User Reviews

***SPOILERS***Entertaining but utterly mindless allied WW II propaganda movie that has a group of downed allied pilots, American Australian and British, trek their way across hundreds of miles of enemy territory from the German/Polish border to Holland and the English channel with no more then a company of German troops to stop them. This gang of five with two of them Sgt. Llyod Hollis II & Sgt. Kirk Edwards , Ronald Sinclair & Alan Hale, not making it back are lead by Flight Lt. Terry Forbes, Erroll Flynn, who seem for the most part to live charmed lives. They amazingly gets themselves out of one tight squeeze after another with the help of a number of British & American supporting German civilians helping them, putting the lives of themselves and their families on the line, along the way.

The task to get these allied fliers into custody falls on the shoulders of German Major Otto Baumeister, Raymond Massey, who at first screwed up by letting them get the best of him and making their escape after Maj. Baumeister's men had initially captured them. The movie then turns into a Willie Coyote Road Runner cartoon with Maj. Baumeister playing the part of the thankless and frustrated Willie Coyote who no matter how hard he tries just can't get his hands on his speedy adversity, the escaped allied fliers, even with the help of the entire German Whermacht and Lufftwaffe.

The escaped fliers who include future US President and leader of the Free World Ronald Wilson Reagan, as the wise cracking US fly-boy Johnny Hammond, have a field day in making the Germans look both incompetent and ridicules as they hopelessly bumble their way through the movie in trying to apprehend them. Forbes Hammond & Co. easily make their way to the English Channel, knocking out dozens of Germans on the way, with the only thing stopping them from making it back home is that their car, carjacked from the German Army, ran out of gas.

Just when you would think that it's curtains for Lt. Forbes and fly-boy Hammond together with numbers man, or accountant, Jed Forrest, Arthur Kenndey, Lord and behold there's a British Lockeed Hudson bomber materializing right before their eyes as if it were a desert mirage! The Lockeed Hudson happens to be the very plane that the trio were trained to fly and there it is right there for them to hijack and fly back to England! The dastardly and not at all cricket Germans were going to use the Birtish bomber to sneak over the channel and knock out the Battersea Waterworks that, among other things, supply the water for the London Fire Department! Only the scheming and not on the level Nazis would think of something as evil as that being that the waterworks are the reason that kept London from burning down during the German Blitz of 1940/41!

Forbes Hammond & Forrest gun down scores of hapless Germans, who have no idea in how to use firearms, together with the luckless Maj. Baumeister as the Lockeed Hudson finally takes off with Jed Forrest getting shot at least a half dozen times and surviving with only a minor flesh wound. On their way home to England Johnny Hammond just couldn't resist, against orders, to drop the bomb destined for the Battersea Waterworks on a German gun battery aimed at Dover England knocking it out of commission. All this happens without a single Lufwaffe plane or German anti-aircraft artillery battery in sight to stop the dynamic trios escape!

Within sight of the White Cliffs of Dover and freedom Flight Lt. Forbes radios in that he's looking forward to go to Australia, his home, and get a crack at the "Japs". If the "Japs" are anywhere as helpless and buffoonish as their German allies in the movie "Desperate Journey" it will be nothing more then a walk in the park, and not at all desperate, for Forbes to deal with them.

I stumbled onto this beauty on TCM a few weeks ago, and could not believe it. It is the closest thing I have seen to a prototype for the much-maligned Hogan's Heroes television program. We have a multinational Alied group in Germany doing as much damage as they can to the Axis war effort, with laughs all along the way wherever they can be found. It even has received some of the same criticism that Hogan's Heroes received.

There are some substantial differences: Sargent Schultz is on the Allied side; I am not sure if he, played by Alan Hale, is supposed to be American or English. There is a sort of Sargent Schultz for the Germans, in Sig Ruman (who I believe also played Schultz in Stalag 17), but he is a little tougher and a little smarter than Schultz. Colonel Klink in this picture, played by Raymond Massey, is a thoroughly bad baddie, sort of a Major Hochstedder with a monocle and a promotion. The biggest difference is that the boys are on the road, not stationed in a prison camp. But then, to turn it into a long running TV show, putting them into a prison camp makes perfect sense.

Most reviewers think this movie is totally silly with unrealistically stupid and incompetent Germans and too many hair's breadth escapes by the boys. I do not agree, as the Axis German establishment showed themselves to be not the supermen they were billed to be. After all, with an incompetent lunatic leader and incompetent lazy assistant leader in Hitler and Goering, and a German military and Gestapo drilled to blind obedience, it should not be surprising that people brought up in an environment that values independent thinking are able to outwit them time and again. And in spite of that, only three of the bomber crew survived to get out of Germany - the majority of the crew perished, mostly on-screen. Two things that did not ring true did capture my attention: 1) I don't think the railway junction that was the target existed, or if it did it was not where they said it was; and it appeared that the mission failed to hit it anyway. 2)I am not familiar with the Lockheed 2-engine bomber that was supposedly used, but I doubt that it could have made the round trip that would have been necessary to reach the target and return.

A couple other notes: Regarding the "Japs" comment. It may or may not have been racist, but the Japanese military government of the time earned a reputation for evil, and deserved no polite consideration. Their treatment of Chinese civilians and American and British prisoners of war is sufficient evidence (see "Rape of Nanking" and various documentaries on the Bataan Death March). Even today, it is my belief that the Japanese have never officially apologized or made any atonement for what they did. This is in sharp contrast to the Germans, who I believe murdered fewer innocent non-combatants than did the Japanese (or Joseph Stalin throughout his career for that matter).

Near the end of the movie, Errol Flynn (Lt. Terrance Forbes) cautions his two fellow crew members that they should wait before they try to recapture the stolen RAF (Royal Air Force) plane. Ronald Reagan (Johnny Hammond) says to his two buddies (who want to wait until the odds are more favorable): "Why wait? There's only twelve of them?" This Reagan comment pretty much captures the ideas of the young men from Australia (Flynn) the US (Reagan) but is somewhat in contrast to the former bookkeeper-accountant from Canada (Kennedy). Yet, mainly these young fighting men see themselves as invincible and uncapturable. This is the attitude that the Armed Services of the England, Canada and the US were each trying to instill in the minds and hearts of their soldiers, as these nations were reeling from defeats at the hands of the axis nations (Germany, Japan and Italy).

The plane, that this crew is a part of, is shot down on its mission to disrupt German production by bombing a certain railroad switching yard, deep in German territory. The crew of the bomber, loses three men in the raid and the crash landing. And just after the captain of the plane dies, the crew is captured and taken to be interrogated by Major Otto Baumeister (Raymong Massey). However, they escape from their captures led by Raymond Massey's character. The major is humiliated. This movie centers on their attempt to escape back to England from deep inside the German held Europe. Raymond Massey is seen pursuing them all the way.

By the time of the movie, France had fallen (as had the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Poland and almost all of Western Europe). The British had been driven into the sea at Dunkirk. With all of Western Europe held by the Germans, the escape across the Western European continent would not be easy. There is loss of life, a sympathetic doctor with a pretty daughter, several escapes from custody or capture, allied sabotage of German installations, a car chase and finally they arrive at the site of the stolen RAF aircraft. The idea that the Germans might bomb the London water supply with this plane and leave millions without water and helpless, prompts the selfless, patriotic fervor that leads young Johnny Hammond (Ronald Reagan's character) to say to his two companions, "Why wait? There's only 12 of them!" Will our heroes escape back to England? Or is this just too much to ask of any men in occupied Western Europe? Do they die a heroes death or live to fight one more day? Watch this patriotic, drama with its lighter moments and you will see. Either way you will be encouraged as were the audiences that viewed this movie in 1942, the armed forces as well as movie audiences in thousands of small towns in Canada, England and the USA.

If you've ever played with plastic green army men as a child, then you should be very familiar with the story line provided in 'Desperate Journey'. The story line for the film never graduates from a pre-school mentality and thus becomes hamstrung into becoming unintentionally comical in the way it continues to create improbable and impossible situations for its band of heroes to breeze through. From start to finish, these band of brothers do battle against incredible odds. Every step of the way, these heroic American soldiers do their duty to their country with good humor and Godspeed. Most of the cast appears as the comic book soldiers they're supposed to be, but Errol Flynn somehow manages to transcend this comic book cage. Even though Errol Flynn is great in his role as Lt. Terry Forbes and never once does he lose the integrity of his character, ultimately you can't take this movie seriously at all because of how farcical this adventure behind enemy lines becomes minute by minute.

I would imagine that 'Desperate Journey' filled the requirement for public morale and for support of the war upon its release, but some 60 years later the film plays out as an unintentional comedy and a curious filmed document of what a future U.S. President did while others were really fighting the war overseas.

For those of you who enjoy seeing Nazi soldiers portrayed as bumbling buffoons, this is your movie.

Lovers of Raoul Walsh (and his bagful of wipes) will love this movie.

Fans of Flynn will love Flynn, but may consider this film to be one of his lesser roles, and rightly so.

Fans of Ronald Reagan, well…go watch 'The Killers' instead. Those of you who enjoy partaking in the ridicule of Ronald Reagan can use this as a primer to a meatier movie such as 'Bedtime For Bonzo'.

The only plot line that is missing from the film is the one where a gigantic dirt clod kills Hitler and the rest of the world lives happily ever after. Or maybe that's what Flynn meant when he said something about 'taking a crack at those japs'.

6/10. Clark Richards

When the Warner Brothers send their boys over to Germany to fight the Nazis, the Axis will surely land on their behinds. Those boys are Errol Flynn, Ronald Reagan, Arthur Kennedy, Alan Hale, among others, and they find that not all Germans are out to destroy the allies. The young men are sent over on a mission of sabotage, blowing up bridges, train tracks, factories and munitions plants, and while some obviously do not return, they all face that reality with determination to get the job done, and even with humor. Raymond Massey joins the list of Hollywood actors like Conrad Veidt, Basil Rathbone, John Carradine, Peter Lorre and George Sanders who played Nazi officers and is appropriately menacing, in addition to quite urbane and sophisticated, a fact that Hollywood producers promoted as a way of proving how dangerous these characters could seem behind their sometimes polite facade. Hale gets the funniest moments, shooting bee-bees at his cohorts and the Nazis as if they were spitballs. Flynn, being the only character who speaks German, leads the group after their commander is killed. There's much sentiment concerning the youngest member of the mission, the son of a World War I hero that even Nazi officer Massey remembers.

The underground of each side is explored, whether being Germans who support the allies and welcome the English and British as their saviors, as well as others who are double agents, pretending to be on the sides of the allies while reporting everything to the Gestapo. Nancy Coleman is the only young female in the cast, showing up as one of the underground assisting Flynn. An exciting chase sequence features a funny moment when Reagen shows Flynn how the bootleggers of the prohibition era would deal with federal officers who were chasing them while being chased by the Nazi's. Flynn's closing line is a gem which gave hints of a sequel, but even though that never showed up, these actors would certainly repeat the same types of roles during the remainder of the war that still had three years to go.

WITH the United States' entrance into World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor by Imperial Japanese forces, December 7, 1941; the gloves were off in Hollywood. No more would they have to tap dance around the War issues, make up any generic names for any agents of some "unnamed" European power nor feign neutrality with regards to their own sympathies, nor our Nation's. From then on, it was strictly double-barreled, full speed ahead and take no prisoners!

WE'RE fairly certain that even though this had a September 1942 release, it had been planned and done most of its shooting before the entry of the U.S. into the conflict; as the storyline involved a bomber crew in the RAF (that's the Royal Air Force, Schultz!). The Flight Commander, Lt. Terry Forbes (Errol Flynn) was an Australian (or was it New Zealand-oh, hell, it was "Down Under" in any case!). Flying Officer Jed Forrest (Arthur Kennedy) was a Canadian, the others including Flight Sgt. Kirk Edwards (Alan Hale) were all Brits of basically the Working Class. Flying Officer Johnny Hammond (Dutch, himself, Ronald Reagan) was a wise cracking, go-getter of a Yank. (God, they talk about Politically Incorrect Stereotypes today!)

AS a whole, the crew represented a World, not simply a Nation, which wouldn't and couldn't have any true peace and freedom as long as such evil as the Axis Powers were loose and undefeated. The others were all Brits or at least members of nations which were formerly part of the British Empire, now called the British Commonwealth of Nations; except for Johnny Hammond (Dutch). As an American, a "Yank", his character as well as his cocky, self-assured and unpretentious attitudes were very important and symbolic in the story. In short, Studio Honcho, Mr. Jack Warner was asking America just how could we remain neutral in the Global Conflict?

OUR STORY………………Following an air raid over a German industrial city, the RAF Bomber of the Flynn & Company's Crew is shot down. Not to be sold short, this band of Anglo-American RAF Airmen travels across Germany from the East to the Western part, traveling by night, masquerading in Nazi Uniforms and pulling off many guerrilla missions of behind the lines sabotage.

OH sure, they ere captured by the Nazis and interrogated by Major Otto Baumeister (Raymond Massey); but no matter, they managed an escape due to Hammond's (President Reagan) expertise in double talk , as well as a great left hook. And once free and impersonating the 'Krauts' in uniform, they manage to stow away on board a train. But, do they get into just any passenger train car? No, of course they don't. They wind up traveling in the private car of Deputy Fuehrer Herman Goering; being explained as being out of commission and sort of "dry-docked" for repairs and refurbishing.

ONLY three of the crew get out of the Third Reich safely and alive. Messers Flynn, Reagan and Kennedy were the successful ones who lived to tell about it, though all of the crewmen were heroic and highly successful.

TRAGEDY such as the loss of friend or family member is handled in the standard method of the day. In short a death is announced and, whatever the circumstance , it is dealt with quickly and the other characters move on; just as we have to do during such trying times.

THE overall effect of the film and the style of the story is very similar to that of a superhero comic book. And what's more, we have always felt there was a strong resemblance of DESPERATE JOURNEY to the Blackhawk Comic Book Feature; which had its origin in Wartime England with a special group of multi nationals made up their own squadron. The leader, an American, was known as Blackhawk and had a right hand man, Chuck; also a Yankee.

IT has always seemed that, perhaps, DESPERATE JOURNEY provided inspiration for comic book creators Will Eisner, Reed Crandall, Lou Fine and company in creating the Military and War based feature. But, Blackhawk bowed in Quality Comics' MILITARY COMICS No 1, dated August, 1941. This was over a year before the release of DESPERATE JOURNEY; ergo, the film could not have been a factor in the story. But, could it have been the other way around? Was Blackhawk an inspiration for this film? IT is food for thought.

THIS surely must rank as one of Hollywood's top Wartime Home Front Propaganda movie. The plot line has enough romanticized action scenes to generate excitement with the younger crowd; but never goes overboard as to render the film down to the level of "B" Movie or relegating it to the Saturday Afternoon Matinée. There is plenty of counter-balancing and sobering occurrences chronicled to remind us that the War is truly H-E- DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS. (That's HELL, Schultz!)

**Possible Spoilers.

Action-packed, high paced escapism. I've seen this movie many times and always get a kick out of it. It's fun Saturday matinée entertainment. It's an obvious war-time propaganda, feel good adventure yarn, and nothing more. Remember it was made in 1942 at the height of the war.

A big budget, ridiculous, Rover Boys episode in the Hogan's Heroes mold. There are obvious big budget values though. First - The cinema's greatest hero and master swashbuckler - Errol Flynn, at the top of his popularity. Second- Ronald Reagan, coming off his biggest hit film "Kings Row" joining the mix. Getting two Warner Bros. film heroes for the price of one -- Captain Blood and Brass Bancroft one-two punch. Not to mention a good music score by Max Steiner. (This is the guy who scored "Gone with the Wind" and "Casablanca") Add a good batch of your Warner stock character actors ie..Alan Hale Arthur Kennedy and Nancy Coleman and you've got fun, exciting action and lots of car chases, daring escapes, impossible odds, good guys versus bad guys...is this starting to sound real familiar? Basically the very same formula Hollywood's cranking out now.

This stuff never gets old, because it's pure escapism and fun. The best scene remains the one with Reagan, where he's in the Kommandant's office and trying to be tricked into revealing secret information, because the Germans think Americans are good businessmen. Reagan spits off a bunch of double-talk nonsense, totally confusing the Kommandant raps him on the jaw, and the boys make their escape.

"Desperate Journey" is fun to watch and doesn't try to be anything more than what is is. Fun. -- "Now to Australia and a crack at those Japs."