Episode 168 - 49th Parallel

Director Michael Powell brings us the 1941 film "49th Parallel". Thanks to our guest Arthur Sculco who selected this excellent film for the podcast. Emeric Pressburger developed the original story and wrote the screenplay. Mr. Pressburger said, "Goebbels considered himself an expert on propaganda, but I thought I'd show him a thing or two." The film accomplishes this as it shows the treachery of most of the raiding party of six Kriegsmarine sailors from the German submarine compared to the strong character of a variety of Canadians.

What a lineup of stars. There is Laurence Olivier as Johnnie-the Trapper, Peter the Hutterite leader played by Anton Walbrook, Glynis Johns as the teenager Anna, Leslie Howard as Phillip Armstrong Scott the writer who subdues one of the Germans, Eric Portman is the barbaric German leader Lieutenant Hirth and Raymond Massey as Andy Brock the Canadian soldier who successfully matches wits with Hirth. In part the film was intended to send a message to the then neutral United States.