49th Parallel (1941)

A World War II U-boat crew are stranded in northern Canada. To avoid internment, they must make their way to the border and get into the still-neutral U.S.

Director:

Michael Powell

Writers:

Emeric Pressburger (original story and screenplay), Rodney Ackland (scenario)

Stars:

Leslie Howard, Laurence Olivier, Raymond Massey

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Leslie Howard	...	Philip Armstrong Scott
Raymond Massey	...	Andy Brock
Laurence Olivier	...	Johnnie - The Trapper
Anton Walbrook	...	Peter
Eric Portman	...	Lieutenant Ernst Hirth
Glynis Johns	...	Anna
Niall MacGinnis	...	Vogel
Finlay Currie	...	The Factor
Raymond Lovell	...	Lieutenant Kuhnecke
John Chandos	...	Lohrmann
Basil Appleby	...	Jahner
Eric Clavering	...	Art
Charles Victor	...	Andreas
Ley On	...	Nick - the Eskimo
Richard George	...	Kommandant Bernsdorff

Storyline

In the early years of World War II, a German U-boat (U-37) sinks Allied shipping in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and then tries to evade Canadian Military Forces seeking to destroy it by sailing up to Hudson Bay. The U-boat's fanatical Nazi Captain sends some members of his crew to look for food and other supplies at a Hudson Bay Company outpost. No sooner than the shore party (lead by Lieutenant Hirth) reaches the shore, the U-boat is spotted and sunk by the Canadian Armed Forces, leaving the six members of the shore party stranded in Canada. The Nazi Lieutenant then starts to plan his crew's return to the Fatherland. He needs to reach the neutral U.S., or be captured. Along the way, they meet a variety of characters, each with their own views on the war and nationalism. In this movie, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger show their ideas of why the U.S. should join the Allied fight against the Nazis.

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Plot Keywords:

u boat | episodic structure | propaganda | world war two | bare chested male | 

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Taglines:

THE MIGHTEST MANHUNT THAT EVER SWEPT THE SCREEN! (original poster-all caps)

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English French German

Release Date:

15 April 1942 (USA)

Also Known As:

49th Parallel

Filming Locations:

Associated Sound News Studios, Montréal, Québec, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

GBP132,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ortus Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min 122 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Elisabeth Bergner was originally cast in the role of Anna, the Hutterite woman. Initially, the Hutterites were only too happy to assist with the filming until one day Bergner was spotted by a Hutterite woman smoking and painting her nails, which so incensed the woman, that she slapped Bergner full in the face. Filming was halted until Producer and Director Michael Powell pled with the community to let them continue. Bergner was eventually replaced by the much younger Glynis Johns (although Bergner can be seen in some long shots). It also transpired that the main reason Bergner had joined the movie was to get to America, as a German Jew living in England, she felt that the Nazis were a little too close for comfort, and so safely emigrated to the U.S.

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Goofs

Canadian Airways floatplane CF-BJE is hijacked by the Nazis in Hudson's Bay. The plane crashes in a Manitoba lake hours later, showing the reg CF-A something.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Prologue: I see a long, straight line athwart a continent. No chain of forts, or deep flowing river, or mountain range, but a line drawn by men upon a map, nearly a century ago, accepted with a handshake, and kept ever since. A boundary which divides two nations, yet marks their friendly meeting ground. The 49th parallel: the only undefended frontier in the world.

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Crazy Credits

(opening dedication) This film is dedicated to the actors who believed in our story and came from all parts of the world to play in it.

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Alternate Versions

They also cut the montage of the Germans working at the Hutterite settlement, and a bit from Hirth's zig-zag escape after Banff Park -- the part with him aboard the airplane and its attendant radio report, though the rest of the scene is left in.

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Connections

Featured in War Stories (2006)

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Soundtracks

Alouette
(uncredited)
Traditional French folksong
Sung to accompaniment of accordion by Laurence Olivier

User Reviews

" Your leader is hell bent on wrapping the world in Barbed Wire? "

Emeric Pressburger wrote the book which inspired this movie called " 49th Parallel " or 'The Invaders' and which was later directed by Michael Powell, neither could have dreamed, such a small movie could have ever garnered such world wide attention. From it's inception to the finished scene, one is impressed by the remarkable journey of the main characters and their trek through the rugged Canadian wilderness. That journey begins when a German U-Boat surfaces in the waters of Canada. Stopping for supplies, the Submarine is suddenly attacked by the Canadaian military and within minutes is sunk. Only a handful of men escape and they proceed to the interior of the country where they hope to be rescued by German compatriots. all the while they kidnapped, maim and murder anyone who confronts their Nazi Philosophy. Throughout the rest of the movie the Germans which include their leader try to blend in wherever they travel weather it be through religious settlements or high mountain campsites. For American audiences, it's disturbing to visually search for the international actors like Laurence Olivier, Leslie Howard and Raymond Massey scattered throughout the film. Still, it's worth it as they do so well at keeping our interest glued to the screen. It's also noteworthy to learn the film and it's author as well as the director secured a multitude of awards. Therefore, the movie is easily recommended to any and all seeking entertainment. ****