Journey Together *** (1945, Richard Attenborough, Jack Watling, David Tomlinson, Edward G Robinson) – Classic Movie Review 10,061

Director John Boulting’s 1945 World War Two Royal Air Force Film Unit production Journey Together is part documentary, part propaganda and part drama, and shows wartime pilots going through their introduction and training in England and America and on to attempt their rookie bombing raid.

Richard Attenborough leads the Brits as cockney chappie David Wilton, and Jack Watling also stars as university man John Aynesworth, along with David Tomlinson as Smith, who set out to join the RAF as aviators.

The two RAF aircrew cadets Wilton and Aynesworth become friendly rivals when they enter pilot training, and they bet who will become the better pilot. Wilton turns out to be a good navigator, while Aynesworth is a natural pilot. The story ends with a bombing raid on Berlin.

But the British actors are up against a fine performance from Edward G Robinson, easily holding his own for the Yanks in an all-too-short appearance as hard-boiled pilot instructor/ trainer Dean McWilliams.

John Boulting and Terence Rattigan (story) provide a fine, naturalistic screenplay and the film is directed with subtlety and intelligence by Boulting, with some amazing World War Two footage inserted.

Journey Together is not outstanding, maybe, but it is still an effective piece of British wartime movie-making. It is consistently entertaining, engrossing and often eye-opening.

Understandably, the film was popular at the British box office in 1945. It is Boulting’s film directorial debut. Robinson worked for free.

Also in the cast are Hugh Wakefield, Sebastian Shaw, Ronald Adam, Bessie Love, Ronald Squire, Sid Rider, Stuart Latham, Bromley Challenor, Patrick Waddington, Rex Harrison as Guest (uncredited), John Justin, George Cole as Curley, Bomb Aimer, Lancaster Crew, Miles Malleson (uncredited), Murray Matheson, Nicholas Stuart, Peter Baylis, Patrick Waddington and Fletcher Markle.

Journey Together is directed by John Boulting, runs 95 minutes (UK version) or 80 minutes (US version), is made by Royal Air Force Film Production Unit, is released by RKO Radio Pictures (1945) (UK) and English Films (1946) (US), is written by Terence Rattigan (story) and John Boulting, is shot in black and white by Stanley Sayer and Harry Waxman, is produced by John Boulting, is scored by Gordon Jacob and is designed by John Howell.

Muir Mathieson conducts the Royal Air Force Symphony Orchestra.

Attenborough remained good friends with Robinson, as he details in his autobiography.

The photo of David Wilton’s girlfriend shows Attenborough’s wife, actress Sheila Sim.

Lord Richard Attenborough passed away at 90, on 24 August 2014.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,061

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