Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger (The Red Shoes, Black Narcissus and The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp) bring you a wartime adventure movie from one of the most unlikely places in the world, when you think of WW2. We follow the landing party of a bombed German U-boat off the coast of Northern Canada in their journey to try and reach the then still neutral United States.
Along the way there isn't a chance missed to emphasize that Nazis are bad, but this doesn't detract from the sense of adventure and excitement. The only downside of it is that you don't really feel for the main characters. It makes for an interesting but awkward watch when you always root for the supporting cast, the various people the Germans meet on their travels. There is only one of the main characters that you start to feel for after a while, subtly played by Niall MacGinnis.
With great supporting roles by Laurence Olivier and Leslie Howard, this movie also surprises with twists I didn't see coming. It makes for an engaging watch, a fast moving story, and genuine entertainment. Also, the locations are beautiful. Yes, this movie is war time propaganda, but it is also a great film.
