Northern Pursuit

Northern Pursuit

Year: 1943

Runtime: 93 mins

Language: English

Director: Raoul Walsh

DramaAdventureWarWar and historical adventureHigh speed and special ops

In the icy Canadian frontier, a seductive woman ignites passions for a Mountie tasked with tracking a German Luftwaffe officer sent on a covert espionage mission. After the officer escapes a prison camp, the Mounties devise a deception, making the spies think Steve Wagner is sympathetic, and lure him into their scheme to dismantle the spy ring.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Northern Pursuit (1943)

Trace every key event in Northern Pursuit (1943) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Wagner captures Colonel von Keller after saboteurs are dropped off

Saboteurs are dropped off in Canada and an avalanche wipes out the rest of their group. Wagner captures Colonel Hugo von Keller, the lone survivor. The capture starts a tense chain of loyalty tests that orbits Wagner's loyalties and duty.

2

Wagner prompts report to authorities

Wagner persuades his colleague to report the capture to the RCMP, allowing von Keller to recover. The authorities begin a formal inquiry into Wagner's loyalties.

RCMP outpost
3

Von Keller probes Wagner's loyalties

Von Keller discovers Wagner speaks German and has German ancestry. He probes Wagner's views on the war to gauge his potential allegiance. Wagner's responses hint at sympathy, complicating the RCMP's suspicions.

RCMP outpost
4

RCMP moves against Wagner and von Keller

The RCMP grow suspicious of Wagner and dispatch a patrol to bring both men in for questioning. The move ramps up the tension between duty and perceived betrayal.

RCMP outpost
5

Wagner seeks discharge from the RCMP

Wagner, facing mounting suspicion, asks to be discharged from the RCMP. The request foreshadows his later role and the shifting loyalties at play.

RCMP outpost
6

POW camp escape orchestrated by von Keller

Wagner is sent to a prisoner of war camp. Von Keller conspires to free fellow German soldiers, launching a counter-move that complicates the pursuit and deepens the entanglement between Wagner and von Keller.

POW camp
7

Willis hires Wagner as wilderness guide

Ernst Willis contacts Wagner and hires him as a wilderness guide. This introduces the double-agent dynamic that will drive the Northbound mission. The alliance sets the route toward the Canadian north.

8

Northbound train and a mounting altercation

Wagner and Willis depart north by train. A pursuing Mountie who makes contact with Wagner is killed by Willis, the agent, signaling the depths of the deception and danger ahead.

Train heading north
9

Loyalty forced and Laura hostage

Wagner is brought to von Keller and convinces him that he remains loyal to Germany and can guide them to a destination. Laura McBain is held hostage to ensure his loyalty. The hostage situation intensifies the stakes for everyone involved.

Wilderness rendezvous with von Keller
10

Wagner alerts police headquarters

Wagner uses his double-agent position to send a message to police headquarters, warning them of the saboteurs' plans. This helps coordinate a response as the group nears their destination. The act demonstrates his complex loyalties.

Police headquarters
11

Trail pursuit ends in tragedy

Jim Austin follows the saboteurs' trail but is spotted and killed, along with Ernst Willis and a native porter, before reaching the mine shaft. The losses escalate the urgency to stop the mission. The casualties heighten the stakes for the forthcoming confrontation.

Trail toward the mine shaft
12

Mine shaft and bomber components

The group reaches a mine shaft where bomber components have been secretly stored. The bomber is assembled and readied for its mission to bomb the vital waterway. Tension builds as the saboteurs' plan edges toward execution.

Mine shaft
13

Bomber takes off and Wagner escapes

The bomber is launched toward its target to disrupt transatlantic shipping. Wagner escapes, climbs aboard the bomber to shoot the crew, and parachutes to safety before the plane crashes. He survives the fatal confrontation, albeit wounded from prior skirmishes.

Bomber aircraft
14

Wagner and Laura unite

After recovering from his wound, Wagner marries Laura McBain. The wedding marks a return to personal stability after a tumultuous period of espionage, danger, and deception.

Laura's home, Canada

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:04

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