Across to Singapore is a 1928 film directed by William Nigh.
The story starts in 1857. Joel Shore (Ramón Novarro) is the youngest of four brothers in a seagoing merchant family. He is in love with the town beauty, Priscilla Crowninshield (Joan Crawford in one of her first starring roles) and she with him, and they obviously hope to marry one day.
Unfortunately nobody told their fathers, who arrange a wedding between Priscilla and the eldest Shore brother, Mark, who captains the Shore family's merchant ship. Mark is enchanted with lovely Priscilla and thrilled to marry her—until she refuses to kiss him at the wedding. Mark realizes that Priscilla loves someone else, but doesn't know who. He certainly doesn't guess Joel, who's now old enough to go to sea and is a member of Mark's crew.
One of three film adaptations of the novel All the Brothers Were Valiant. Anna May Wong appears as a Singapore bar girl who sets her sights on Mark.
Tropes:
- Arranged Marriage: Not only do Mr. Shore and Mr. Crowninshield arrange Pricilla's marriage without asking her, they don't even tell her until the public announcement in church. Mark doesn't miss the look of horror on Priscilla's face.
- Asian Hooker Stereotype: Hinted at with the unnamed Singapore bar girl played by Anna May Wong, who crawls all over Mark in a bar and is sitting in his lap by the time that Joel comes in and pulls them apart.
- As You Know: Joel helpfully explains family relationships to the audience by telling Priscilla "My brother Mark will be sailing home." Then when Mark does get home, he turns to someone else and says "Look, Noah, our baby brother!"
- Bar Brawl: Mischievous Joel triggers a bar brawl by tossing nuts both at Mark and the surly, aggressive sailor next to him at the bar. Then Joel sits back and watches everyone else fight.
- Bucket Booby-Trap: Joel rigs one up for Mark at home, but it's Priscilla who walks under it and gets soaked.
- Day Hurts Dark-Adjusted Eyes: Joel winces after coming up on deck upon return to port, having spent the whole voyage back from Singapore in irons.
- Died in Your Arms Tonight: Mark, who got stuck in the back by a spear thrown by the mutinous Finch, dies in Joel's arms after telling him to take care of Priscilla.
- Drowning My Sorrows: A bitter Mark starts drinking heavily on the outward-bound voyage to Singapore, not even bothering to come up on deck when the ship is getting pounded by a wicked storm off Cape Horn.
- Fake Action Prologue: The film opens with Joel in the rigging of a ship, pistol in hand, defending Priscilla against pirates. But the pirates are offscreen and the dialogue is very over the top. It turns out Joel and Priscilla are goofing around on a piece of wreckage, an abandoned mast and section of main deck just sitting on the beach.
- Fully-Clothed Nudity: Joel jumps out of bed, wearing pajamas that cover him from neck to ankle. Priscilla points and laughs, and Joel dives back under the covers.
- Impairment Shot: A drunk Mark's vision comes in and out of focus as he looks at a ship pulling into the harbor in Singapore. It's his ship, now captained by Joel, coming back for him.
- Kubrick Stare: Mark does this when he clambers back up on the boat, sees Priscilla in Joel's arms, and realizes who his rival is.
- Sibling Triangle: Both Mark and Joel are in love with Priscilla, but only one has a shot.
- Youngest Child Wins: Joel, the youngest, eventually finds love and happiness with Priscilla.
