David Lean and Freddie Young

Two great film giants, who were to collaborate later making Hollywood masterpieces, first worked together on this film, "49th Parallel:" David Lean and Freddie Young. David Lean, who edited this picture, went on to be the consummate director of the great movie epics of the 60s and 70s:

Ryan's Daughter
Lawrence of Arabia
Dr. Zhivago
Bridge on the River Kwai
Passage to India

Lean directed his first film a year after "49th Parallel" when he worked with the legendary Noel Coward in the classic WW II sea-yarn "In Which We Serve."
(a movie which fans of 49th Parallel should not miss...a terrific story told in flashback about a British destroyer in action against the Germans...with Noel Coward as the Captain!)

Lean was later be-knighted by Queen Elizabeth.

Some wild trivia about Sir David Lean: he appeared in a bit part in several of his own movies, including "Lawrence of Arabia" as the motorcyclist riding on the far shore of the Suez Canal, shouting to Peter O'Toole, who had just walked out of Sinai. "...who are you?" he cries out.

The incredible Freddie Young did the cinematography for "49th Parallel" and ended up working later with David Lean, filming "Ryan's Daughter," "Zhivago," and "Lawrence of Arabia." Young filmed 131 movies all together! From 1928 "Daydreams" to 1985 "Invitation to a Wedding." Freddie Young filmed many of the James Bond movies that Sean Connery appeared and also the war classic "Battle of Britain."

Michael Powell, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Lawrence Olivier, Leslie Howard, Raymond Massey, Eric Portman, Anton Walbrook, Freddie Young...and Sir David Lean: all of these motion picture giants came together and were involved in one of our favorite classic pictures of all time...the masterpiece..."49th Parallel."

Thank you for reading my comments. I hope you enjoy the picture as much as I do.

CmdrCody