'Til We Meet Again
Encyclopedia
'Til We Meet Again is a 1940
romance film
starring Merle Oberon
and George Brent
as two doomed, star-crossed lovers. It is a remake of the 1932
film One Way Passage
and itself was remade into the 1954
Mexican 3-D film
El valor de vivir.
. They share a single drink before parting. They romantically shatter their glasses and leave the broken stems crossed on the counter. Outside the bar, Dan is handcuffed by Lieutenant Steve Burke (Pat O'Brien
) of the San Francisco police. Burke has spent a year chasing the convicted murderer around the world.
By chance, Dan and Joan are traveling on the same ocean liner to San Francisco. Once they are underway, Steve allows Dan the freedom of the ship. Dan and Joan fall in love, but neither tells the other that they are facing death. Dan has been sentenced to be hanged and Joan has only weeks or at best months to live, due to a weak heart.
Also aboard are two of Dan's crooked friends, the "Comtesse de Bresac" (Binnie Barnes
) and Rockingham T. Rockingham (Frank McHugh
, reprising essentially the same role he played in the earlier One Way Passage). They help plan Dan's escape at Honolulu, the only stop along the way. The Comtesse, actually a con artist trained by Dan and in love with him herself, is assigned to keep Steve occupied. A romance develops between the mismatched pair.
Just before they reach Honolulu, Steve has Dan put in the ship's brig. However, the Comtesse slips Steve some sleeping pills and gets the key. Dan makes his break, but is spotted by Joan. He agrees to postpone his "business" and go with her on a mountain outing as they had planned. They spend a blissful few hours together. On the way back, Dan stops and gets out before they reach the ship. This sudden and unexplained act agitates Joan so much, she collapses. Dan carries her back aboard, much to the dismay of his friends.
The ship's doctor tells Dan about Joan's bleak prognosis. Later, when they reach San Francisco, a newspaper reporter informs Joan of Dan's fate. She rushes to see him one last time. They bid each other goodbye, each concealing their knowledge of the other's doom. They promise to reunite at a bar in Mexico City on New Year's Eve. On that day, the bartenders there are surprised when two glasses break of their own accord and the stems are crossed.
1940 in film
The year 1940 in film involved some significant events, including the premieres of the Walt Disney classics Pinocchio and Fantasia.-Events:*February 7 - Walt Disney's animated film Pinocchio is released....
romance film
Romance film
Romance films are love stories that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate involvement of the main characters and the journey that their love takes through courtship or marriage. Romance films make the love story or the search for love the main plot focus...
starring Merle Oberon
Merle Oberon
Merle Oberon was an Indian-born British actress best known for her screen performances in The Scarlet Pimpernel and The Cowboy and the Lady . She began her film career in British films as Anne Boleyn in The Private Life of Henry VIII . She travelled to the United States to make films for Samuel...
and George Brent
George Brent
George Brent was an Irish film and television actor in American cinema.-Early life:He was born George Brendan Nolan in Raharabeg, County Roscommon on the opposite bank of the River Shannon from the town of Shannonbridge, County Offaly, Ireland, the son of a British Army officer.During the Irish...
as two doomed, star-crossed lovers. It is a remake of the 1932
1932 in film
-Events:*Cary Grant's film career begins*Katharine Hepburn's film career begins*Shirley Temple's film career begins*Disney released Flowers and Trees, the first cartoon in three-strip Technicolor film.*Santa, first sound film made in Mexico released....
film One Way Passage
One Way Passage
One Way Passage is a romantic film starring William Powell and Kay Francis as star-crossed lovers, directed by Tay Garnett and released by Warner Bros.It was remade in 1940 as Til We Meet Again, featuring Merle Oberon and George Brent.-Plot:...
and itself was remade into the 1954
1954 in film
The year 1954 in film involved some significant events and memorable ones.-Events:*May 12 - The Marx Brothers' Zeppo Marx divorces wife Marion Benda...
Mexican 3-D film
3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...
El valor de vivir.
Plot
Total strangers Dan Hardesty (George Brent) and Joan Ames (Merle Oberon) meet by chance in a bar in Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. They share a single drink before parting. They romantically shatter their glasses and leave the broken stems crossed on the counter. Outside the bar, Dan is handcuffed by Lieutenant Steve Burke (Pat O'Brien
Pat O'Brien (actor)
Pat O’Brien was an American film actor with more than one hundred screen credits.-Early life:O’Brien was born William Joseph Patrick O’Brien to an Irish-American Catholic family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He served as an altar boy at Gesu Church while growing up near 13th and Clybourn streets...
) of the San Francisco police. Burke has spent a year chasing the convicted murderer around the world.
By chance, Dan and Joan are traveling on the same ocean liner to San Francisco. Once they are underway, Steve allows Dan the freedom of the ship. Dan and Joan fall in love, but neither tells the other that they are facing death. Dan has been sentenced to be hanged and Joan has only weeks or at best months to live, due to a weak heart.
Also aboard are two of Dan's crooked friends, the "Comtesse de Bresac" (Binnie Barnes
Binnie Barnes
Gertrude Maud "Binnie" Barnes was an English-American actress. She was born in Islington to a Jewish father and an Italian mother and was brought up Jewish, although she converted to Catholicism later in life....
) and Rockingham T. Rockingham (Frank McHugh
Frank McHugh
Francis Curray "Frank" McHugh was an American film and television actor.Born in Homestead, Pennsylvania, McHugh came from a theatrical family. His parents ran a stock theatre company and as a young child he performed on stage...
, reprising essentially the same role he played in the earlier One Way Passage). They help plan Dan's escape at Honolulu, the only stop along the way. The Comtesse, actually a con artist trained by Dan and in love with him herself, is assigned to keep Steve occupied. A romance develops between the mismatched pair.
Just before they reach Honolulu, Steve has Dan put in the ship's brig. However, the Comtesse slips Steve some sleeping pills and gets the key. Dan makes his break, but is spotted by Joan. He agrees to postpone his "business" and go with her on a mountain outing as they had planned. They spend a blissful few hours together. On the way back, Dan stops and gets out before they reach the ship. This sudden and unexplained act agitates Joan so much, she collapses. Dan carries her back aboard, much to the dismay of his friends.
The ship's doctor tells Dan about Joan's bleak prognosis. Later, when they reach San Francisco, a newspaper reporter informs Joan of Dan's fate. She rushes to see him one last time. They bid each other goodbye, each concealing their knowledge of the other's doom. They promise to reunite at a bar in Mexico City on New Year's Eve. On that day, the bartenders there are surprised when two glasses break of their own accord and the stems are crossed.
Cast
- Merle OberonMerle OberonMerle Oberon was an Indian-born British actress best known for her screen performances in The Scarlet Pimpernel and The Cowboy and the Lady . She began her film career in British films as Anne Boleyn in The Private Life of Henry VIII . She travelled to the United States to make films for Samuel...
as Joan Ames - George BrentGeorge BrentGeorge Brent was an Irish film and television actor in American cinema.-Early life:He was born George Brendan Nolan in Raharabeg, County Roscommon on the opposite bank of the River Shannon from the town of Shannonbridge, County Offaly, Ireland, the son of a British Army officer.During the Irish...
as Dan Hardesty - Pat O'BrienPat O'Brien (actor)Pat O’Brien was an American film actor with more than one hundred screen credits.-Early life:O’Brien was born William Joseph Patrick O’Brien to an Irish-American Catholic family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He served as an altar boy at Gesu Church while growing up near 13th and Clybourn streets...
as Police Lieutenant Steve Burke - Geraldine FitzgeraldGeraldine FitzgeraldGeraldine Fitzgerald, Lady Lindsay-Hogg was an Irish-American actress and a member of the American Theatre Hall of Fame.-Early life:...
as Bonny Coburn, a newlywed fellow passenger and friend of Joan's - Binnie BarnesBinnie BarnesGertrude Maud "Binnie" Barnes was an English-American actress. She was born in Islington to a Jewish father and an Italian mother and was brought up Jewish, although she converted to Catholicism later in life....
as Comtesse de Bresac - Frank McHughFrank McHughFrancis Curray "Frank" McHugh was an American film and television actor.Born in Homestead, Pennsylvania, McHugh came from a theatrical family. His parents ran a stock theatre company and as a young child he performed on stage...
as Rockingham T. Rockingham - Eric BloreEric BloreEric Blore was an English comic actor. Blore was born in Finchley , England.Aged eighteeen, he worked as an insurance agent for two years. He gained theatre experience while touring Australia. Originally enlisting into the Artists Rifles he was commissioned in the South Wales Borderers in World...
as Sir Harold Pinchard, a shipboard victim of the Comtesse and Rockingham - Henry O'NeillHenry O'NeillHenry O'Neill was a film actor known for playing gray-haired fathers, lawyers, and similarly dignified roles during the 1930s and 1940s.-Life and career:...
as Dr. Cameron, the ship's doctor - George ReevesGeorge ReevesGeorge Reeves was an American actor best known for his role as Superman in the 1950s television program Adventures of Superman....
as Jimmy Coburn, Bonny's husband - Frank WilcoxFrank WilcoxFrank Reppy Wilcox was an American character actor who made over 150 film appearances and almost 200 TV appearances...
as Frank, Assistant Purser - Doris LloydDoris LloydHessy Doris Lloyd was an English actress.She appeared in over 150 films between 1920 and 1967, including the 1933 low-budget Monogram Pictures version of Oliver Twist, in which she played Nancy...
as Louise, Joan's maid