on a Ship of Fools.

[mark.waltz · 4/10 · 29 March 2013]

Don't take small passenger vessels no matter how cheap they are; That is the message of this low-budget film noir where two scams are in play at the same time. The small tug's owner is involved in an insurance scam while another smarmy character is out to fleece somebody out of an inheritance. Robert Lowery is the sap who books one-way passage on the Merman (no relation to Ethel) after incorrectly assuming he accidentally killed a man. The ship's employees encourage him to leave the vessel at its first stop, but he refuses. Smarmy Charles Arnt plays the creepiest character on film since Dudley Digges in the original "The Maltese Falcon" (1931), a snickering fool out to grab Lowery's inheritance for himself with the help of an identity thief. Phyllis Brooks is the seemingly hard boiled dame he encounters on his way and obviously finds romance with. Standard but fun, this Pine Thomas production (a low budget subsidiary of Paramount Pictures) is fast moving and sometimes unpredictable.

This could have been called the man with many lives.

[cgvsluis · 6/10 · 21 January 2022]

A Mr. Beck shows up to a South American solicitor's office to find out he has inherited a fortune from a discarded uncle. The solicitor makes him show him his proof of who he is. Then gives him instructions on traveling back to Texas to claim his fortune. That evening he is attacked in an attempt to get his proof of identification papers and he accidentally kills the attacker defending himself. Realizing he has to get out of town quickly, he talks his way on to the only boat leaving port that night. The boat has an additional passenger, a woman who he thinks is a singer escaping her lot in life. On board the ship things aren't what they seem. The lady has a scheme hatched with a crew member...and the captain and other crew members have a scheme of their own going...to top it of the solicitor and another thug board the boat at one of the port stops!

This was a great twisted film noir plot...with a wonderful mid-movie Mexican serenade beachside moment.

If you are a film noir fan...this is one you should know in your repertoire.

Man Over Bored

[wes-connors · 3/10 · 28 December 2007]

Robert Lowery (as Joe Beck) has been sweating it out in Central America for six years; then, his grandfather dies, and leaves him $200,000. Mr. Lowery is directed to sail for Galveston, Texas, on the "Southern Queen", to claim his inheritance. On the docks, he overcomes an attacker; then, after leaving the thug for dead, Lowery endeavors to take an earlier boat. Some mysterious whispering among passengers portends trouble for the voyage; still, Lowery takes the trip.

Inevitably, Lowery faces danger on board; and, of course, strikes up a romance with the mysterious Phyllis Brooks (as Nita Paxton). Lowery and Ms. Brooks make an attractive film couple. Brooks was once a model, and it shows. Later, Lowery would be cast as filmdom's second Batman, which is understandable. Charles Arnt (as Daniel Bergstrom) is an intriguing villain, or is he? The film's attempt to tie up every loose end is unsatisfactory.

high seas adventure - moves right along

[ksf-2 · 8/10 · 28 August 2007]

Robert Lowery (made many westerns in the 1940s and 1950s) is Joe Beck, who must return home to claim his inheritance. On his voyage home, Beck runs into trouble in the form of Nita Paxton, (Phyllis Brooks, who had appeared in a couple Charlie Chan movies, and only several others.) Dawson, the ship steward is also telling him to get off the ship as quickly as possible. Strong supporting roles by the captain, William Edmunds, Jack LaRue ( Captains Courageous) and Charles Arnt, whose accent comes and goes. Directed by William Berke, who directed "The Falcon" series of movies, as well as tons of westerns and army films. Another high seas murder adventure by Daniel Mainwaring, who had also written Hot Cargo, Alaska Seas, The Big Steal as Geoffrey Homes. At only 60 minutes, this film was part of the 50 Action-classics collection from Treeline/TCM. The sound and photography are pretty good, occasional vertical lines in several scenes. Good action story, although it's pretty obvious that when they are sitting at the beach on a stopover that its really a backdrop. Sharp viewers will also recognize Will Wright (from Andy Griffith episodes) as the Postman in Galveston.

A can of worms of crimes and crooks galore in fogs and stormy weather...

[clanciai · 7/10 · 4 June 2021]

It's a great story, that could have been made a major adventure thriller. The protagonist escapes from an anonymous foggy harbour in Latin America on a ship, which is not recommended by the steward, and rather soon obvious reasons turn up as to why this was not the best ship to get away on. The crew is least of all inspiring any confidence, but at least there is fortunately a bar, tended by the steward, and they will all need all those bottles that are used on the way, either consumed or thrown in anger to hurt someone. The protagonist is subjected to at least two murder attempts, and he can't understand why, as not even the steward will tell him anything and very soon will be unable to tell anything at all. There are some extra weird passemgers, one presented as the protagonist's double with even the same name, which increases the protagonist's suspicions that more than one on board want to kill him. It's a mess indeed getting even more messy, as the storm breaks loose and it becomes evident that the skipper intentionally wants to turn his ship into a shipwreck.

Of course, there are reasons for all this, the logic is not missing, but many scenes are cut rather short leaving unanswered question marks behind. It could have been made a great noir at sea, but the direction and the actors don't seem very enthusiastic about it and not very engaged either. Any ray of any stardom is missing.

Passably enjoyable, but decidedly less than riveting

[I_Ailurophile · 5/10 · 8 July 2022]

What is it about kissing in older films that make them seem so very staged, and forced? Was it a requirement of film censors for this approach, so impressionable audience members wouldn't be quite as scandalized? Or is it just an extension of how contrived most romances were in a time when the industry was even more male-centered? In any event, the latter certainly describes in general how interactions between stars Robert Lowery and Phyllis Brooks appear on film here. Put that aside, and 'Dangerous passage' holds promise as the story of a shipping vessel where those on board are shady, desperate, or some combination thereof, with a dash of varied hopes and aspirations on top. Pictures from the 30s and 40s that clocked in at such a minute length, as this does, tended more than not to make the most of their span to hook audiences and keep them hooked; while this feature maintains a steady pace, it doesn't seem quite as concerned about its plot development. This isn't to say that it's altogether bland, but story beats come, and go, and build, but there's no real air of urgency or drama about them. I don't think that's anyone's fault per se, just an unfortunate truth of how this production turned out, but it's noticeable all the same.

Spearheaded by Paramount, 'Dangerous passage' comes across as the type of picture that's pitched to an executive, and slammed into production, to fill the release schedule and make a quick, easy buck. This isn't to say that it's rushed, or bad, but only that the relative lack of meaningfully impactful narrative, or characters to get invested in, translates into simple, passive entertainment. It's suitably well made, and acted, with fine production design. Yet even when we do get a burst of plot, or a scene that should carry charged energy, the execution feels almost lackadaisical. All the elements are here for what should be a reasonably compelling drama, yet it seems like there wasn't enough real care put into any one part to impart any earnest vibrancy to the viewer. Alas, it turns out that the same inauthenticity that marks kissing between Lowery and Brooks is a rather accurate summation of the title as a whole.

You could do a lot worse; you could also do a lot better. This is the type of movie to put on when you want to watch something without getting actively engaged in it. Indeed, even if you try, the film itself will discourage your investment, and it's so unbothered about its own plot that the conveyance thereof becomes muddled for the fact of the middling tedium. 'Dangerous passage' is an okay watch for a lazy hour if you come across it, but temper your expectations and don't go out of your way for it.

The Fog Never Lifts

[dougdoepke · 5 November 2016]

Studio-bound programmer. I expect the movie was good diversion for wartime audiences on the late shift. Seems inheritance-rich Beck (Lowery) gets onto a ship where the fog never lifts, a touch that's both atmospheric and cost cutting. On board, he quickly runs into intrigues where nobody can be trusted, not even the fetching Nita (Brooks)-- so, should he kiss her or search her. And will he ever get to Texas and claim his inheritance. He won't if the deck hands don't tie down the heavy oil drums better, or is it the shadowy guy with the rope-cutting knife. Well, after all, the movie is titled Dangerous Passage not Sunshine Cruises.

Plot-wise, the two separate intrigues are awkward and overloaded for a 60-minute runtime, suggesting that the insurance scheme, at least, should have been dropped. Except for LaRue's uncertain character, the acting is good for a programmer. And hats off to Lowery who must have jumped from one movie set to the next, so busy was he during this period. Nothing special here, just serviceable entertainment, even for generations later.

DANGEROUS PASSAGE (William A. Berke, 1944) *1/2

[Bunuel1976 · 3/10 · 2 August 2008]

Set largely aboard a ship, this noir-ish programmer could be seen as the poor man’s JOURNEY INTO FEAR (1942) – the splendid (if relatively neglected) Orson Welles thriller; on the other hand, the villain of the piece was all-too-obviously modeled on Sidney Greenstreet’s character from THE MALTESE FALCON (1941)!

The object of contention, this time around, is nothing more remarkable than an inheritance – which the hero (Robert Lowery) catches a run-down steamer in order to acquire; however, he stumbles on an insurance-fraud scheme involving the skipper and mate of the vessel (which the steward and a former chanteuse – pretty Phyllis Brooks – are actually investigating incognito in their own right). Typically, hero and heroine begin on the wrong foot but soon discover they’re made for each other (despite her being coveted by one other shady passenger on board). Eventually, a couple of attempts are made on Lowery’s life and Brooks is kidnapped by the villain and his accomplice (who join the party en route) in order to hand over the letter that would lay claim to the money awaiting the hero – he’s not personally known to the notary, so anyone could pass for him!

Despite a trim length of just 61 minutes, the film is slow-going and, frankly, too dull to be engaging – nor is it helped, for that matter, by the wholly artificial fog-bound atmosphere…

Not Bad For Such A Low Budget

[Easygoer10 · 6/10 · 13 August 2020]

This is one of those films which starts out quite interesting, but gets worse. There are multiple plots, and I think this was unintentional. In other words, I think 2 shorts are combined into a single one hour film. Very odd, but worth a watch.

Planes, trains and...

[norecoil-82480 · 5/10 · 17 July 2022]

After Beck leaves the hospital there's a bus, then a train, then a Yellow Cab, then a view of the Post Office in Galveston, Texas, his ultimate destination. Bus, that's fine, train, ok, but the cab taking him from the train to the Galveston Post Office has a California license plate.

Another day, another cheap thriller.

[DigitalRevenantX7 · 3/10 · 24 January 2017]

Joe Beck is about to leave Central America in order to journey to Texas so that he can collect a large inheritance from his late grandfather. But after leaving his lawyer's office, he is attacked by a stranger. Surviving the attack & a little shaken up, Beck decides to forgo the first-class trip he had already booked & books passage on a run-down cargo ship that will be heading the same way. But what he doesn't know is that he had picked the wrong ship to travel on – a ship that will prove to be quite dangerous. And he is not the only person out to claim the inheritance.

Another day, another cheap film noir from the 1940s (it seems that the decade had Hollywood churn out this kind of thing with reckless abandon). Dangerous Passage is pretty much a standard feature of the era. The film has a reasonable concept but is quickly sunk by the poor script-work allocated to the production. Daniel Mainwaring proves to be a mediocre scribe, judging by the fact that not much in the film makes any real sense. Why is Robert Lowery's character being attacked all the time? Why are his lawyer & an imposter so determined to get the inheritance? And can someone please tell me why the steward is murdered & why the ship is being forced to hit the rocks? Aside from that, the acting is passable, although the poor script leaves the actors high & dry with a slew of one-dimensional characterisations.