Northern Pursuit (1943)

Director:

Raoul Walsh

Writers:

Frank Gruber (screenplay) and
Alvah Bessie (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

13 November 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Romance | War

Tagline:

A woman's lips set the frozen north aflame.

Plot:

A Canadian Mountie of German descent feigns disaffection with his homeland in hopes of infiltrating and thwarting a Nazi sabotage plot.

Plot Keywords:

German | Escape | Spy | Corporal | Nazi

Cast

Errol Flynn	...	Cpl. Steve Wagner
Julie Bishop	...	Laura McBain
Helmut Dantine	...	Col. Hugo von Keller
John Ridgely	...	Jim Austin
Gene Lockhart	...	Ernst
Tom Tully	...	Inspector Barnett
Bernard Nedell	...	Tom Dagor
Warren Douglas	...	Sergeant (scenes deleted)
Monte Blue	...	Jean
Alec Craig	...	Angus McBain
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Allord	...	Jochim Preisser (uncredited)
John Alvin	...	Orderly (uncredited)
Robert Ashley	...	German Ski Trooper (uncredited)
Glen Cavender	...	Workman (uncredited)
Ken Christy	...	Winnipeg Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
Wallis Clark	...	Judge (uncredited)
Robert Dayne	...	German Ski Trooper (uncredited)
Tom Drake	...	Heinzmann (uncredited)
Jim Dugan	...	Mountie (uncredited)
Alf Engen	...	Nazi Soldier (uncredited)
Ben Erway	...	Immigration Officer (uncredited)
Tom Fadden	...	Hobby (uncredited)
Jim Farley	...	Turnkey (uncredited)
John Forsythe	...	Corporal (uncredited)
Arno Frey	...	Submarine Captain (uncredited)
Bob Gary	...	Nazi Soldier (uncredited)
Arthur Gould-Porter	...	Little Man on Train (uncredited)
Chuck Hamilton	...	Bailiff at Winnipeg Trial (uncredited)
Carl Harbaugh	...	Radio Operator (uncredited)
Joe Haworth	...	Mountie (uncredited)
Joe Herrera	...	Indian Guide (uncredited)
Herbert Heywood	...	Farmer (scenes deleted) (uncredited)
Russell Hicks	...	Chief Inspector (uncredited)
Rose Higgins	...	Rose Dagor (uncredited)
Robert Hutton	...	Internment Camp Guard (uncredited)
Paul Irving	...	Lawyer (uncredited)
Charles Judels	...	Nick - Barber (uncredited)
Fred Kelsey	...	Train Conductor (uncredited)
Bill Kennedy	...	Mountie (uncredited)
Robert Kent	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Donald Kerr	...	Reporter at Winnipeg (uncredited)
Milton Kibbee	...	Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Guy Kingsford	...	Campbell - Mountie at Post (uncredited)
George Kirby	...	Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
John Lannon Jr.	...	German Ski Trooper (uncredited)
George Lynn	...	Johnson - Mountie (uncredited)
Lou Marcelle	...	Opening Off-Screen Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Charles Marsh	...	Man in Camel Hair Coat (uncredited)
Clay Martin	...	Nazi Soldier (uncredited)
Lester Matthews	...	Colonel (scenes deleted) (uncredited)
James Millican	...	Army Driver (uncredited)
Pat Moriarity	...	Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)
Jack Mower	...	Police Officer in Courtroom (uncredited)
Martin Noble	...	German Cook (uncredited)
Frank O'Connor	...	Train Station Passenger (uncredited)
William Osten	...	German Sergeant (uncredited)
Jack Perrin	...	Train Porter (uncredited)
Hugh Prosser	...	Corporal (uncredited)
John Royce	...	German Aviator (uncredited)
Eddie Searles	...	German Ski Trooper (uncredited)
George Sherwood	...	Ticket Seller (uncredited)
Jay Silverheels	...	Indian (uncredited)
Cliff Storey	...	German Ski Trooper (uncredited)
George Urchell	...	Mountie (uncredited)
Sam Waagenaar	...	German Assistant Cook (uncredited)
Leo White	...	Train Passenger (uncredited)
Tom Wilson	...	Guest at Inn (uncredited)

Directed by
Raoul Walsh

Writing credits
Frank Gruber		(screenplay) and
Alvah Bessie		(screenplay)
Leslie T. White		(from a story by)
William Faulkner		uncredited

Produced by
Jack Chertok	....	producer
Jack L. Warner	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Adolph Deutsch

Cinematography by
Sidney Hickox		(as Sid Hickox)

Film Editing by
Jack Killifer

Art Direction by
Leo K. Kuter		(as Leo Kuter)

Set Decoration by
Casey Roberts

Costume Design by
Leah Rhodes		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Perc Westmore	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Louis Baum	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James McMahon	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Don Siegel	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Stanley Jones	....	sound (as Stanley S. Jones)

Special Effects by
Roy Davidson	....	special effects

Stunts
Chuck Hamilton	....	stunts (uncredited)
Buster Wiles	....	stunt double: Errol Flynn (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eugene Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Leo F. Forbstein	....	musical director
Jerome Moross	....	orchestrator
Howard Jackson	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Max Steiner	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Other crew
Bruce Carruthers	....	technical advisor
Hugh Cummings	....	dialogue director
James Leicester	....	montages
Don Siegel	....	montages
Jack L. Warner	....	presenter
Alf Engen	....	technical advisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros (A Warner Bros.-First National Picture)
• Thomson Productions (uncredited)

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1942) (USA) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS) (For Warner Home Video)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• MGM/UA Home Entertainment  VHS package design
• Turner Entertainment  VHS package design

Also Known As:

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #9294) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Sun Valley, Idaho, USA

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

Errol Flynn was criticized for playing heroes in World War II movies. Tony Thomas in his book "Errol Flynn: The Spy Who Never Was" states that Flynn had tried to enlist in every branch of any armed services he could but was rejected as unfit for service on the grounds of his health. Flynn had a heart condition, tuberculosis, malaria and a back problem. Flynn felt he could contribute to America's war effort by appearing in such films as Edge of Darkness (1943), Northern Pursuit (1943), Dive Bomber (1941), Objective, Burma! (1945) and Uncertain Glory (1944). Reportedly, Flynn was at his most professional and co-operative ever was while working on World War II movies. The studios apparently did not diffuse the criticism of the state of Flynn's health, as they wished to keep it quiet for fear that it would damage his box-office draw.

Goofs:

Plot holes: In the opening the narrator states that the film takes place in 1941, but the order for the prisoners Wagner gives the Mounties is dated August 13, 1943.

Quotes:

Colonel Hugo von Keller:You should know, Wagner, how determined we Nazis are! We've known for a long time what we've wanted, and we're prepared to take it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Hollywood Hist-o-Rama: Errol Flynn" (1961)

Soundtrack:

The Bonnie Banks O' Loch Lomond

Flynn against the Nazis again...not as good as 'Desperate Journey'...

NORTHERN PURSUIT has some well photographed chase scenes, supposedly through the snow of the Canadian wilderness, although many of the matching shots are clearly studio-bound. Nevertheless, the weak script and cardboard characters contribute toward reducing it to a standard and slick wartime adventure.

Flynn is a Mountie of German descent, pretending Nazi sympathies in order to spy against Nazis operating in Canada. Helmut Dantine is a force to be reckoned with as the head Nazi--but at times is reduced to a standard "dumb" Nazi who falls too easily for Flynn's deception.

It's all supposed to be taken seriously--unlike DESPERATE JOURNEY which injected a great deal of humor into the Flynn-against-Nazis theme. But with cardboard supporting characters adding nothing to the film's credibility--and a weak script--this is strictly for Flynn fans. Julie Bishop makes no impression whatsoever in the feminine lead.

This was hot stuff back in the 1940s, entertaining as a Saturday afternoon diversion. Now it's simply a non-involving Flynn adventure with some nicely photographed snow chase scenes and nothing else that really matters.