Credited cast: | |||
Glenn Ford | ... | John J. Montgomery | |
Janet Blair | ... | Regina 'Ginny' Cleary | |
Charles Ruggles | ... | Jim Montgomery | |
Henry Travers | ... | Thomas Logan | |
Jimmy Lloyd | ... | Dan Mahoney / 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) |
Director William A. Wellman adds another to his long line of salutes-to-aviation films in this bio of an aviation pioneer, John Montgomery (Glenn Ford.) In 1883 he built a practical glider despite the opposition of his friends, who thought he was crazy, and of his family, who were afraid that his dreams of flying would hurt his father's political ambitions. He pursues his education at Santa Clara University where the Jesuits lend a helping and understanding hand. An earthquake destroys what appears to be a working model for an airplane, but a gold-sorting machine Montgomery invented, and then neglected, promises to provide for his financial needs to keep working on his aircraft until he gets involved in costly lawsuits defending his invention. Written by Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>
Saw the film years and years ago...It has always been one of the most enjoyable films of early flight that I have ever seen...When Montgomery was hauled aloft with his glider attached to a hot air baloon and then released, the scenery was breathtaking as he made his decent to earth high above the Santa Clara valley. Janet Blair as I remember, was Montgomery's wife and in one particular scene, she removed her silk petty coat and gave it to her husband who was in desperate need of patching material for his damaged glider...I would like to rent the video of Gallant Journey but have not had any luck finding a rental agency with it even listed. As I remember, it had an excellent story line...