49th Parallel (DVD)
APPROX. 123 MINS. - PROD. YEAR: 1941 - MPA RATING: NR
" Be prepared because the war can be at your doorstep at a moment’s notice.
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Video
The film is presented in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio. The digitally restored transfer is nearly flawless, as has become the norm for Criterion. As with most (though not all) of Criterion´s recent full-screen releases, the image is slightly picture-boxed. Most viewers won´t notice the difference, but those whose systems do not automatically zoom in on the image will see thin black bars on the left and right side of the screen.
Audio
The DVD is presented in Dolby Digital Mono. Optional English subtitles support the English audio.
Extras
The two-disc collection offers several outstanding special features.
The highlight of the collection, without a doubt, is the inclusion of an obscure Powell and Pressburger propaganda film "The Volunteer" (1943, 44 min.) In this semi-documentary, Ralph Richardson portrays himself as an actor burdened with a clumsy assistant named Fred (Pat McGrath) who has all the good intentions in the world but not a lick of common sense or even basic motor skills to go along with them. Fred decides a stint in the military will fix him up right smart, so he decides to join the Fleet Air Arm, the same branch of the service Richardson (and Laurence Olivier) belonged to in real life. The Fleet Air Arm plays Henry Higgins to Fred´s Eliza Doolittle, transforming him into a crack mechanic and genuine war hero. At the beginning of the film, Fred asks for Richardson´s autograph but by the end the actor asks Fred to return the favor. The film is pure propaganda, and intentionally so, but it´s beautifully shot as you would expect.
"A Pretty British Affair" (50 min.) is a 1981 episode of the BBC documentary series "Arena." Host Gavin Millar speaks at length with Powell and Pressburger (then both in their seventies) and traces their history as collaborative artists.
Extensive audio excerpts taken from Powell´s dictation for his autobiography round out the extras on the second disc.
On Disc One, Bruce Eder´s full-length commentary track was recorded in 1990, presumably for Criterion´s laser-disc release, but is so incisive and comprehensive it hardly needs updating.
The insert booklet includes an essay by film scholar Charles Barr and an excerpt from Michael Powell´s speech at the 1941 British premiere of "49th Parallel."
Film Value
"49th Parallel" does not rank in the upper echelon of Powell and Pressburger´s films along with masterpieces like "A Canterbury Tale," "The Red Shoes," "Black Narcissus" and "I Know Where I´m Going!" but even this early collaboration shows the brilliance of one of the greatest director-screenwriter duos in cinema history. Seldom have Nazi characters been depicted with such complexity and, in a strange way, a certain sympathy, or at least understanding. Powell and Pressburger produced their share of British war propaganda, but they don´t take the easy way out and depict the enemy as bug-eyed monsters.
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