IMDb RATING
6.6/10
1.7K
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A Canadian Mountie of German descent feigns disaffection with his homeland in hopes of infiltrating and thwarting a Nazi sabotage plot.A Canadian Mountie of German descent feigns disaffection with his homeland in hopes of infiltrating and thwarting a Nazi sabotage plot.A Canadian Mountie of German descent feigns disaffection with his homeland in hopes of infiltrating and thwarting a Nazi sabotage plot.
Warren Douglas
- Sergeant
- (scenes deleted)
Richard Allord
- Jochim Preisser
- (uncredited)
John Alvin
- Orderly
- (uncredited)
Robert Ashley
- German Ski Trooper
- (uncredited)
Joe Brooks
- Nazi Prisoner
- (uncredited)
Glen Cavender
- Workman
- (uncredited)
Donald Chaffin
- Nazi Prisoner
- (uncredited)
Noble 'Kid' Chissell
- Lodge Guest
- (uncredited)
Ken Christy
- Winnipeg Police Desk Sergeant
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaErrol Flynn was criticized for playing heroes in World War II movies. Tony Thomas in his book "Errol Flynn: The Spy Who Never Was" states that Flynn had tried to enlist in every branch of the armed services but was rejected as unfit for service on the grounds of his health--he had a heart condition, tuberculosis, malaria and a back problem. He felt he could contribute to America's war effort by appearing in such films as Edge of Darkness (1943), Northern Pursuit (1943), Dive Bomber (1941), Objective, Burma! (1945) and Uncertain Glory (1944). Reportedly, he was at his most professional and cooperative while working on these movies. Warner Bros. apparently did not discuss the state of his health, as it wished to keep it quiet for fear that it would damage his box-office draw.
- GoofsNear the end the Nazis' plane is shown spiraling over and over in exterior shots, but in shots in the plane's interior it's going straight down, not spinning out of control.
- Quotes
Angus McBain: I have a very derogatory opinion of policeman, in general, and Steve, in particular.
Laura McBain: You're not going to marry him, I am.
Angus McBain: McBain's daughter the wife of a policeman! McBain's daughter stuck in a tradin' post!
Laura McBain: What makes McBain's daughter so wonderful?
Angus McBain: McBain!
- ConnectionsFeatured in Hollywood on Trial (1976)
- SoundtracksThe Bonnie Banks O' Loch Lomond
(ca 1745) (uncredited)
Lyrics by Robert Burns
Played off-screen on piano at the hotel
Featured review
Errol Flynn was a fascinating screen presence. Just look at how many books have been written about him including a couple he wrote himself. I found a good dozen on Amazon before I stopped counting. Some well-known actors and filmmakers often have only one biography or even none at all.
"Northern Pursuit" isn't the best of his movies, but it is Flynn at his best. He looks in great shape despite the fact that he had a dicky ticker, a bad back, tuberculosis, a couple of exotic diseases picked up along the way and a liver that was in more danger of destruction than any target of the Nazis in the film.
Set in Canada during WW2, Errol plays Steve Wagner, a Royal Canadian Mountie of German Ancestry whose loyalty is questioned when he comes across Nazi secret agents who are planning to bomb a canal that is critical to the Allied war effort.
Although the story feels cobbled together, the film looks good. Most of it was shot on the sound stage and no doubt a great deal of talcum powder and papier mache was employed, but the sequence where a U-Boat breaks through the ice and scenes such as the avalanche are brilliantly staged.
However the stars make the film. Although Errol was rarely upstaged, Helmut Dantine was Warner's go-to Nazi guy during the war years. He plays Colonel Hugo von Keller in this film. The reason why Dantine was more effective than many screen Nazis at the time was the degree of intelligence with which he approached his roles. He was no off-the-rack, monocled Nazi stereotype, he came across as vigorous, smart and fanatical; a formidable enemy, he was also good looking and often got the best lines.
If you like the stars, and Flynn was absolutely unique, then there is much to enjoy here. In fact the film was a bit of a turning point for him- he even got a laugh with an in-joke at the end alluding to his recent acquittal on rape charges. From that point on he went along with the joke about his sexual prowess although those who knew him felt that it hurt his desire to be taken seriously as an actor.
Finally, for anyone with a sense of history, "Northern Pursuit" is a fascinating insight into what audiences were watching during the war even if they took it all with a generous pinch of salt.
"Northern Pursuit" isn't the best of his movies, but it is Flynn at his best. He looks in great shape despite the fact that he had a dicky ticker, a bad back, tuberculosis, a couple of exotic diseases picked up along the way and a liver that was in more danger of destruction than any target of the Nazis in the film.
Set in Canada during WW2, Errol plays Steve Wagner, a Royal Canadian Mountie of German Ancestry whose loyalty is questioned when he comes across Nazi secret agents who are planning to bomb a canal that is critical to the Allied war effort.
Although the story feels cobbled together, the film looks good. Most of it was shot on the sound stage and no doubt a great deal of talcum powder and papier mache was employed, but the sequence where a U-Boat breaks through the ice and scenes such as the avalanche are brilliantly staged.
However the stars make the film. Although Errol was rarely upstaged, Helmut Dantine was Warner's go-to Nazi guy during the war years. He plays Colonel Hugo von Keller in this film. The reason why Dantine was more effective than many screen Nazis at the time was the degree of intelligence with which he approached his roles. He was no off-the-rack, monocled Nazi stereotype, he came across as vigorous, smart and fanatical; a formidable enemy, he was also good looking and often got the best lines.
If you like the stars, and Flynn was absolutely unique, then there is much to enjoy here. In fact the film was a bit of a turning point for him- he even got a laugh with an in-joke at the end alluding to his recent acquittal on rape charges. From that point on he went along with the joke about his sexual prowess although those who knew him felt that it hurt his desire to be taken seriously as an actor.
Finally, for anyone with a sense of history, "Northern Pursuit" is a fascinating insight into what audiences were watching during the war even if they took it all with a generous pinch of salt.
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- $1,290,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 33 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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