May 22 Laurence Olivier

For Laurence Olivier’s birthday I watched 49th Parallel. Laurence Olivier plays a French Canadian trapper. A German Uboat comes into Canada during WWII. The boat is sunk and the sailors look for shelter. They overtake the cabin that Laurence lives. He did not realize that they are at war. Once the sailors come into his home with guns he says “My father fight against you last time, we give you one good licking then and we do it again”. Laurence finally has an opportunity to talk on the short wave radio and is shot. He dies hours later cursing the Germans. A sailor puts a rosary in his hands.

The film shows Germans as ruthless killers and yet they underlying compassion and human. That is kind of daring for 1941 when Nazi were most hated an considered inhuman. This made the characters somewhat sympathetic but you knew they all had to die.