It was meant to sell a reluctant american public on joining the war in europe. Rent 49th parallel 1941 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix. The best of the seconddisc special features is a 1981 bbc show on directors powell and pressburger. The 49th parallel dvd 1941 world war ii ww2 propaganda. We follow powell around hollywood with his new job, senior. It ranks alongside hitchcocks foreign correspondent as one of the two finest amalgams of suspense and propaganda to grace the big screen during the years 193945 the films plot is simplicity itself. Introduction 49th parallel is a 1941 british war drama film.
Michael powells 49th parallel originally released in the united states as the invaders is one of the great thrillers of world war ii. For their third collaboration, michael powell and emeric pressburger were engaged by the ministry of information to make a propaganda film. Find release information for 49th parallel 1941 emeric pressburger, michael powell on allmovie allmovie. Like any good sales pitch, the film uses fear to close the sale. Transfer this laserdisc of 49th parallel was made from the 35mm fine grain master. A group of nazi naval officers and crewmen are stranded. It does not focus on an ally friendly hero fighting against the faceless enemy. The 49th parallel dvd 1941 world war ii ww2 propaganda film. In the early days of world war ii, a german uboat is sunk. A world war ii uboat crew are stranded in northern canada.
It was the most popular film at the british box office in 1941. The only border scene is at niagara falls, which is located. With leslie howard, laurence olivier, raymond massey, anton walbrook. 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. 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.
To avoid internment, they must make their way to the border and get into the stillneutral u. Rent 49th parallel 1941 starring eric portman and laurence olivier on dvd and bluray. Aug 29, 2014 49th parallel 1941 if you can ignore the supposition that everyone in canada speaks the same language and some nazi uboat invaders speak it too and that in at least once instance the germans talk distance in terms of miles instead of kilometers and you can endure sir laurence oliviers awful frenchcanadian accent this is a pretty good oscar winning world war ii story. Dvd 49th parallel laurence olivier for sale online ebay. Eder has written extensively on british films, in general, and michael powells work, in particular. It was released in the united states as the invaders. This 1941 film serves propaganda straight up, courtesy of the british ministry of information. Films similar to or like 49th parallel film 1941 british war drama film. Arthur rank expanded production at a time when other british studios. Watch 49th parallel 1941 full movie free online streaming.
The third powell and pressburger film, 49th parallel, and the first to be introduced in the best picture project, does something that makes it comparatively unique from all the other propaganda films. Reich minister of propaganda goebbels considered himself an expert on propaganda, said screenwriter pressburger, but i thought id show him a thing or two. Overview of 49th parallel, 1941, directed by michael powell, with leslie howard, raymond massey, laurence olivier, at turner classic movies. A german uboat has infiltrated the canadian coastline, seeking to attack and subvert our. Find release information for 49th parallel 1941 emeric pressburger, michael powell on allmovie.
See the full list of 49th parallel cast and crew including actors, directors, producers and more. Released before the attack on pearl harbor, this wartime adventure aimed to rouse complacent north american moviegoers to join the fight. Despite the title, no scene in the movie is set at the 49th parallel, which forms much of the uscanadian border. Perhaps we as in, yours truly read too much into the wwiiera drama 49th parallel. Although 49th parallel is nowhere near my favourite film by the two lads, who were known to have knocked out a decent film or two in their time, its really typical of their whole approach to filmmaking. Harry potter complete 8film collection bluray brand new sealed free ship. With laurence olivier, leslie howard, raymond massey, anton walbrook. An audio essay by film and music historian bruce eder discussing various aspects of 49th parallel s production. The invaders in the us, was a concerted attempt to influence opinion in neutral america into supporting their governments entry into the war pressburger proved an enthusiastic propagandist. 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. May 16, 2020 49th parallel 1941 posted on 16 may 2020 by aides memoires director michael powell, screenplay by emeric pressburger, with eric porter, laurence olivier, niall macginness, anton walbrook, leslie howard, raymond massey, glynis johns dvd.
Criterions print of this 1941 film is fabulous, however, a few hairs remain, which is odd with the high bar the criterion collection sets. May 27, 2016 49th parallel is a 1941 british war drama film. Michael powell directed this odd wartime propaganda film, set in canada, before the american entry into wwii. Perhaps if youve never seen or heard of it, you may want to rent it for a view, its a magnificent film. This film is dedicated to canada and to canadians all over the dominion who helped us to make it. The invaders in the us, was a concerted attempt to influence opinion in neutral america into supporting their governments entry into the war. Despite the title, no scene in the film is set at the 49th parallel, which forms much of the us. 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. Instead of taking the easy option, their best films were huge in scope and ambition, unique and trailblazing in a number of aspects. The british ministry of information approached michael powell to make a propaganda film for t. Main titles and first scenes from the film 49th parallel the invaders by michael powell 1941 with music. 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.
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