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Honeymoon Ahead
Universal Pictures
Released: May 11, 1945
Runtime: 60 minutes
Orpheus, an inmate in the state penitentiary, is the lead singer of “The Angels,” a chorus of fellow inmates. He started the group himself, and their popularity has brought them their own radio show. They are singing “Round the Bend” on air under his conduction. After the broadcast, Orpheus is taken into the chief’s office. A representative from the government’s office confirms that Orpheus is innocent and can be excused from the rest of his sentence. It turns out that Orpheus was wrongfully accused for burgling a church, and he has been serving the last 5 years in prison for nothing. They apologize, and say he can leave first thing in the morning. But, at this time, “The Angels” have a contract offer. Orpheus understands the chance, but would like to try to start a singing career on his own. He says the chorus will do just fine, but the contract holder says the deal’s off without him. The chorus soon hears the news. One convict in particular is discontented that Orpheus has no loyalty to the chorus, so he tells his old pal, Knuckles Moran, to get him back in prison…
Orpheus, now a free man, makes his way down a dusty road, hoping to hitch hike back home. A car with a traveling theatre company sign drives by and breaks down up ahead. The director of the troupe is Rollie Mack, and with is his daughter/leading lady Evelyn, the Spanish dancer Rosita, and a fussy tenor. Evelyn tries to fix the car, while Orpheus catches up with them, singing a reprise of “Round the Bend.” Rosita is enchanted with his voice, saying he can actually sing, unlike their tenor. The two start a squabble. Orpheus offers to help with the car, so Evelyn steps aside. She holds his coat for him and spots a letter he received at the prison. Instantly suspicious of his identity, she isn’t too friendly with him from the start. Rollie, who is just as enthusiastic as Rosita, welcomes him aboard. They let him off at his hometown so he can pick up some things before he joins. He visits his landlady who gives him money that he made from an old rabbit business. Two of Moran’s henchmen, Spike and George, steal $10,000 dollars from a national bank, which they plan to use to frame Orpheus. They sneak into his room and put the money in the lining of his suitcase. But, when they report to their boss, Knuckles, he’s furious and tells them to retrieve the money. Stealing from a national bank would give Orpheus the wrong sentence, so he wouldn’t be in the penitentiary with the Angels. Meanwhile, the president of the bank assumes Orpheus stole the money, so he tries to make the police arrest him. They don’t take immediate action, but they keep him in mind.
The next morning, Orpheus reports to the theatre company. Before he arrives, Evelyn reads an article about the bank robbery in his hometown. Assuming it was him, she is determined to make him leave. When he walks into her office, she asks him where he was the other night. He says he went to pick up some money, so she shows him the article. He looks at it and laughs, thinking what the president of the bank would think (when Orpheus was put in prison, he was the one so sure that he was guilty). She tries to make him understand that her father did not know what he was saying to convince him to leave. But, Rollie walks in and rushes him off to rehearsals for the upcoming show. Spike and George sneak in that night to retrieve the money. Before they came, Orpheus had dropped his suitcase, saw the stolen money spilled on the floor, assumed it was stage money, and put in the prop cabinet. The henchmen look in the fake money drawer, but assume that it really is, and look elsewhere. During the performance, Rosita does a dance number, and the tenor develops a sore throat. So, Orpheus takes his place in the song number with Evelyn. He and Evelyn sing a duet of “Now and Always.” As instructed by Rollie, Orpheus kisses her at the end (she tries to fight back), and holds it until the curtain falls. But, to his luck, there is some problem and the curtain stays up longer than expected. The audience begins to giggle at the scene. Evelyn, who had stopped struggling from his grasp, quickly walks away after they draw the curtains. Spike and George don’t find the money, so they leave.
That evening, the crew has a dinner celebration for the success of the show. Orpheus gives some of his money to help the show. However, Evelyn stands up and tells everyone that he stole the money from the bank. He defends himself with the truth, and decides to leave the next day. He is about to go when he hears Evelyn crying in her room. Rollie, who wants him to stay, goes in and asks her what the matter is. Evelyn doesn’t know Orpheus is there, and says she’s upset because she hurt someone she likes very much. Hearing this, Orpheus says he feels the same way, Evelyn spins around, and they kiss. From then on, the two become singing sweethearts; a montage of theatre posters portrays their success after success as they sing a reprise of “Now and Always.”
Just as everything is going so well, Moran sends Spike and George to their next show and the police plan to go as well. During rehearsals, Orpheus sings, “How Lovely” while Evelyn watches with admiration. Orpheus receives a letter saying that the police will be there, so he switches parts with someone so they can get through the show. That night during the number, he performs behind a prop, while the other man lip sings. Spike and George dress up as extras and lead Orpheus off stage. The police are confused at first, but once Orpheus comes into the light dressed with a big hat and mustache, they recognize him and go backstage. The police retrieve the stolen money, but the thugs grab it and get away in a car taking Orpheus with them. While driving, Orpheus talks Moran and the two henchmen into going against each other. Spike takes the money out of Moran’s pocket and pulls a gun on him. Orpheus is sitting between Spike and George so he secretly takes the money from Spike’s pocket and puts in into George’s. The two henchmen make Moran pull over. Here, Orpheus tells Spike that George took the money from him. Soon, all of the thugs start fist fights while Orpheus watches. The gun is kicked over in his path, so he takes it and makes them drive to the police station.
The next day, the company is on the road again, when the police stop them. Two policemen get in the back seat, and let Orpheus sit with Evelyn. After last night’s incident, she thinks he is a criminal again. She asks the police why they are sitting with him, like they usually do. They explain that Orpheus was heroic and turned in the convicts. Then they hand her some money, a gift from the bank president for their honeymoon. She turns to Orpheus, gives him a kiss, and they honeymoon happily ever after.
Credits
Director…Reginald Le Borg
Producer…Will Cowan
Writers…Val Burton (screenplay and story), Elwood Ullman (screenplay)
Cinematography…Paul Ivano, Charles Van Enger
Film Editing…Ted J. Kent
Art Direction…John B. Goodman, Abraham Grossman
Set Decoration…Russell A. Gausman, Leigh Smith
Costumes…Vera West
Sound Department…Glenn E. Anderson, Bernard B. Brown
Musical Director…Raymond Sinatra
Dialogue Director…Carter DeHaven
Original Music…Frank Skinner (uncredited)
Assistant Director…Mack V. Wright
Composer: stock music…Lloyd Akridge, Hans J. Salter (uncredited)
Cast
Allan Jones…Orpheus
Grace McDonald…Evelyn
Raymond Walburn…Rollie Mack
Vivian Austin…Rosita
Jack Overman…Knuckles
Murray Alper…Spike
Eddie Acuff…Connors
John Abbott…Welles
William Haade…Trigger
Arthur Loft…Sheriff Weeks
Ralph Peters…George
Charles F. Miller…Ephraim
Sarah Padden…Mrs. Halett
Jack Clifford…Gus
Bobby Barber…1st convict
John Berkes…Lug
Joseph E. Bernard…Man
Davison Clark…Capt. Lynn
Jimmy Conlin…Grant
Earle S. Dewey…Blodgett
George Eldredge…Caldwell
Al Ferguson…Guard
Jack George…Orchestra Leader
Dee Green…Girl with umbrella
Billy Nelson…Fingers Morelli
William Newell…Joe
Spec O’Donnell…Boy with umbrella
Garry Own…Announcer
Lee Phelps…Browning
Harry Semels…2nd convict
Charles Sullivan…Control Man
Pierre Watkin…Warden Lawlor
Charles Williams…Dinky
Soundtrack
Credited Composers:
Music: Milton Rosen
Lyrics: Everett Carter
• “Round the Bend”
o Sung By Allan Jones, male chorus
• “Now and Always”
o Sung by Allan Jones, Grace McDonald, reprised during montage
• “How Lovely”
o Sung by Allan Jones during rehearsal and reprised during show performance