Desperate Journey *** (1942, Errol Flynn, Alan Hale Sr, Ronald Reagan, Nancy Coleman, Raymond Massey, Arthur Kennedy, Ronald Sinclair, Albert Bassermann, Sig Ruman) Classic Movie Review 4782

Director Raoul Walsh’s 1942 wartime action adventure movie tells an amusing shaggy dog story about five guys on a bombing mission shot down in Germany and trying to get back to England with vital information about a hidden German aircraft factory.

Errol Flynn, Ronald Reagan, Arthur Kennedy, Alan Hale Sr and Ronald Sinclair star as Aussie Flight Lt. Terrence Forbes (Flynn), Yankee Flying Officer Johnny Hammond (Reagan), Flying Officer Jed Forrest (Kennedy), Scots Flight Sergeant Kirk Edwards (Hale) and limey Flight Sergeant Lloyd Hollis (Sinclair).

Despite the flag waving and the studio exteriors, it is a thoroughly enjoyable movie with lots of action, even if you do not believe a word of it. It’s a shaggy dog story! The shock waves of the scandal surrounding Flynn’s trial for statutory rape (though he was found innocent) failed to damage Flynn’s popularity and helped the movie to be a hit. And this is a fine Flynn performance, with Reagan adequate.

Also in the cast are Nancy Coleman as member of the underground Kaethe Brahms, Raymond Massey as German commandant Major Otto Baumeister, Albert Bassermann as Dr Mather, Sig Ruman as Preuss, Ilka Gruning, Felix Basch, Elsa Bassermann, Charles Irwin, Richard Fraser and Patrick O’Moore, 

It is written by Arthur Horman, shot in black and white by Bert Glennon, produced by Hal B Wallis and scored by Max Steiner.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 4782

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