Smithy (also known as Southern Cross in the UK and Pacific Adventure in the US) is a 1946 Australian adventure film about pioneering Australian aviator Sir Charles Kingsford Smith directed by Ken G. Hall starring Ron Randell. It was Hall's last feature film as a director.

In 1943 in the South-West Pacific, some Australian and American airmen discuss the story of "Smithy", Charles Kingsford Smith. The Americans are told the story by an old officer of his, along with a waiter, Stringer, who knew him.

The story starts in 1917 with his recovering from a wound incurred in fighting over the Western Front. Kingsford Smith is rewarded with the Military Cross from the King.

When the war ends, Kingsford Smith is determined to make a career out of flying. He attempts to enter the England to Australia Air Race in 1919 but is stopped by Prime Minister Billy Hughes. He then decides to become the first person to fly from the United States to Australia across the Pacific.

Kingsford Smith travels to the United States, staying with his brother Harold in San Francisco, to try and raise funds for the trip. While on the train to San Francisco he flirts with an American girl, Kay Sutton. Kingsford Smith is unsuccessful in raising finance and returns to Australia, working as a commercial pilot. He meets Charles Ulm who also wants to fly across the Pacific. In order to attract attention, they break the record for flying around Australia. Kingsford Smith buys the plane, an aircraft called The Southern Cross, but struggles to raise finance.

Kingsford Smith returns to the USA where Hubert Wilkins warns him that even if he is successful, he will not reap the benefits of his work in his life. He meets up with Kay, as originally planned on the train.

Ulm and Kingsford Smith attempt to raise funds by breaking an endurance record, but are unsuccessful. However Kay introduces Kingsford Smith and Ulm to Captain Alan Hancock. Hancock is enthusiastic about supporting Kingsford Smith in order to strengthen the links between America and Australia, especially in case they ever go to war against Japan. Hancock's support enables them to raise the money.

In 1928, Ulm and Kingsford Smith and two Americans cross the Pacific in The Southern Cross. Before he leaves, Kingsford Smith says goodbye to Kay who, it is hinted, is facing some secret tragedy. The flight is successful and Kingsford Smith becomes world-famous. He gives a young boy, "Bluey" Truscott, a joy ride in a plane.

Kingsford Smith crashes in the desert and Keith Vincent Anderson and "Bobby" Hitchcock die looking for him. Kingsford Smith then meets and marries Mary Powell, flying the Atlantic in between. He attempts to set up his own airline but is not successful, particularly after the loss of The Southern Cloud. When the government give the England-Australia airmail contract to another airline, Kingsford Smith is forced to take people on joy flights to make a living. He breaks another record, crossing the Pacific from the Australia to the United States in a single engine aircraft with P.G. Taylor.

Kingsford Smith almost dies flying to New Zealand with Bill Taylor and John Stannage, and subsequently, retires the Southern Cross.

In 1935 he attempts to fly from Australia to England but disappears over the Indian Ocean.

Although Smithy was entirely financed by Columbia Pictures, Ken G. Hall made it using his Cinesound crew and shot it mostly at Cinesound's studio in Bondi.

The aircraft used in Smithy was the genuine Southern Cross, which had been purchased by the Australian Government 10 years earlier and refurbished by the RAAF.^[22] A surplus RAAF CAC Boomerang was used in flying sequences for Kingsford Smith's Lady Southern Cross Lockheed Altair.

Two former co-pilots of Kingsford Smith, P.G. Taylor and Harry Purvis played themselves, as did former Prime Minister Billy Hughes.^[23] Hall says Alec Coppel had written a scene where Kingsford Smith tried to persuade Hughes to let him compete in an air race and Hughes switches off his hearing aid. Hughes was sensitive, however, about his deafness and reference to it was removed in the shooting script.^[24]

Smithy featured the first on screen appearance of noted Australian actor Charles "Bud" Tingwell who was cast as a RAAF control tower officer – winning the role as he could supply his own RAAF uniform.

Smithy had its world premiere at a gala screening in Sydney on 26 June 1946, attended by the cast and crew, the Premier of New South Wales, and Shirley Ann Richards, who was visiting Australia at the time.^[25]

Pery was keen for Columbia to make further films in Australia.^[35] Harry Cohn, head of Columbia, however, was opposed to the idea. He later arranged for Smithy to be drastically re-cut and re-edited for its US release, calling it Pacific Adventure, removing references to Australia, along with Pery's credit.^[36]

Cohn did offer Ron Randell a long-term contract in Hollywood, which the actor accepted.^[37]