49th Parallel [VHS] [1941]

These are the words spoken by the Nazis in this film to strike enough fear into the hearts of Americans to encourage them to join WWII, in this all-star propaganda vehicle that is riveting and features terrific performances; some of the big names involved in this production were also behind the camera, with Michael Powell directing, Emeric Pressburger as writer, Freddie Young as cinematographer, David Lean as editor, and a score by Ralph Vaughn Williams.

As the German U-boat gets bombed by the Canadian Air Force, stranding the six man landing party led by Lt. Hirth (Eric Portman), you follow them as they try to "blend" into the Canadian populace, with the intentions of crossing the border into the US. Hirth is among the heartless ones, but some of the others are good souls that have been trapped into serving the Third Reich, so the portrayal of the Nazis is not entirely one sided.
Some of the stellar performances include Sir Lawrence Olivier as a French Canadian trapper who has spent so long in the wild he is not aware the world is at war, Anton Walbrook ("The Red Shoes") is fabulous and so handsome as the leader of a peaceable community, where we also find a lovely young Glynis Johns, who is an orphan living there. Leslie Howard, an actor who I could watch read the proverbial telephone book, is marvelous as a writer who invites the strangers into his teepee in the woods, and Raymond Massey gives a delicious portrayal of a young man who has overstayed his leave from the military.

Also starring in this film is the Canadian landscape, which we get to see and admire as the Nazis make their way from coast to coast.
Though the plot has some gaping holes, it is well written, fast-paced, and quite exciting, and is a fascinating film from an historical perspective, and because of the participation of so many great performers and filmmakers.

The 49th Parallel was written by Emeric Pressburger and directed by Michael Powell just before they finalized their partnership as The Archers, when they would take co-credit for writing, directing and producing their movies. The British government wanted a film that would help convince America that the fight against the Nazis was also America's fight. Powell and Pressburger convinced the government to film the movie in Canada. They created an episodic adventure story which gave ample opportunities to make the case that the war against Nazi values was also an American war. Powell and Pressburger enlisted several well-known British and Canadian actors to play at scale, and had to shoot their scenes around these actors' scheduled return to Britain.

In 1940, a German U-boat is sunk in Hudson Bay in northern Canada. Six crewmen escape. They are led by Lt. Hans Hirth (Eric Portman), a dedicated Nazi who realizes that if they can make their way across the border (the 49th parallel) to the United States, they'll be returned to Germany. If they are caught in Canada, they'll be interred for the war's duration. The film is about how they try to make it to the border and the different kinds of Canadians they encounter. There are four major episodes, tied together with smaller adventures. In episode one, the Germans find a small Inuit village and some French Canadian trappers (Lawrence Olivier, Finlay Currie). They treat the Inuits as substandard humans; the Inuits and French Canadians resist and some are shot as the Germans get away. In the second episode they encounter a Hutterite farming community led by Peter (Anton Walbrook, himself a recent Austrian refugee from Hitler). The message here is that Canadians have come from all different countries and backgrounds, and that they value cooperation and peaceful acceptance of differences. In the third episode they come across a writer (Leslie Howard) who feels the war is so far away it hardly makes a difference. But when the Germans show contempt for what they see as his weakness and destroy his paintings and books, he arouses himself and fights back. In the last episode, Hirth is the remaining German and has hidden in a train's freight car going across the border at Niagara. He finds himself sharing the car with a Canadian army deserter (Raymond Massey), who finds his patriotism. In an action that is clever and courageous, the deserter ensures that Hirth is caught in Canada and then declares his readiness to return to his unit and fight.

As usual with a Powell/Pressburger film, it is extremely well crafted and untypical of its genre. Not all the German's are shown as villains. Their journey as they get closer and closer to the border arouses a certain kind of enthusiasm. You don't really hope they make it, but you are caught up in their efforts. And while the movie is made up of episodes carefully crafted to send home a message to the American audience, it holds together as a well-told tale. Nearly 65 years later, it still is an effective movie. Partly this is because of the acting. Although Olivier uses an awful pseudo-hearty French accent, the other actors hit their marks. Howard is very good as a slightly too civilized intellectual who finally understands what's at stake. Eric Portman does a fine job of playing a ruthless, committed Nazi, but also a man who is shrewd and resourceful. Anton Walbrook is excellent as the wise leader of the Hutterite farming community. And Niall MacGinness is very sympathetic as one of the German crew, a young man who used to be a baker and now would like to stay with Peter and the farmers.

If you have the option, buy the R1 Criterion version. The DVD transfer is excellent and there are major extras, including a BBC documentary on the careers of Powell and Pressburger, a war-effort short film made by the two in 1943 with Ralph Richardson, and a substantial booklet.

Four more years of the second world war left and legendery directors Micheal Powell and Emeric Pressburger directed this wonderful world war two drama, which encouraged people to join the war. Also legendery director David Lean, who is probably best remembered for "Bridge on the river kwai" edited the film. This film also has a great all star cast, including Eric Portman, Laurence Olivier, Leslie Howard, Raymond Massey, Anton Walbrook and a young Glynis Johns. The actor who I think steals the movie is Leslie Howard and even though he is only in the movie for 15 minutes, he does a really good performance and apparently he was in the Nazi hit list after making this film. Also I couldn't get over watching Laurence Olivier putting on a French accent, which is very stupid but funny to watch. Their is also fantastic cinematography, which was mostly filmed in Canada and the black and white picture quality goes very well with the movie. This movie only won one academy award for best original story and was nominated for two oscars for best picture and best screenplay. If you are a fan of war films, this movie is worth watching and it's worth buying on DVD.