Desperate Journey (1942)

Far-Fetched but Action-Packed Flynn Adventure!

Of all the actors of the 40s who made WWII-themed films, Errol Flynn was second only to John Wayne in raising critics' ire for 'winning the war single-handed'. His civilian status was ridiculed, although Flynn HAD in fact, attempted to enlist, but had been rejected (despite his robust appearance, it was discovered he had an 'athlete's heart', plus traces of malaria and TB he had contracted in his youth). Even with the negative press, Flynn's unique status as an Australian who was also an American movie star made him ideal as a morale booster for not only wartime American audiences, but audiences overseas, as well.

"Desperate Journey" was certainly the most incredible of his war films, with it's 'over-the-top' action, and wildly improbable plot (downed fliers reap havoc on moronic Nazis, then safely return to England in a stolen bomber). Certainly, Flynn's ease in both eluding and harassing the Germans, and the infamous tag line he delivers at film's end ("Now to Australia, and a crack at those Japs!") were comic book heroics, at best, and could not be taken seriously. But the same critics that lambasted him ignored equally far-fetched WWII-themed films starring Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, and Cary Grant. The real pity was, when Flynn would appear in superior war dramas ("Edge of Darkness" and "Objective, Burma!"), the films would be 'lumped in' with his more cartoonish epics.

All this being said, as a 'tongue-in-cheek' adventure yarn, "Desperate Journey" is fast-paced and very enjoyable! Directed by action film veteran Raoul Walsh, the story of British bomber 'D-for-Danny', shot down over occupied central Europe, offers a terrific cast, including Ronald Reagan and Arthur Kennedy (in their second teamings with Flynn), and Alan Hale (in his tenth of 12 Flynn films). Raymond Massey, also making his second appearance with Flynn, is the ULTIMATE caricature of a Nazi officer (speaking the gobbly-gook Hollywood passed off as 'German' in these films) who 'loses' the captured fliers (after a brilliantly funny "double-speak" scene with Reagan, which Flynn, jealous of his co-star, attempted to cut, or have re-written for him), then pursues them across the continent. The fliers receive aid from a sympathetic German doctor and his beautiful assistant (Nancy Coleman, providing Flynn's mandatory romance), tragically lose Hale (during the film's most dramatic escape), and Flynn, Reagan, and Kennedy eventually find the convenient British bomber, to return home (so Flynn can have his 'crack' at the 'Japs').

At a running time of 108 minutes, the film seldom drags, provides Flynn a chance to give a "There'll always be an England" soliloquy, and delivers more one-liners than many screen comedies of the era, with Reagan displaying a real knack for it ("'The Iron Fist' has a glass jaw").

With it's emphasis on action, larger-than-life heroics and gallows humor, "Desperate Journey" has 'held up' FAR better than many other vintage war films, and STILL thrills viewers in the "Can You Top This?" climate of today's action flicks.

It is certainly a 'must' for any Errol Flynn fan's collection! September 10, 2005

Fantasic movie

Fun, at times tongue in cheek, certainly cheesy in places, but a great old action adventure picture that rolls just about everything one could ask for into one film. This 1942 movie is one of Flynn's better films, though not as great as ones like Adventures of Robin Hood or the more serious Objective Burma (done a few years after Desperate Journey and now on DVD). Very colorful characters, good looking visuals for the time, great tight directing by legendary director Raoul Walsh who directed a number of Flynn films included the above mentioned Objective Burma. Soundtrack is very Flynn like in nature fitting the movie perfectly. I'm not a big fan of Ronald Reagan's films, but some of his lines in this movie are classic. All in all this is a fun action packed film that was perfect for 1942 and still easily manages to entertain today. Desperate Journey needs a good DVD release! May 3, 2004

a 1942 version of "Behind Enemy Lines"........wheres the DVD

My older sister allowed me to watch the new military flick "Behind Enemy Lines" with Gene Hackman and Owen Wilson. I liked it very much. Then I found this movie in a movie catalog. At first I was a bit skeptical, then I looked at it on Amazon and saw the reviews it recived and I was hooked on it because it had the same story line as B.E.L. I bought this movie and I loved every minute of it. Raymond Massey does a very good job as the German major. Errol Flynn, Ronald Regan, Alan Hale, and Arthur Kennedy do very good in their roles too. My favorite scene is where Alan Hale is spitting those little pebbles at Errol Flynn and the German soldier through his mouth, I wish I knew how he did it. I also wish that the movie industry would release this action-packed war movie and other hit movies, like Crash Dive, Air Force, Destination Tokyo, Flying Leathernecks, Wake Island, Action in the North Atlantic, Sink the Bismarck, Battle Cry, Hellcats of the Navy, Up Periscope, Torpedo Run, Submarine Sea Hawk, all in DVD format. I think all of the war movies that were made during the early 40s through the late 60s should be put in DVD format. If you want a good old-fashioned, rousing war movie, Desperate Journey is both a treat and a gem. Please release in DVD format. May 4, 2003

Ronald Reagan and Errol Flynn sock it to the Nazis!

An amiable WWII propaganda fantasy starring Errol Flynn as the leader of a small group of Allied bomber pilots downed behind German lines, who are trying to get home, but can't help making monkeys of the Nazis and wreaking endless sabotage havoc before they do. Ronald Reagan, who I'll reluctantly admit was pretty charismatic, is Flynn's sidekick; also stars Colonel Klink, uh, I mean Raymond Massey, as the blustering SS officer who pursues them across the countryside after they escape his evil clutches. The film is notable for the extensive use of real German throughout, as well as the hopeful fiction of an anti-Nazi German underground which helps the men escape. Reagan gets to mow down dozens of German soldiers in the climactic final battle; I think this may have been one of those Hollywood films he mistook for reality in some speech he gave as President, talking about what he "did" during World War II. Anyway, this film is fast moving and enjoyable, even if hastily produced and improbably plotted. A goofy wartime action-fest. March 1, 2003

Fun and Exciting!

This movie may be dated, but it's still well worth watching. It certainly isn't so dated that it drags or is boring.

Errol Flynn and Ronald Reagan lead the cast as members of an Allied flight crew that gets shot down and captured in Germany during World War II. They manage a daring escape from right under the noses of their captors and set out for safe territory, with important German secrets in their pockets! Flynn, who knows German fluently, leads the group and gets them out of more than a few jams just by knowing German. Danger lurks on every side, and the relentless Germans have no intention of letting these men get back to England.

This exciting adventure is punctuated by patriotic music, and clearly was meant to stir up patriotism during World War II. A young German lady who helps the Allied crew asks them to tell their friends in England that there are people in Germany who are willing to help them, and who agree that the future of Germany depends on the downfall of the Nazis. Yes, it's propaganda, but what the heck! It's refreshing to see a movie that knows the difference between right and wrong!

Flynn and Reagan are excellent, and they are supported well by Alan Hale, Arthur Kennedy, and many others. Maybe, with the war on terrorism upon us, it's time for a revival of good old-fashioned patriotic movies! God bless America! February 7, 2003

More reviews at Amazon.com ...