The Powell & Pressburger Pages Dedicated to the work of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger and all the other people, both actors and technicians who helped them make those wonderful films. A lot of the documents have been sent to me or have come from other web sites. The name of the web site is given where known. If I have unintentionally included an image or document that is copyrighted or that I shouldn't have done then please email me and I'll remove it. I make no money from this site, it's purely for the love of the films. [Any comments are by me (Steve Crook) and other members of the email list]

Submitted by Roger Mellor

49th Parallel (1941)
"Radio Times" film guide

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Director - Michael Powell
Starring - Eric Portman & Laurence Olivier
Running Time - 116 mins
Country of Origin - UK

Sponsored by the Ministry of Information and 18 months in the making, this is one of the best propaganda films produced in Britain during the Second World War. With a stellar cast and a rousing score by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's gripping action drama thoroughly merited its Oscar for best original story and its nominations for best picture and screenplay. Eric Portman gives the finest performance of his career as the officer of a bombed U-boat who has to lead his surviving crew across the Canadian wilderness to neutral America. Leslie Howard adds a dash of humour, while Laurence Olivier's French-Canadian accent has to be heard to be believed.

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