49th Parallel
Seen it?1941 | 123 min | War, Thriller
Saturday Specialearly ratingWhy it’s a Saturday Special
It earned strong reviews (87% on Rotten Tomatoes), it won an Oscar and it made about 38 times its budget. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing and history buffs. If you loved Pressure or The Great Escape, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Tense, intense.
- The pace
- Fast-moving, at 2 hr 3 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1941: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
In the early days of World War II, a German U-boat is sunk in Canada's Hudson Bay. Hoping to evade capture, a small band of German soldiers led by commanding officer Lieutenant Hirth attempts 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 brave men such as a French-Canadian fur trapper, Johnnie, a leader of a Hutterite farming community, Peter, an author, Philip and a soldier, Andy Brock.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
87% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.0 out of 10
- AwardsStrong
Won 1 Oscar: Best Story. Also nominated for 2 more Oscars.
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$5 million worldwide on a $140K budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 45K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
Pressure Saturday SpecialAnother war thriller, and a Saturday Special.
The Great Escape
Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed war story.
Where Eagles Dare Saturday SpecialAnother war story, and a Saturday Special.
The Guns of Navarone Saturday SpecialAnother war story, and a Saturday Special.
Escape to Victory
Sunday Safe BetAnother war story, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
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Cast & crew
Directed by Michael Powell
- Leslie HowardPhilip Armstrong Scott
- Laurence OlivierJohnnie, the Trapper
- Raymond MasseyAndy Brock
- Anton WalbrookPeter
- Eric PortmanLieutenant Hirth
- Raymond LovellLieutenant Kuhnecke
- Richard GeorgeKommandant Bernsdorff
- Niall MacGinnisVogel
- Peter MooreKranz
- John ChandosLohrmann