What Is Pleasure Cruise About?
The premise of Pleasure Cruise in 277 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
Shirley Poole finds herself at the center of an unexpected domestic experiment when financial hardship reshapes her marriage to Andrew Poole. As the Depression strips away their comfortable life, Shirley’s determination to support her novelist husband through lean times sets the stage for a relationship dynamic that neither could have anticipated.
What begins as a hopeful partnership soon settles into an uneasy rhythm. Shirley throws herself into her career, while Andrew’s days at home curdle into suspicion and restlessness. The household arrangement that was meant to be temporary becomes a pressure cooker of frustration, with Shirley’s independent spirit clashing against her husband’s growing possessiveness. When the tension becomes too thick to ignore, both decide that some distance might help clear the air between them.
A cruise ship becomes the unlikely arena for their unresolved marital dance. Shirley boards seeking escape and relief, unaware that Andrew has no intention of letting her slip away unsupervised. By taking a position as the ship’s barber, he transforms what should have been a simple holiday into something far more complicated—a voyage where every social interaction carries an undercurrent of scrutiny and every moment of relaxation threatens to become a scene in a drama neither wrote but both must perform.
The film blends screwball comedy’s sharp edges with the anxieties of a marriage under strain, creating a tone that swings between genuine tension and knowing humor. As the ship charts its course across open waters, the real adventure lies not in the destinations, but in the delicate game of watching—and being watched—where every glance might hide an agenda and every passenger could be a player in their increasingly absurd contest of wills.
What Happens in Pleasure Cruise?
The complete story of Pleasure Cruise, from the first scene to the last, in 392 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 3 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Andrew Poole, Roland Young, loses his wealth during the Depression as his personal estate heads for the auction block. With no immediate prospects on the horizon, he considers releasing his fiancée, Shirley Poole, a woman who is played by Genevieve Tobin. Shirley, however, refuses to go along with a quiet goodbye and insists they marry right away. She offers to support them with her salary while he completes a novel, and he agrees. The pair wed, and the plan is set: they’ll subsist on her earnings while he chases his writing, hoping to weather hard times together.
A year passes, and Shirley throws herself into her work, while Andrew becomes a nagging, jealous househusband who fixates on the life she leads outside the home. The climate between them grows tense, pushing them to try separate vacations to cool off. Shirley ends up boarding a cruise ship, and Andrew quiets his suspicions by taking a job as the ship’s barber in order to watch—and occasionally disrupt—her social whirl on the high seas.
On the voyage, Shirley’s flirtation with passenger Richard Orloff, portrayed by Ralph Forbes, intensifies. Orloff asks Shirley to leave her cabin door unlocked for a secret rendezvous on the night of a grand party. A little tipsy, Shirley does forget to secure the door. Seizing the opportunity, Andrew locks Orloff’s cabin door from the outside and slips into Shirley’s room in the dark, determined to observe her interactions with other men.
The next morning, Shirley is mortified when Orloff apologizes for not keeping the tryst. She also notices that her engraved cigarette case is missing and begins to eye the other passengers’ cases with growing unease, wondering who might have been in her room.
Feeling the tension rise, she decides to cut the cruise short and return home. Orloff arrives at the Poole residence just before Andrew does, creating an awkward moment that underscores the tension their marriage has endured. When Andrew finally reveals the cigarette case, the truth of the affair seems laid bare. Shirley catches sight of the case as well and, feigning that she’d known all along that Andrew had been aboard, coyly advises her husband to knock the next time he enters a lady’s room. With that quip, she withdraws to her room, leaving Andrew standing in the doorway and the ship’s corridors echoing with unspoken implications.
Pleasure Cruise Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
13 key events in the order they happen, from “Depression-era wealth loss and engagement decision” to “Ending: Shirley tells him to knock; Andrew knocks”. 13 events name a place, across 5 locations.
- 1
Depression-era wealth loss and engagement decision
During the Depression, Andrew Poole watches his wealth collapse as his estate is put up for auction. Facing ruin and few prospects, he plans to release Shirley from their engagement. Shirley refuses to end things and insists they marry immediately, so he agrees to wed and subsist on her salary while he finishes a novel.
When:Depression era Where:Poole residence
- 2
Shirley pushes for an immediate marriage
Shirley refuses to end the engagement and presses for a rapid marriage. She proposes they live on her salary while Andrew finishes a novel, showing her resolve to preserve their relationship. Andrew reluctantly agrees to marry her despite the hardship.
When:shortly after engagement Where:Poole residence
- 3
One year later: Shirley's work, Andrew's jealousy
A year passes and Shirley becomes engrossed in her work while Andrew plays the role of a nagging househusband. He remains wary of her professional life and the attention she receives. The couple's finances are steadier, but emotional tensions simmer beneath the surface.
When:One year later Where:Poole home
- 4
Shirley departs on a cruise
The couple agrees to separate vacations, and Shirley leaves home to join a cruise ship. She seeks independence and a change of scenery, while Andrew covertly plans to monitor her. He ultimately secures a job on the ship to stay close at hand.
When:On departure Where:Cruise ship
- 5
Andrew becomes ship's barber to spy on Shirley
On the cruise, Andrew secretly secures a job as the ship's barber. His aim is to monitor Shirley and disrupt her interactions with other men. He keeps his true motive hidden while remaining close to her on board.
When:Early in voyage Where:Cruise ship
- 6
Shirley flirts with passenger Richard Orloff
Shirley engages in a serious flirtation with passenger Richard Orloff during the voyage. Orloff asks her to leave her cabin unlocked for him on the night of a big party, setting up temptation and risk. The flirtation deepens while Andrew quietly observes from his barber post aboard.
When:Night of the party Where:Cruise ship
- 7
Shirley leaves her cabin unlocked; Andrew intrudes
Tipsy, Shirley forgets to lock her cabin door, and Andrew takes advantage by tying Orloff's cabin door shut and slipping into Shirley's room in the dark. He uses the moment to surveil the interactions between his wife and Orloff. The intrusion heightens suspicion and tension on the ship.
When:Night of the party Where:Cruise ship, Shirley's cabin and Orloff's cabin
- 8
Morning reveal: Orloff apologizes
The next morning, Orloff apologizes for having been unable to keep the tryst, mortifying Shirley. She also notices her cigarette case is missing, realizing Andrew has been on board. The revelation exposes the extent of Andrew's spying and its impact on their relationship.
When:Morning after party Where:Cruise ship
- 9
Missing cigarette case prompts suspicion
Shirley discovers her engraved cigarette case is missing and suspects that someone has invaded her cabin. She begins examining other passengers' cases to determine who could have been in her room. The incident amplifies the sense that her privacy has been breached.
When:Soon after incident Where:Cruise ship
- 10
Shirley decides to return home early
Feeling exposed and betrayed, Shirley decides to cut the cruise short and return home. The decision marks a turning point in their troubled marriage and foreshadows a confrontation when they reach land.
When:Mid-cruise Where:Onboard cruise ship
Show the other 3 events of Pleasure Cruise Hide the last 3 events
- 11
Orloff visits the Pooles' home just before Andrew returns
Orloff arrives at the Pooles' home for a brief visit, arriving moments before Andrew is expected back. The awkward meeting happens with the knowledge that Andrew has been aboard the ship. Tension builds as the truth of Andrew's presence looms closer to surface.
When:Shortly before Andrew's return Where:Poole residence
- 12
Andrew reveals he was on board via cigarette case
Back at the Pooles' home, Andrew proudly flashes Shirley the cigarette case, proving he had been on the ship. Shirley sees the case and, pretending she knew all along, coyly implies that Andrew should have knocked before entering a lady's room. The revelation redefines the couple's dynamic.
When:Upon Orloff's visit Where:Poole residence
- 13
Ending: Shirley tells him to knock; Andrew knocks
Shirley acknowledges Andrew's presence and lightly tells him to knock next time before entering. Andrew then knocks on her door, signaling a cautious, unresolved boundary between them. The shipboard intrigue concludes with a redefined, tense dynamic in their relationship.
When:Immediately after revelation Where:Poole residence
Who Are the Main Characters in Pleasure Cruise?
3 characters, among them Shirley Poole (Genevieve Tobin), Andrew Poole (Roland Young) and Richard Orloff (Ralph Forbes): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- SP
Shirley Poole (Genevieve Tobin)
Played by Genevieve Tobin
A capable woman who works, and whose flirtations complicate her marriage. Her insistence on marrying despite hardship signals independence, but her social charm also makes her a target of Andrew's jealousy. She navigates office life and high-society flirtations as the shipboard drama unfolds.
- 💃 Romance
- 🎭 Drama
- 💬 Communication
- AP
Andrew Poole (Roland Young)
Played by Roland Young
Once wealthy, he clings to a fragile sense of authority as unemployment reshapes his life. His jealousy drives him to spy on Shirley, blurring lines between wife and rival. His nagging need to control the situation tests their relationship and reveals his vulnerability.
- 💼 Wealth
- 💔 Jealousy
- 🎭 Drama
- RO
Richard Orloff (Ralph Forbes)
Played by Ralph Forbes
A worldly passenger who flirts with Shirley, representing the temptation that unsettles the Poole marriage. His presence on the ship creates a tense triangle and a test for Shirley's fidelity. His charm and the scandal it could spark propel the plot toward confrontation.
- 💘 Romance
- 🎭 Drama
- 🕵️♀️ Jealousy
Where and When Is Pleasure Cruise Set?
Pleasure Cruise is set in Cruise ship and Pooles' home (1930s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1930s
Set during the Great Depression, the film follows a once-wealthy couple facing economic collapse that alters their dynamics. The sudden shift in fortune forces them to adapt—Shirley must maintain independence while Andrew grapples with jealousy. A year passes, during which the shipboard affair tests loyalties and the couple's resolve. The era's social mores frame their choices and jealousies.
Where
Cruise ship, Pooles' home
The primary action unfolds aboard a luxury cruise ship, a floating social stage where reputations are tested and secrets surface. The ship's social gatherings become venues for flirtation, misdirection, and surveillance. When the voyage ends, the narrative returns to the familiar home setting of the Poole couple.
- 🌊 Ocean voyage
- 🏠 Domestic setting
What Are the Themes of Pleasure Cruise?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Jealousy, Marriage and Deception.
-
01
Jealousy
Andrew's insecurity drives him to spy on Shirley as she advances in her career and social circles. The ship becomes a stage where trust erodes and accusations mount. The couple's strained communication reveals how fear and possessiveness distort love.
-
02
Marriage
The film examines endurance and adaptation within a marriage strained by financial loss and competing desires. Shirley seeks autonomy and social life, while Andrew clings to conventional roles. Their experiment in separate vacations exposes the fragility and resilience of commitment.
-
03
Deception
Secrets and misdirections drive the plot: a concealed rendezvous, a missing cigarette case, and misunderstandings triggered by unlocked doors. Public politeness masks private deceit on a crowded cruise. The truth surfaces only through small, revealing moments.
-
04
Cruise milieu
The cruise ship functions as a microcosm of society, with flirtations, social rituals, and surveillance among passengers. The close-quarters environment amplifies tensions and opportunities for mischief. The voyage stages the collision of personal desire and social propriety.
What Kind of Film Is Pleasure Cruise?
Light in tone, with steady pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Light
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Happy
A playful and lighthearted comedy of errors where marital jealousy leads to a series of farcical deceptions aboard a cruise ship, culminating in a cheeky reconciliation.
- comedic
- playful
- lighthearted
- jealous
- mischievous
- flirtatious
- marital conflict
- jealousy
- disguise
- cruise ship
Where to Watch Pleasure Cruise
. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Streaming availability in the US, powered by 
