I know this film was meant to rally the us to take action in the war effort, but 49th parallel is a propaganda film whose polemics would make eisenstein blush. Even howard proves too formidable for the nazis, and by films end the. Leslie howard, laurence olivier, richard george, eric portman, raymond lovell, niall macginnis, peter moore. If you have 5 minutes, id like to share with you a clip from one of my favorite films from 1941, the 49th parallel directed by michael powell. When a nazi uboat crew, headed by the ruthless eric portman, is stranded in canada during the thick of world war ii, the men evade capture by hiding out in a series of rural. Michael healeys classic films the 49th parallel 1941. Sponsored by the ministry of information and 18 months in the making, this is one of the best propaganda films produced in britain during the second world war. The british ministry of information approached michael powell to make a propaganda film for them. For the purposes of morale, the film also insinuates that the vast expanse of northern canada is fully protected by the navy and air force, which has to be a gross exaggeration. Rent 49th parallel 1941 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix. It is one of powell and pressburgers antiisolationist, propagandist films, yet it doesnt contain the jingoism that one might expect of a war film. Ethans rating of the film 49th parallel ethan this is an interesting chase film from the magical team of powell and pressburger that offers up some good antinazi propaganda in a part of the world where we dont usually see a wwii movie take place.
As a film, its exciting, beautiful to look at and crammed with wonderful performances by first rate actors. The film also won an oscar for original motion picture story. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing 49th parallel near you. Find video, photos, forums, blogs and shop for some of the best movies ever made only at tcm.
Originally known as the shades of blond when they were formed in calgary, alberta, canada, the band featured dennis abbott on vocals, dan lowe and bob carlson on guitars, dave petch at the organ, mick woodhouse on bass, and terry bare on drums. When a nazi uboat crew, headed by the ruthless eric portman, is stranded in canada during the thick of world war ii. The only border scene is at niagara falls, which is further south. Pressburger fashioned a story about nazis who enter canada after their submarine sinks off the coast, above the 49th parallel, and try to make it to the neutral u. Despite the title, no scene in the movie is set at the 49th parallel, which forms much of. In the early days of world war ii, a german uboat is sunk in canadas hudson bay. At once a compelling piece of antiisolationist propaganda and a quickwitted wartime thriller, 49th parallel is a classic early work from the inimitable michael powell and emeric pressburger. When a nazi uboat crew is stranded in canada during the thick of world war ii, the men evade capture by hiding out in a series of rural communities before trying to cross into the united states. Along the way, the german soldiers encounter brave men such as a frenchcanadian fur trapper. An eskimo saw one going west through the hudson strait.
Main titles and first scenes from the film 49th parallel the invaders. However, having watched it very recently, one other thing that was memorable was the repeated episodes of abrupt and sloppy editing. Im as up for a noble canadianevil nazi propaganda pic as the next person unless that person is this sites h. Turner classic movies presents the greatest motion pictures of all time from one of the largest film libraries in the world.
B efore michael powell and emeric pressburgers the life and death of col. Watch 49th parallel 1941 full movie free online streaming. Hoping to evade capture, a small band of german soldiers led by commanding officer lieutenant hirth attempts to cross the border into the united states, which has not yet entered the war and is officially neutral. Blimp and a canterbury tale, there was 49th parallel. Movie trailer locker claims no ownership of content. Herewith a home videoshelf plum for film buffs, an early venture by the british powellpressburger team stairway to heaven, black narcissus. A deeply touching road moviedocumentary, parallel lines follows director nina davenport, a new york resident her apartment was near the world trade center who was working in california during 911. This film is dedicated to canada and to canadians all over the dominion who helped us to make it. The 49th parallel 1941 raymond massey, laurence olivier. Though the premise may have been a sublime scaffold for straight comedy, not knowing how the war would actually end has actually aged and transformed this film into what im going to call pastiche. A twodvd set, 49th parallel criterion collection has a main disc for the movie and a second disc for the supplements. The city of paris is about 15 km 9 mi south of the 49th parallel and is the largest city between the 48th and 49th parallels. It was released in the united states as the invaders. Both soulstirring and delightfully entertaining, 49th parallel features a.
A group of nazi naval officers and crewmen are stranded. Despite the title, no scene in the film is set at the 49th parallel, which forms much of the canadaunited states border. It crosses europe, asia, the pacific ocean, north america, and the atlantic ocean. In the early years of world war ii, a german uboat u37 sinks allied shipping in st. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. If you want to see propaganda filmmaking as its finest, coupled with an unabashed admiration for canada, you must see 49th parallel. This tale of rogue nazis roaming the canadian pastoral countryside after their submarine is bombed to smithereens offers slim to none of the trademark whimsy of the wwii films powell and pressburger later made under the archers banner. Portman, as the nazi uboat captain, massey as a canadian soldier and walbrook as a hutterite are all fine. At once a compelling piece of antiisolationist propaganda and a quickwitted wartime thriller, 49th parallel is a classic early work from the inimitable british filmmaking team of michael powell and emeric pressburger. The 49th parallel reminds us nazis arent very fine people posted on march 28, 2020 by rogerinorlando i hadnt seen the absurdly entertaining british wwii film the 49th parallel in ages, probably not since amc was american movie classics and showed, you know, movies. Dvd 49th parallel laurence olivier for sale online ebay. Few of powell and pressburgers admirers would rate 49th parallel on a par with the great achievements that were to follow, but it is a key film in several ways. In addition to the film, dvd 1 has the original theatrical trailer and a commentary by historian bruce eder, a regular criterion contributor. This shopping feature will continue to load items when the enter key is pressed.
Main titles and first scenes from the film 49th parallel the invaders by michael powell 1941 with music. Rent 49th parallel 1941 starring eric portman and laurence olivier on dvd and bluray. A group of nazi naval officers and crewmen are stranded on canadian soil we have no sympathy for the castaways, inasmuch as we have just seen them refusing food and water to a group of torpedoed british seamen. Posted by ckauctions anger destroys the container its kept in. The 49th parallel was a british wartime project originally titled the invaders, with such stars as olivier an excellent doomed trapper and howard in the rather stagey humanist sequence taking relatively small roles.
When a nazi uboat crew, headed by the ruthless eric portman, is stranded in canada during the thick of world war ii, the men evade capture by hiding out in a series of rural communities. For their third collaboration, michael powell and emeric pressburger were engaged by the ministry of information to make a propaganda film. Overview of 49th parallel, 1941, directed by michael powell, with leslie howard, raymond massey, laurence olivier, at turner classic movies. It begins with the bombing of the u37 and unfortunately continues now and then throughout the movie. Lawrence bay and then tries to evade canadian military forces seeking to destroy it by sailing up to hudson bay. Wolstenhome was mentioned briefly on a bulletin board in winnepeg. The british ministry of information approached michael powell to make a propaganda film for t. Download 49th parallel for free watch or stream free hd. It follows crew members from a uboat sunk in hudsons bay as they try make their way through an unfamiliar country and people to the, then. Why would planes would be looking for a uboat in the hudson bay. 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. Encounters include hudsons post staff, trappers, natives, german hutterite colonists, rcmp and more. From the producerwriterdirector team of emeric pressburger and michael powell comes their third film, 49th parallel a. He is best known for his series of film collaborations with michael powell, in an awardwinning collaboration partnership known as the archers and produced a series of films, notably 49th parallel 1941, the life and death of colonel blimp 1943, a matter of life and death 1946, also called stairway to heaven, black narcissus 1947, the. Stranded in canada, a german ww2 uboat crew with a fanatical nazi captain aims to avoid capture by reaching the border to enter the stillneutral us. Despite the title, no scene in the movie is set at the 49th parallel, which forms much of the uscanadian border.
The invaders 49th parallel in the uk is an excellent war drama from british director powell, coscripted by his longtime collaborator pressburger. Canadian an informal name for the border with the usa, which is in part delineated by the parallel line of latitude at 49. Perhaps if youve never seen or heard of it, you may want to rent it for a view, its a magnificent film. Michael powell is to be congratulated on his persistence with this at first apparently illstarred film. The main issue i have with this is that it states, incorrectly, that no scene is set on the 49th parallel. Join sign up keep track of your favorite shows and movies, across all your devices. A group of nazi naval officers and crewmen are stranded on canadian soil we have no sympathy for the castaways, inasmuch as we have just seen them refusing food and water to a group of torpedoed british. Powell and pressburgers third collaboration, after the spy in black 1939 and contraband 1940, 49th parallel was the film that made possible the quirky classics the. The 49th parallel dvd 1941 world war ii ww2 propaganda.
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