1946 "Gallant Journey" Hollywood Film Set Photo – Early Glider Flight Scene with Montgomery Replica

This original 1946 Hollywood production photograph captures a dramatic recreation of early glider flight, taken on the set of Columbia Pictures’ biographical film Gallant Journey. The movie tells the story of John J. Montgomery, a pioneering American aviator whose controlled glider flights in the 1880s predated the Wright brothers and helped lay the foundation for modern aviation.

This photograph features a meticulously constructed replica of one of Montgomery’s historic gliders, shown on a raised launch platform during the filming of a flight sequence. The scene reflects the ingenuity and experimentation of 19th-century flight and was staged with historical accuracy under the guidance of aviation consultant Paul Tuntland, a real-life glider expert brought on to ensure authenticity.

Film Details:

• Title: Gallant Journey (1946)

• Starring: Glenn Ford as John Montgomery, Janet Blair

• Studio: Columbia Pictures

• Consultant: Paul Tuntland, glider expert

• Scene Depicted: Glider launch recreation from the 1880s, based on Montgomery’s early flight experiments

• Stampings: Advertising Advisory Council approval stamp (May 17, 1946) and Columbia Pictures press stamp on reverse

Historical Significance:

• Gallant Journey was one of the first major Hollywood films to honor an aviation pioneer, shining a light on John J. Montgomery’s overlooked contributions to controlled flight.

• The post-WWII aviation boom gave rise to renewed public interest in aviation history, and this film played a key role in shaping public understanding of early American flight.

• Paul Tuntland’s involvement gave credibility to the flying scenes, with reconstructed gliders accurately reflecting the primitive but visionary designs of the 1880s.

• This photo is both a piece of aviation memorabilia and a collectible from the Golden Age of Hollywood film production.

Key Features:

• Date: May 1946

• Subject: Replica of Montgomery’s glider on elevated launch platform

• Studio: Columbia Pictures

• Photographer Stamp: Advertising Advisory Council and Columbia Pictures (reverse)

• Format: Original black-and-white studio press photo

• Condition: Crisp detail; reverse caption or stamps included

• Use: Issued for promotional purposes during the film’s release campaign