Customer Reviews

Desperate Journey [VHS]

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

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!

Errol Flynn, Ronald Reagan, Alan Hale, Arthur Kennedy, and Ronald Sinclair star as Allied airmen whose plane crashes in Germany following a bombing run. Against considerable odds, they must try to escape across Germany to return to England with valuable information they have picked up. Hot on their heels is Nazi major Raymond Massey, while they are also aided by sympathetic Underground member Nancy Coleman. The actors are all fine, not given much in the way of characters to develop. That's not the emphasis of this film. It's all about good old fashioned adventure and escapism. Director Raoul Walsh was famous for his action films, and this film does not disappoint. There are plenty of escapes, chases, and explosions that keep the film moving right along. It sometimes almost feels like a big-budget, well made serial. There are also a few good moments of humour, especially when Reagan attempts to confuse Massey with a description that is complete nonsense. Unbelievable as the film can be, it's well made and very entertaining, with more than enough chases and action to keep the attention of any viewer.

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.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents "DESPERATE JOURNEY" (1942) (107 min/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) -- Starring Errol Flynn, Ronald Reagan, Nancy Coleman, Raymond Massey, Alan Hale & Arthur Kennedy

Directed by Raoul Walsh

One of the most exciting pictures ever made (in my humble opinion) 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 teaming with Flynn), and Alan Hale (in his tenth of 12 Flynn films). The gifted Canadian actor, Raymond Massey, also making his second appearance with Flynn, is a thoroughly hiss-able Nazi Major who 'loses' the captured fliers (after a brilliantly funny scene with Reagan) then pursues them across the continent. A great chase ensues and if you're like me, you'll be cheering as they approach the Dutch border and the Nazis close in.

Oscar nominated for Best Effects, Special Effects - Byron Haskin (photographic) & Nathan Levinson (sound).

Fabulous Max Steiner score.

BIOS:
1. Raoul Walsh (Director)
Date of Birth: 11 March 1887 - New York, New York
Date of Death: 31 December 1980 - Simi Valley, California

2. Errol Flynn [aka: Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn]
Date of Birth: 20 June 1909, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Date of Death: 14 October 1959, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

3. Ronald Reagan [aka: Ronald Wilson Reagan]
Date of Birth: 6 February 1911 - Tampico, Illinois
Date of Death: 5 June 2004, Bel Air - Los Angeles, California

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 4 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 4 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 107 min on VHS ~ Warner Bros. Pictures ~ (12/07/1994)

To enjoy this movie, you have to get past the wartime propaganda. If you can, this is a great escapist flick! Errol Flynn and Ronald Reagan carry the show, with superb supporting roles by Alan Hale and Raymond Massey. If you like war movies that were produced during WWII, this one should be at the top of your list!!

THis is a wonderful movie!!! Errol Flynn and Ronald Reagan are superb!!!! The acting is excellent, and the plot is 100% interesting! The video is funny at times, but mostly suspenseful. It builds up to an exciting climax, and will keep you on the edge of your seat for sure! THis is one movie you don't want to miss!

This is the way movies used to be made, without filth and vulgarity. Go for it!

My dad was so happy to receive this movie. It came packed so well he is going to save the packing. I want to thank the seller for this movie. My dad has been looking for this movie for over a year. I am so glad that I was able to buy this for him for his birthday. Again thank you so much.Could not be happier.
Thank You
Mrs. Cynthia Sanchez