Dangerous Passage

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.