Journey Together

Journey Together
Journey Together
Directed by	John Boulting
Written by	John Boulting; Terence Rattigan
Produced by	John Boulting
Starring	Richard Attenborough; Jack Watling; Edward G. Robinson; John Justin; David Tomlinson
Cinematography	Harry Waxman
Edited by	Reginald Beck
Music by	Gordon Jacob
Distributed by	RKO Pictures
Release dates	1 October 1945 (UK); 3 March 1946 (U.S.);
Running time	95 minutes (UK version); 80 minutes (U.S. version)
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Journey Together is a 1945 British drama war film directed by John Boulting and starring Richard Attenborough, Jack Watling, John Justin and Edward G. Robinson.^[1] It is Boulting's film directorial debut. The film was produced by the Royal Air Force Film Production Unit. Dramatist Terence Rattigan, then a Royal Air Force Flight Lieutenant, was posted in 1943 to the RAF Film Production Unit to work on The Way to the Stars and Journey Together.^[2]

The story revolves around two RAF aircrew cadets, Attenborough and Watling, while Robinson and Justin play the instructors for the fledgling pilots. In the story, two Englishmen become friends while serving with the Royal Air Force, ending with a bombing raid on Berlin. The plot emphasises the importance of team work in a bomber crew and the important role of the navigator.

Plot

Two RAF aircrew cadets, David Wilton and John Aynesworth, become friends. A friendly rivalry develops between the two when they both enter pilot training and it ends in a bet over who will become the better pilot. They pass their initial training and are sent to the United States for more advanced instruction. Once there, it becomes clear that Wilton, while he is otherwise a good pilot, cannot land a plane properly. Wilton is devastated and the feeling worsens when he sees that Aynesworth is a natural pilot. While Aynesworth proceeds with his pilot's training, Wilton is sent to Canada to be trained as a navigator instead.

Wilton turns out to be a good navigator but he shows no enthusiasm for his training. Then, on a practice flight, the pilot, who is also one of the instructors and is aware of his attitude, secretly simulates an emergency situation to show Wilton the importance of the role of the navigator. After graduating, Wilton is posted to a squadron in Britain but his reputation has followed him. Eventually, he replaces an injured navigator on Aynesworth's flight crew on a bombing operation but their welcome is lukewarm. As they complete the bombing mission, the plane is hit and begins to lose fuel; when they have to ditch in the North Sea, Wilton must demonstrate everything he has learned and quickly communicate their position to base. It turns out that he has perfectly calculated their position and the rescue plane easily finds them. The crew decide they would like to keep him.

Cast

Richard Attenborough as David Wilton
Jack Watling as John Aynesworth
David Tomlinson as Smith
Sid Rider as A Fitter
Stuart Latham as A Flight Sergeant Fitter
Hugh Wakefield as Acting Lieutenant
Bromley Challenor as A.C. 2
Z. Perzanowski as An Anson Pilot
Ronald Squire as Aircrew Interview Board Group Captain
Derek Twist as Aircrew Interview Board Wing Commander
Leslie Nixon as The Group Captain
Len Reeve as A Corporal
W. Busby as A Squadron Leader
Arthur Macrae as Flight Commander
Reginald Tate as The Commanding Officer
Elwyn Price as An Instuctor
Tommy Duggan as Air Gunner Cadet
John Justin as A Flying Instructor
Anthony Hulme as The Chief Flying Instructor
Michael Horroway as The Commanding Officer
Edward Rutherford as A Wing Commander
Sebastian Shaw as Squadron Leader Marshall
Ronald Adam as Commanding Officer at Falcon Field
Edward G. Robinson as Dean McWilliams
Bessie Love as Mary McWilliams^[3]
Norvell Crutcher as A Driver
Arthur Bolton as Airfield Controller
Fletcher Markle as A Staff Pilot
Jack Baker as A Flight Commander
Stuart Dick as A Wireless Instructor
Peter Baylis as Cadet Wireless Instructor
Nick Stuart as A Met. Officer
Patrick Waddington as Flight Lieutenant Mander
Tommy Tomlinson as Briefing Officer
Michael McNeile as Fred
Jerry Fitzgerald as Jeff
Eric Worth as Mutt
George Cole as Curley, Bomb Aimer, Lancaster Crew

Production

The opening credits state that the film was "Written, Produced, Directed, Photographed, and Acted by members of the Royal Air Force". The closing cast list also includes other Allied services personnel.

Richard Attenborough, the picture's lead, was 22 years old at the time of filming.