49th Parallel - The Criterion Collection
Criterion (1941)
Drama, Thriller, War
In Collection
#357
0*
Seen ItYes
715515022422
IMDB   7.5
2 hr 3 mins UK / English
DVD  Region 1   NR
Laurence Olivier Johnnie - the Trapper
Leslie Howard Philip Armstrong Scott
Raymond Massey
Eric Portman Lieutenant Hirth
Anton Walbrook Peter
Richard George Kommandant Bernsdorff
Raymond Lovell Lieutenant Kuhnecke
Niall MacGinnis Vogel
Peter Moore Kranz
John Chandos Lohrmann
Basil Appleby Jahner
Finlay Currie The Factor
Ley On Nick - the Eskimo
Peter Moore (XII)
Glynis Johns Anna
Charles Victor Andreas
Frederick Piper David
Director
Michael Powell
Producer Michael Powell
George H. Brown
John Sutro
Writer Emeric Pressburger
Rodney Ackland
Cinematography Freddie Young
Musician Ralph Vaughan Williams


At once a compelling piece of anti-isolationist propaganda and a quick-witted wartime thriller, 49th Parallel is a classic early work from the inimitable British filmmaking team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. When a Nazi U-boat 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 communities before trying to cross the border into the United States. Both soul-stirring and delightfully entertaining, 49th Parallel features a colorful cavalcade of characters played by larger-than-life actors Laurence Olivier, Raymond Massey, Anton Walbrook and Leslie Howard.
Edition Details
Edition Criterion Collection
Distributor Criterion
Release Date 2/20/2007
Packaging Keep Case
Screen Ratio Standard 1.33:1 B&W
Subtitles English
Audio Tracks ENGLISH: Dolby Digital Mono
Layers Single Side, Dual Layer
No. of Disks/Tapes 2

Features
Disc 01 Audio commentary by film historian Bruce Eder
Original Theatrical Trailer
The Volunteer, 1943 Powell/Pressburger war-effort short starring Ralph Richardson
Excerpts from Powell's audio dictations for his autobiography
A Pretty British Affair, a BBC documentary on the careers of Powell and Pressburger, which considers their World War II-era collaborations and features rare footage of the filmmakers together
A new essay by film scholar Charles Barr and an excerpt from Powell's 1941 premiere speech