The 49th Parallel- A 1941 Movie from Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger -starring Leslie Howard and Lawrence Olivier - 122 minutes

The film is set in the early days of World War II, and tells the story of a small band of German soldiers who are stranded in Canada after their U-boat is sunk. The soldiers are led by Lieutenant Hirth (Eric Portman), a ruthless Nazi officer. The soldiers attempt to cross the border into the United States, which has not yet entered the war and is officially neutral.

Along the way, the German soldiers encounter a variety of Canadians, including a French-Canadian fur trapper (Laurence Olivier in a contrary to type role), a young woman (Glynis Johns), and a group of Hutterites. The Canadians are initially sympathetic to the German soldiers, but they eventually come to see them as a threat.

Here are some of the notable aspects of the film:

The film was made on a relatively low budget, but it still looks impressive. The cinematography is beautiful, and the film captures the vastness and beauty of the Canadian landscape.

The cast is excellent, with Eric Portman giving a chilling performance as Lieutenant Hirth. Laurence Olivier is also memorable as the French-Canadian fur trapper.

The film is a powerful anti-war statement. It shows the horrors of war, and it reminds us that the Nazis are a threat to all freedom-loving people

I especially enjoyed the scene where Leslie Howard Reads from The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann. The opening is also very stirring.

Mel Ulm