Bloody Snow (1943)
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Bloody snow |
| Original title | Northern Pursuit |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1943 |
| length | 94 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Raoul Walsh |
| script |
Frank Gruber Alvah Bessie |
| production | Jack Chertok |
| music | Adolph German |
| camera | Sidney Hickox |
| cut | Jack Killifer |
| occupation | |
| |
Bloody Snow is an American war film from the year 1943 with Errol Flynn in the lead role. Raoul Walsh directed the film for Warner Bros., based on a story by Leslie T. White.
action
Saboteurs are dropped off the coast of Canada by a German submarine. The group, under the command of Colonel von Keller, gets caught in an avalanche. Only von Keller survived the accident. Corporal Wagner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrests von Keller. Von Keller is surprised to find that Wagner understands the German language. It turns out that Wagner's ancestors came from Germany. Von Keller tries to get Wagner to help. But Wagner takes the colonel to a prisoner of war camp. Von Keller gathers other German soldiers around him and breaks out.
Wagner comes under suspicion of working with Nazi spies and is brought before a court martial. Ernst Willis, a German spy, helps Wagner escape because he needs a guide through the Canadian wilderness. The two travel north by train. A Mountie tries to contact Wagner, but is killed by Willis. Wagner is brought to von Keller and convinces him of his loyalty. In addition, his fiancée, Laura McBain, is being held hostage by the Germans. Wagner manages to convey news of the sabotage plans to his headquarters.
Wagner's colleague Jim Austin follows in the footsteps of the Germans. However, he is discovered and killed. Willis and an Indian helper are also killed. The troops arrive at a mine shaft where materials for assembling a bomber are secretly stored. You can assemble and launch the bomber. The destination of the flight is the waterway between the USA and Canada. The Allied supply routes are to be bombed here. Wagner managed to secretly get on board the bomber and eliminate the crew. Before falling, he can jump off with a parachute. Although he is injured, he can get to safety. He and Laura can get married later.
criticism
The lexicon of international films describes the film as a "perfectly staged" war adventure "which, however, is limited to the unreal montage of familiar set pieces."
Bosley Crowther of the New York Times complained that the story was told sloppily and without any apparent persuasiveness. The action is graceful and theatrical. Overall, the film, which has many outdoor shots, appears to be shot in an overheated room.
background
The film premiered on November 13, 1943. In Germany it was shown for the first time in February 1977 as part of the ARD series Hollywood and the Nazis in the original version with German subtitles. A German dubbed version was later broadcast.
William Faulkner , who later won the Nobel Prize for Literature , contributed to the script without being mentioned in the opening credits.
John Forsythe , in the role of a corporal, made his screen debut here. Jay Silverheels can be seen in a small supporting role as an Indian . The second unit was directed by Don Siegel . Technical advisor was Alf Engen, who set several world records in ski jumping in the 1930s and played one of the Nazi saboteurs in the film.
Errol Flynn was heavily criticized at the time for playing the hero in war films. Flynn, who had tried unsuccessfully to serve in the army, had been drafted as unfit for health reasons. Despite his problems (malaria, back problems, heart problems), he starred in films such as Aufstand in Trollness , Dive Bomber , The Hero of Burma and Auf Ehrenwort .
Web links
- Bloody snow in theInternet Movie Database(English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Bloody snow. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .
- ↑ Bosley Crowther in the New York Times (English)