Watch Thunder Bay For Free

Good movie, but best of all time? Hardly . . .

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

THUNDER BAY is another collaboration between director Anthony Mann and star James Stewart, riding high on the success of their western collaborations such as WINCHESTER '73. This one's a less successful story about Stwart's oil man who is convinced that he's on the verge of discovering a rich bed of oil in the Gulf of Mexico, and the conflict that arises when he interrupts the livelihoods of the local shrimping fishermen.The story isn't so bad, it's just that the execution feels dated and a bit melodramatic. For one of the first times I can remember I didn't like Stewart's character; I like the actor well enough, but his character seemed single-minded and oblivious to the feelings of others here. The pacing is slow with the story bogged down by the standard romantic sub-plots and the like, and it only really picks up with an admittedly impressive climax. THUNDER BAY is a piece of drama that's only so-so to my mind.

Apparently the public was mainly unaware of Cajuns and their culture, which would have been the largest population group of shrimp fishermen in Louisiana at the time. The portrayal of the 'hurricane' would have given them the impression of, at best, a big squall. What was a real hoot, was Stewart tossing sticks of dynamite at the crowd while he 'talked sense' to them. ("Alright now, just settle down"). If this movie is shown on a show where there is a 'host' or 'moderator' who comes on before and after the film, it would be informative to mention the 'microenvironment' created by the oil rigs; not so much with shrimping, but with sport fishing, which is a major economic force in the Gulf. The metal structure of the rig platforms becomes an 'artificial reef', which first becomes populated by barnacles and other stationary marine life; then becomes a focal point of fish, crustaceans, cephalopods, and various other species. The area around the rig becomes a jackpot for fisherman.

Some of James Stewart's post war films are about a man following a vision. In Spirit of St. Lous it's about flight, in Strategic Air Command it's about air defense, in Carbine Williams it's about making a new kind of rifle.Here in Thunder Bay it's about oil under the ocean and how to get it out. Stewart and buddy Dan Duryea invest all their own money in the design of a platform for ocean drilling and think the delta country in Louisiana is where oil is to be found.Stewart and Duryea meet all kinds of opposition from the French cajun shrimp fisherman in the area. And complicating the picture is a pair of sisters Joanne Dru and Marcia Henderson who fall for our heroes.At the time of Thunder Bay's production and release, offshore oil drilling was a big controversy. Not over the environmental impact, but over whether the states or the federal government would get the revenue. The states involved with offshore oil fought for and got a 12 mile limit in terms of taxable revenue. Pocketed a lot of tax dollars because of it.Thunder Bay mentions the environmental impact as it relates to the shrimp fisherman. But it carefully skirts any conclusions either for the oil men or the fishermen. We've seen enough oil accidents at sea since Thunder Bay was made to know what the impact is. We also know how important oil is to our nation and the world. Anthony Mann as director provides us no answers. My guess is he was primarily interested in making a film that entertains more than enlightens. The cast is a gifted group of players who do just that. Gilbert Roland as one of the leaders of the shrimp fishermen is good as he always is.One thing that does surprise me. Dan Duryea has not always played bad guys in film, but he usually does. Usually when he gets involved with a woman she regrets it. I was expecting him to walk out on Marcia Henderson and do her wrong through out the film. Was I ever surprised when he actually marries her. Also in a key scene he gives Stewart a strong does of common sense medicine at a time he sorely needed it and proves to be someone who saves the situation for the oilmen at a critical point.You won't find any thought provoking questions raised about oil or the environment here, but Thunder Bay is decent entertainment if wishy washy on the issues.

From the director/actor team that brought us many of the great westerns of the 1950s, Thunder Bay teams Anthony Mann and James Stewart in what could easily be called a modern western. Stewart plays Steve Martin, an oil driller with a dream. His goal is to build an off-shore drill in the Gulf of Mexico. He receives the financial backing of oil tycoon Kermit MacDonald (Jay C. Flippen) and begins work.He sets out from a small fishing community that has been on hard times lately. They are leery of Stewart and his partner Johnny Gambi (Dan Duryea) at first, and become more so when the two start blasting in the middle of their shrimp beds. To make matters worse, Johnny falls in love with a local girl who is already engaged to one of the fisherman.Tension builds as the fishermen continue to have bad luck and the drill progresses. One disgruntled fisherman attempts to blow up the drill platform during the middle of a hurricane. Stewart, who had stayed on the platform to see how it would withstand the storm, catches him just in time to save it. A slippery fight ensues, during which the fisherman and Stewart fight not only each other, but a constant onslaught of water. As in the typical western, the hero (Stewart) wins and the villain dies.The fight scene is one that dates the film. The special effects seem very archaic in wake of such recent films as Titanic and The Perfect Storm. Other than that, the film presents an interesting story on what, at the time, was a very taboo subject.Aware of the controversy the film would stir-up, the film was carefully crafted to prove that two industries could exist side by side. As the fishermen resolve to destroy the well, Stewart discovers that his well has uncovered a new bed a shrimp. When the fishermen learn this they decide that the well is indeed an asset to their community and all live happily ever after.As usual Stewart steals the film. His acting is subtle and believable. The simple story did not push him as an actor, but he is properly harried, tough and laconic. Overall this is an interesting film, enhanced by the beautiful location shots filmed in Technicolor by William Daniels. Truly, an intriguing and different take on the western genre.