NORTHERN PURSUIT

US, 1943, 93 minutes, Black and white.
Errol Flynn, Julie Bishop, Helmut Dantine.
Directed by Raoul Walsh.

A Warner Bros World War Two film, exciting in itself but serving as propaganda at the time. It is yet another film from Warner Bros with Errol Flynn as dashing hero. Flynn, a popular actor and quite versatile in his handsome leading man way, was in period melodramas in the 30s and in many adventures in the 40s. The film was directed by Raoul Walsh who had directed Flynn in many films at Warner Bros. He made a series of war films in the 40s reflecting the war and encouraging American involvement. The most famous of these was Objective Burma, Helmut Dantine is the Nazi villain and repeated this role throughout many films for a long time. The film is conventional material in its way but of interest as reflecting the outlook of Hollywood in 1943.

1. How interesting and enjoyable this adventure? Its war issues?

2. Its impact in 1943 during the war? The impact now? The significance of the differences?

3. The black and white photography, the studio sets, Errol Flynn's impact as a star?

4. The film as war propaganda? How effective? How fair towards Americans, Canadians, Germans? How fair does it seem now?

5. The authenticity of the Canadian settings? The impact of the war on Canada and its people? Allied loyalty, closeness to America, German migrants and their heritage and loyalties? Nazi spies within the Canadian setting?

6. How interesting and convincing was the Nazi plan? How plausible? How ruthless? Comment on the presentation of Nazi relentlessness?

7. The portrayal of the Nazis in the 1943 setting? The initial landing, the shooting of the guards, their shrewdness, sense of accuracy, life in the internment camps, the relentlessness in escaping?

a, How interesting and convincing the presentation of the Fifth Column and the various methods for people, the people meeting on trains and their code words, lawyers and looking for others?

9. The inclusion of the Eskimos? Their sympathy towards the Nazis and their promise of racial liberation? Their disillusionment? (The propaganda overtones?)

10, The portrait of the ordinary Canadians as people, the Mounties and their work. the people at the settlement. Mc Bain and his friends. his daughter?

11. How convincing a hero was Steve? The audacity of his plan to infiltrate himself with the Nazis? The romantic side? His relationship with Imura? How fair was he in his approach to the Nazis? His reaction to the violence? His involvement in the pursuit? The extent of his heroics, especially at the end with the plane? did he seem a real hero, or Errol Flynn winning the war alone?

12. Laura and her role in the plot? Canadian propaganda, active heroine, romance, hostage and danger?

13. The humanity of Mc Bain balancing the melodramatics?

14. The minor characters and their contribution: the Nazis and their relentlessness, mercilessness of their chief? The Eskimo guide and his wife's the irony of his being shot? The companion and his death? The Fifth Columnist and his being dragged through and executed?

15. Minor scenes and their impact, for example, the Nazis quarrelling in the cave, the treks through the snow, avalanches?

16. How impressive are Hollywood heroics? The values in this kind of film? This film's place in a history of cinema?