Gallant Journey (1946)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

William A. Wellman

Writers (WGA):

Byron Morgan (written by) and
William A. Wellman (written by)

Release Date:

24 September 1946 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History

Tagline:

The story of a woman's abiding faith ! Of a man's unconquerable courage !

Plot:

Director William A. Wellman adds another to his long line of salutes-to-aviation films in this bio of an aviation pioneer...

Plot Keywords:

Aviation | Aviation Pioneer | Glider | Earthquake | Gold Panning

Cast

Glenn Ford	...	John J. Montgomery
Janet Blair	...	Regina 'Ginny' Cleary
Charles Ruggles	...	Jim Montgomery
Henry Travers	...	Thomas Logan
Jimmy Lloyd	...	Dan Mahoney aka Prof. LaSalle
Charles Kemper	...	Father 'Dickie' Ball
Arthur Shields	...	Father Kenton
Willard Robertson	...	Zachary Montgomery
Selena Royle	...	Mrs. Zachary Montgomery
Robert De Haven	...	Jim Logan, as a boy (as Robert DeHaven)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Hoover	...	Dick Ball as a Boy (scenes deleted)
Joe Palma	...	Waiter (scenes deleted)

Also Known As:

The Great Highway (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #11672)

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Goofs:

Factual errors: Montgomery's pilot was actually named Daniel Maloney, not Mahoney as portrayed in the film.

Nice drama of early aviation pioneers...

Sturdy, dependable GLENN FORD gives another one of his understated but sincere performances as a young inventor, John Montgomery, in the late 1800s who makes a number of semi-successful attempts at getting his flying machine off the ground and soaring into the atmosphere.

JANET BLAIR is the love interest as the childhood sweetheart who stands by her man until the end of his life. While I always liked this actress, the jarring note is her make-up which is so modern that it seems like an anachronism. She has a distinctly 1940s look about her (lip gloss and modern hairdos) that works against the otherwise authentic look of the film.

WILLARD ROBERTSON as Ford's pa is fine but SELENA ROYLE is completely wasted in a minor role as his loving mom. William Wellman directs with a thorough knowledge of his subject and as an aviation drama it maintains interest throughout. All of the aerial scenes are well staged and look glorious in crisp B&W photography.

Summing up: A very unheralded film that is certainly watchable but could have used a stronger and less sentimental script.