michaelRokeefe Review of 49th Parallel

49th Parallel (1941)

War...a little too close for comfort. Canada stands strong.

[7/10 · 12 September 2005]

Michael Powell directs this very good British war flick. Action, suspense and the drama of six German sailors stranded in northern Canada. The stranded Nazi servicemen watch helplessly as they watch bombers sink their u-boat off the Canadian coast. Now the six, must make their way to America; for the U.S. is in a state of neutrality not being in the war as of yet. This is a well paced, interesting movie with well defined characterizations. The cast is superb. Eric Portman plays the Nazi Lieutenant that leads the stranded U-boat crew. Other highly visible stars...Laurence Olivier, Leslie Howard, Glynis Johns and Anton Walbrook. But I think Raymond Massey really steals the show. Massey playing the Canadian soldier stowed away on a freight train that finally gets his hands on a Nazi. My favorite scenes are the German u-boat being blown to bits and the finale fade out...Massey approaching Portman to settle the score so-to-speak. This classic is also known in the U.S. as THE INVADERS.