World War II films will never lose relevance – there are too many wounds left behind. With particular interest look similar pictures shot on this subject directly during the war. Some of them do not even hide the obvious propaganda overtones, others carefully and intricately process the viewer. The latter type can be attributed to the military thriller “49th parallel”.
Synopsis In the midst of World War II off the coast of Canada, a German submarine U-37 torpedoes a cargo ship, which provokes a chase by the Canadian military, and as a result of a direct hit, the ship is sent to the bottom of Hudson Bay. The survivors of the six submariners who landed shortly before, make a plan to reach the U.S. border to surrender. However, the news of six Nazis behind enemy lines immediately flies across Canada, but the scouts will stop at nothing to achieve their goal.
Game of actors A notable feature of the film is that it involved several stars of the first magnitude of the time, who performed several supporting roles, while the first was exposed to little-known actors. So, Sir Laurence Olivier played the role of just a French Canadian hunter Johnny, who all his life was far from politics and preferred to live in harmony with his friends and nature, but was unwittingly drawn into conflict with an inhuman idea that trampled his kindness as an unnecessary thing. Also remembered Leslie Howard in the role of intellectual writer Philip Armstrong Scott, who saw the absurdity of Nazi ideology, which caused the wrath of the antagonists of the film.
Directorship In fact, director Michael Powell shot a specific version of the road movie, in which the road becomes a test for the main characters of the picture, who at the same time are its main antagonists. Making a long and difficult journey, the characters meet different people, each of whom in their own way open their eyes to the world, and someone even rethink their views and even abandon their previous beliefs. Some of the heroes are being cleansed of Nazi filth, some are so imbued with it that to stop the spread of this ideology, there is nothing left but to stop him. In fact, the 49th Parallel was a somewhat primitive attempt to look inside this dangerous ideology in order to emphasize that it carries nothing but evil, hatred and death.
Scenario The plot of the film takes place on the east coast of Canada in the area of the 49th parallel along which the border of Canada and the United States passes, and which to this day is considered one of the longest unguarded state borders in the world. Not far from the Eskimo settlements, a German submarine makes a daring attack on a Canadian cargo ship, thereby attracting attention from the Canadian military. Pursued by the air force and navy, the boat still falls under fire and goes to the bottom of the sea. The survivors are six submariners who landed on the shore in search of an important military facility and provisions. However, after the death of the boat, their mission is to survive by any means necessary. The scouts draw up a plan whereby they will reach the borders of the United States, surrender there, and America, then neutral, will send them back to Germany, where they will be able to resume the Fuehrer’s plans. Of course, their “carefully thought out” plan does not take into account the obstacles in the face of the various people they meet, who, with their views and beliefs, destroy the unity of the group from within. Even the German émigré community met with heroes does not greet them with the expected sympathy, but, on the contrary, shows contempt for what they aspire to. Someone gives up, someone just hides at the wrong time. In any case, the meaning of the plot boils down to the fact that “not a single foot of a Nazi will enter Canada, and if he joins, he will meet with fierce resistance.”
Result By modern standards, let’s be honest, the 49th parallel is already morally outdated. Perhaps at that time the film looked spectacular, but now you perceive it more as a simple action thriller. However, the idea of the film and the presentation look interesting. Therefore, it is recommended to view.
7 out of 10