Antony Mann and Jimmy Stewart's fourth collaboration, Thunder Bay, is based on an original story by John Michael Hayes , who just a few years later will go on to write the screenplays for Rear Window and To Catch a Thief. Mann shot the film in the 1.37:1 ratio, but Universal International re-framed it and then promoted it as its first widescreen feature at Loew's State Theatre in New York City, as well as other sites. Its initial presentation also marked U-I's first use of directional stereophonic sound, although few theaters in the country had such equipment at the time.
Of course the movie's big selling point is that it is a James Stewart movie and you get a sense that he enjoyed playing this part of a developer with a go getting attitude. He brings a lot of life to the character . But Stewart is not the only star name who delivers a good performance with Joanne Dru, Gilbert Roland and Dan Duryea amongst many others who deliver entertaining performances in what are little more than stereotypical characters. Stewart is great as the determined engineer, but he is not the undisputed star of the film. There are a lot of secondary characters played by terrific actors that make viewing the film a real treat.
Dan Duryea's character is interesting as usual.
As so often I've seen him play a villain or a troubled hero, and it was nice here to see him playing someone who's kind of loud (which was probably what bothered me last time) but turns out to be a decent guy.
It was also more meaningful to watch this film in light of Duryea's other work with Stewart, playing a villain in WINCHESTER '73 (1950)
Thunder Bay (1953) was the first Hollywood movie to focus on the subject of offshore oil drilling. This may not sound like the most thrilling fact, but in 1953 offshore drilling was very topical indeed, with congressional hearings and controversies surrounding it. The movie is a brawny, testosterone-charged action flick, with James Stewart and Dan Duryea as oil riggers convinced there is black gold at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico.
Thunder Bay was described by many at the time (including Stewart) as a modern western with boats and oil standing in for horses and guns. This picture may be a minor credit for both Stewart and director Anthony Mann, but even a minor film from these artists is well worth watching. 7.5/10
this is not one of James Stewart's best known movies, and has been pretty much neglected or issued in the past with very little attention to quality. I'm pleased that this Blu-Ray issue from Kino Lorber has rectified that.
Of course the movie's big selling point is that it is a James Stewart movie and you get a sense that he enjoyed playing this part of a developer with a go getting attitude. He brings a lot of life to the character . But Stewart is not the only star name who delivers a good performance with Joanne Dru, Gilbert Roland and Dan Duryea amongst many others who deliver entertaining performances in what are little more than stereotypical characters. Stewart is great as the determined engineer, but he is not the undisputed star of the film. There are a lot of secondary characters played by terrific actors that make viewing the film a real treat.
Dan Duryea's character is interesting as usual.
As so often I've seen him play a villain or a troubled hero, and it was nice here to see him playing someone who's kind of loud (which was probably what bothered me last time) but turns out to be a decent guy.
It was also more meaningful to watch this film in light of Duryea's other work with Stewart, playing a villain in WINCHESTER '73 (1950)
Thunder Bay (1953) was the first Hollywood movie to focus on the subject of offshore oil drilling. This may not sound like the most thrilling fact, but in 1953 offshore drilling was very topical indeed, with congressional hearings and controversies surrounding it. The movie is a brawny, testosterone-charged action flick, with James Stewart and Dan Duryea as oil riggers convinced there is black gold at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico.
Thunder Bay was described by many at the time (including Stewart) as a modern western with boats and oil standing in for horses and guns. This picture may be a minor credit for both Stewart and director Anthony Mann, but even a minor film from these artists is well worth watching. 7.5/10
this is not one of James Stewart's best known movies, and has been pretty much neglected or issued in the past with very little attention to quality. I'm pleased that this Blu-Ray issue from Kino Lorber has rectified that.