Pacific Adventure
Cast & Crew
Ken G. Hall
Ron Randell
Muriel Steinbeck
John Tate
Joy Nichols
Nan Taylor
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In England, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, the Australian pathfinder known as "Smithy," who began dreaming of becoming a pilot in 1916, receives the Military Cross for his flying feats during World War I. Afterward, Smithy returns to Australia to try to raise enough money to finance a flight across the Pacific. Finally achieving recognition after breaking all existing records for circumnavigating Australia, Smith wins a government grant. Smithy then hastens to the United States to prepare to conquer the Pacific, and meets Kay Sutton, a young actress turned stenographer. When Smithy has difficulty in raising enough money to fund his flight, Kay introduces him to Capt. Allan Hancock, an American financier, who advances him the funds to fulfill his dream of crossing the Pacific in his aircraft,"The Southern Cross." Smithy's successful flight wins him acclaim, and one day, after completing another successful mission, Smithy meets Mary Powell on board an Australian-bound ship, falls in love and marries her. After settling down in Australia with his new wife, Smithy founds the Australian National Airway company. Business prospers until one day, a company plane is lost with all its passengers. When public opinion turns against Smithy, he decides to barnstorm around the country in "The Southern Cross." Determined to establish an airmail service to New Zealand despite government lethargy, Smithy plans a final flight from England to Australia, hoping that the publicity will attract financial support. Although an illness has dulled his senses and Mary has begged him not to fly, Smithy takes off with his mechanic. They arrive safely at Allahabad, but the strain has weakened Smithy. Soon after taking off for their next destination, Smithy loses contact with the ground, and neither men nor machine is ever heard from again.
Director
Ken G. Hall
Cast
Ron Randell
Muriel Steinbeck
John Tate
Joy Nichols
Nan Taylor
John Dunne
Alec Kellaway
John Dease
Marshall Crosby
Edward Smith
Alan Herbert
John Fleetwing
Joe Volti
G. J. Montgomery Jackson
Gundy Hill
Capt. P. G. Taylor
John Stannage
Crew
Max Afford
Terry Banks
Joyce Brown
John Chandler
Squadron Leader G. R. Chaseling
Alec Coppel
Clive Cross
Norman Ellison
Jack Gardiner
Ken G. Hall
George Heath
Alfred Hill
David Jones
J. Alan Kenyon
Henry Kripps
H. L. Nichols
Mavis Ripper
Arthur Smith
Wing Commander John Kingsford Smith
Wardrop
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Sir Charles Edward Kingsford Smith (9 February 1897-November 1935) popularly known as "Smithy," was Australia's greatest long-distance pioneering aviator. After beginning his commercial flying career in 1921, Smith made the first successful crossing of the Pacific Ocean in June 1928. Smith set numerous solo flying records in his Fokker Tri-motor plane "The Southern Cross." Smith and his craft disappeared in November 1935 while attempting a nonstop flight from India to Singapore. "Kay Sutton," who was portrayed in the film by Joy Nichols, was the actual name of a popular film actress of the 1930s and early 1940s. Although the Variety review listed the film's running time as 70 minutes, the New York Motion Picture Herald review listed it as 95 minutes. It is possible that different versions were screened in Los Angeles and New York.
