Honeymoon Ahead


60m 1945

Film Details

Also Known As
Romance, Inc.
Genre
Comedy
Musical
Release Date
May 11, 1945
Premiere Information
Los Angeles opening: 3 May 1945
Production Company
Universal Pictures Company, Inc.
Distribution Company
Universal Pictures Company, Inc.
Country
United States

Technical Specs

Duration
60m
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
5,458ft (7 reels)

Synopsis

The Blackmore Prison choir, led by inmate Orpheus, is about to gain radio sponsorship, when Orpheus is pardoned and the deal falls through. Determined to appear on the radio, the prisoner choir members hire released crook Knuckles to frame Orpheus so he will be returned to prison. Meanwhile, Orpheus, who is hitchhiking back to his hometown of Oaks Corners, spots a stalled vehicle belonging to small theater-troupe owner Roland T. "Rollie" Mack, his daughter Evelyn, who is also his business manager and leading-lady, and singers Vincent Welles and Rosita. As Orpheus helps them with the car, Evelyn sees a letter in his coat pocket with the prison's address on it, and is concerned when her father offers him a job with their troupe. Orpheus promises to meet them the next day and returns home to Oaks Corners, where his former landlady presents him with four hundred dollars she has saved from his rabbit-raising business while he was in jail. That night, Knuckles hires two henchmen, Spike and Georgie, to commit a robbery and frame Orpheus for it. They then steal ten thousand dollars from the Oaks Corners National Bank and hide the money in Orpheus' suitcase. When Orpheus leaves town the next morning, bank president Ephraim to assumes that he is guilty of the robbery. Arriving at Rollie's, Orpheus saves the day's performance by stepping in as Rosita's partner when Vinnie comes down with laryngitis. Despite her suspicions about him, Evelyn sings with Orpheus at rehearsal and agrees to let him join the troupe and when Rollie tells the troupe they are broke, Orpheus offers all his money to save the floundering show. Meanwhile, when Spike and Georgie apprise Knuckles of their heist, he angrily tells them that robbing that bank will send Orpheus to the wrong jail, and demands that they retrieve the money. After Evelyn sees a newspaper report of the robbery, she concludes that Orpheus is guilty and tells the troupe. Orpheus then confesses that he had been in jail and offers to leave after explaining about the four hundred dollars. Realizing she is in love with Orpheus, Evelyn apologizes and asks him to stay. Soon after, stage hands find the planted money in Orpheus' suitcase and, assuming it is stage money, throw it into a prop closet. Later, as the troupe rehearses for another show, Sheriff Weeks comes to warn Orpheus that bank detectives are trailing him. That night, Orpheus disguises himself and plays a minor role in the play. Knuckles, Spike and Georgie sit on one side of the audience, while Weeks sits on the other side, and Detectives Caldwell, Ephraim and Browning wait in the wings to grab Orpheus. During the play, Orpheus' moustache falls off, and as soon as Spike and Georgie recognize him, they rush the stage, grab him and put him in their car. As they leave town, Knuckles announces to his henchmen that he will now have to turn them in for the bank robbery in order to clear Orpheus' name. Spike and Georgie, who intend to steal the money, start a fight, and during the mêlée, Orpheus grabs Spike's gun and brings them all back to the police. The next day, as Sheriff Weeks informs everyone that Orpheus' name has been cleared, Evelyn embraces Orpheus.

Film Details

Also Known As
Romance, Inc.
Genre
Comedy
Musical
Release Date
May 11, 1945
Premiere Information
Los Angeles opening: 3 May 1945
Production Company
Universal Pictures Company, Inc.
Distribution Company
Universal Pictures Company, Inc.
Country
United States

Technical Specs

Duration
60m
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
5,458ft (7 reels)

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

The working title for this film was Romance, Inc. Film credits and the plot summary are based on a cutting continuity included in studio files. Although Hollywood Reporter productions charts include Harry Hayden in the cast, his appearance in the final film has not been confirmed.