Warner Bros. remake of their 1932 drama "One Way Passage" has police detective Pat O'Brien capturing escaped prisoner George Brent in Hong Kong after a year's search, taking him back to San Francisco by ship; once aboard, Brent reconnects with two shady acquaintances who hope to aid in his escape, as well as ailing society girl Merle Oberon, whom Brent met in a bar while sharing a romantic cocktail. Direction, cinematography and cast all interesting, but perfunctory plot--with its impossible bushel of characters--gets stuck in an early rut. Sophistication and humor both give way to teary-eyed melodrama, though Brent and O'Brien are both excellent (as usual) and, visually at least, the film is impressive, due to director of photography Tony Gaudio's solid work. ** from ****