Gangway for Tomorrow is a 1943 American anthology film produced and directed by the Austrian-American John H. Auer, and originally known by its working title, An American Story. Steeped in the propaganda tones of early World War II features, the film is largely B-fare.
Contents
Plot
Five defense workers on their way to the munitions factory tell their stories: a refugee from the French Resistance, a frustrated race car driver, a prison warden, a former Miss America, and an intellectual who dropped out of society and saw the country as a bum.
Cast
Margo as Lisette Rene
John Carradine as Mr. Wellington
Robert Ryan as Joe Dunham
Amelita Ward as Mary Jones, Miss America
William Terry as Bob Nolan
Harry Davenport as Fred Taylor
James Bell as Tom Burke
Charles Arnt as Jim Benson
Alan Carney as Swallow
Wally Brown as Sam
Erford Gage as Dan Barton
Richard Ryen as Colonel Mueller
Warren Hymer as Pete
Michael St. Angel as Mechanic
Don Dillaway as Mechanic
Sam McDaniel as Hank
John Wald as Radio Announcer
Ludwig Donath as Polish Worker
unbilled players include Rita Corday
Reception
Despite its attempt to divert from the usual formulaic patriotic films of the period, Gangway for Tomorrow was relegated to second billing in most theatres. Critical reviews, however, were more sympathetic, the New York Daily Mirror noted, "The screen as a medium for useful propaganda is well illustrated by Gangway for Tomorrow ... Turning in the best performances are Margo, John Carradine ... and Robert Ryan." In a similar vein; "An unpretentious little film, running at just 69 minutes, Gangway is nevertheless fresh and bright in treatment and provides an interesting story of five factory workers ... The members of the cast, in particular, Margo and Robert Ryan, handle their assignments well."