Movie Monday Review: Northern Pursuit

Happy Canada Day!

Julie Bishop, Helmut Dantine, and Errol Flynn

Northern Pursuit (1943)

Starring: Errol Flynn, Helmut Dantine, Julie Bishop, John Ridgely, Alec Craig, and Gene Lockhart

Summary

Out in the wilds of Canada, Nazi soldiers are left to trek along. Being at war with England, it is curious that they would land in Canada. Going along, they get separated and soon, some are arrested. Their leader, Colonel Hugo von Keller is left alone and is soon picked up by a couple of Mounties, Steve Wagner (Errol Flynn) and Jim Austin (John Ridgely). They question him, but are getting nothing from the ill German pilot.

Colonel von Keller

Steve goes back to town to report what’s been going on. His girlfriend, Laura (Julie Bishop) and her father Angus (Alec Craig) own the local general store. She adores Steve, but has an awful habit of stretching the truth. But Steve loves her, just the same and he insists that she stay in town, while he has some things to do.

Packing up the sled

Steve reports to his superior officer and soon decides to go under cover as a Canadian traitor. Getting himself arrested for speaking for the Nazis, he goes through an elaborate process to get together with Colonel von Keller. The Colonel has helped his guys escape from the POW camp and, with the aid of Ernst (Gene Lockhart) and a local Indian, is able to continue the trek through the Canadian wilderness.

Steve getting arrested

Steve goes along, trying to prove his worth as a willing partner-in-crime, whatever that crime is. Colonel von Keller is suspicious, however, and keeps his eye on Steve. Ernst decides to check up on him and brings Laura up to their cabin and holds her there. Now Steve is in a fix, to protect Laura. He convinces von Keller to let Laura and the Indian’s wife go and he finally does, as long as Steve leads von Keller to their destination.

An Indian with von Keller

Finally arriving, Steve only sees lots of crates and boxes in a cave. He is forced to help the Nazis build a plane and discovers that they planted these airplane parts in Canada before the war started with plans to come again and assemble it to plant bombs in important enemy territory.

von Keller behind Steve

Convinced that he must stop them, he begins his one-man attack. Some of the men are able to get to the plane and von Keller starts it up. Steve knocks out one man and takes his place on the plane. Knocking everyone out. Soon, he has control of the plane.

Preparing the plane

Safely back home, and vindicated of being a traitor, he can now marry Laura! They begin their marriage with a “tall tale” from her father.

Steve and Laura

Review

An interesting movie, giving a perspective from the Canadian side. Showing that Canada, being connected with England, was at war with the Nazis before their just-south neighbors, America, were.

Julie Bishop’s character is slightly annoying, playing the woman who doesn’t listen to her man and often tells “tall tales” like her father. That aside, she and Errol Flynn work well together.

Errol Flynn

Helmut Dantine does an excellent job of being the determined young pilot wanting to succeed with his mission for Germany. He and Flynn do a good job opposite each other. There is also a great ski chase through the snowy mountains!

The ski chase

It’s neat to see the views you would see in Canada, with lots of wilderness, snow, and the sled-dog transportation. Makes one want to go on an adventure in the far north! Also shows what a small town looked like in an early established town, with the native Indians living there alongside pioneering Canadians. The necessity of Mounties needing to use sled-dogs instead of cars or sleds is unique!

A worthwhile movie and good, also, because of Errol Flynn!

Ellen Nolan

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