This is one of those multi-plot movies set in a location where people of all ranks of life mingle: a sort of GRAND HOTEL on water, although the movie based on Vicki Baum's novel would not come out until the fall of that year. George Brent is a doctor who takes over as ship's doctor because he is in pursuit of his wife, who has run off with millionaire Frank Morgan, who already has an eye for opera singer Verree Teasdale. Meanwhile, Alice White wants to wheedle her way up from third class to first, and is the conduit for news that Morgan is buying shares in a company.
It's fun to see actors out of their stereotypical roles, including the always wonderful C. Aubrey Smith as a cynical busted millionaire, fresh out of prison, who's on his way to America, traveling in steerage "because they don't have fourth class." However the plots are pure melodrama and the film shows signs of having been cut severely to bring it down to second feature length. This was director Lothar Mendes' last film for Paramount on his contract, and although he did very well for himself, winding up directing THE MAN WHO COULD WORK MIRACLES for Korda, there's little doubt in my mind it's because of his lack of success in Hollywood.
It's fun to see actors out of their stereotypical roles, including the always wonderful C. Aubrey Smith as a cynical busted millionaire, fresh out of prison, who's on his way to America, traveling in steerage "because they don't have fourth class." However the plots are pure melodrama and the film shows signs of having been cut severely to bring it down to second feature length. This was director Lothar Mendes' last film for Paramount on his contract, and although he did very well for himself, winding up directing THE MAN WHO COULD WORK MIRACLES for Korda, there's little doubt in my mind it's because of his lack of success in Hollywood.