Desperate Journey (1942): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1942, Desperate Journey is an action, drama, adventure and war film directed by Raoul Walsh, running about 107 minutes. “Man alive, Just picture this excitement!” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. During WWII, when an allied bomber is shot down over Germany, the five surviving crew are captured but cleverly escape detention after learning German secret information and knocking out a Nazi major. With the angry major in hot pursuit, aided by military personnel, Gestapo agents and Hitler-loyal citizens, the five wend their way across perilous Germany, intent on reaching the UK with the secrets they have learned.

Who’s in it. Desperate Journey stars Errol Flynn as Flight Lt. Terry Forbes, Ronald Reagan as Flying Officer Johnny Hammond, Arthur Kennedy as Flight Officer Jed Forrest and Alan Hale as Sgt. Kirk Edwards, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.2/10, Desperate Journey has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Desperate Journey page.

If you liked it. Fans of Desperate Journey tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.