Review of 49th Parallel (1941) by Adrian B — 28 Feb 2011

Pressburger and Powells' "49th Parallel" is a pretty ambitious film and one of their early ones for that matter. It is about a bunch of German soldiers who are sent on land from U-Boat in the Hudson Bay (which was bombed by Canadian Air Force planes, killing several soldiers on board) off the coasts of Manitoba and Ontario (I had originally thought that was Newfoundland due to the large hills, and I think that is where it was filmed anyways).

On land, they start terrorizing an Indian community, which includes Laurence Olivier in one of the most funniest roles of his career as a French Canadian trapper. This film is very weird one for sure.

I have read studied WWII history and I have never heard of any instances where a pack of German soldiers are stranded in Canada and try to get out, through Vancouver in particular. Although, the U-Boats were definately in the Atlantic Ocean, but I am not sure they went as far west as Hudson Bay.

It is a bizarre film, but also pretty entertaining and engaging one for that matter and exposes the beautiful scenery of Canada, particularly the Rockies. Pressburger and Powell sure loved taking risks, and like their other films, this one is an original.