weezeralfalfa
Beats me why this Technicolor film was titled "Thunder Bay", which is the name of a Canadian city on Lake Superior and the associated little 'bay', with no obvious connection to this story about the first distant offshore oil rig emplaced in the Gulf of Mexico. Perhaps refers to the often stormy relations between the principals? There was some thunder associated with the very dramatic sequence when a hurricane hit soon after the rig was finished, but before oil was struck. Not only was Steve(James Stewart) alone on the rig, except for Stella(Joanne Dru), a shrimp boat carrying jilted lover Phillipe approached and a bundle of dynamite sticks was attached to the rig, hoping to blow it up and blame it on the storm. While waves dashed over them and the fuse burned, they fought on the open platform until Phillipe fell into the sea. Beats me why the boat wasn't pitched into the rig, probably wrecking both. Steve's assumption that Stella was in on the sabotage plan also makes no sense. If successful, she would have died along with Steve! Steve stays mad at her after this until the finale, when assured that she was not involved.This was just one of a whole series of crises that threatened to bring an end to this pioneering endeavor. Twice , lynching mobs of local fishermen threatened Steve and his workers. Incredibly, Steve dispersed the first mob by throwing sticks of dynamite near them! The resulting 'explosions' looked and sounded like flares rather than dynamite! The final confrontation, near the end, was dissipated by the serendipitous spectacle of a gusher, as the mob swarmed onto the rig platform, combined with news that the long sought 'golden shrimp' bed had been discovered around the drill site. This last facet comes across as an unlikely fabrication to placate the concern that oil production in the Gulf might have a severe negative effect on commercial fisheries. There is no such thing as a commercial 'golden' shrimp in the Gulf! Yes, big oil spills have since caused marine life devastation. However, oil rigs also encourage many forms of life, acting as artificial reefs, especially important where natural reefs have being dying out. We are presently confronted with the debate whether depleted rigs should be removed, or remain to promote sea life.This story has some historical credibility, in that it takes place in 1946-7, when the first oil rig far off the Gulf coast actually was emplaced. Most of the film was appropriately shot on the LA Gulf coast. Stewart plays a Horatio Alger-like figure, who along with his faithful partner, played by Dan Duryea, begin the film penniless, armed only with a model of how to build an offshore rig that could withstand hurricanes. They have to convince not only the beleaguered president of the oil company(played by Jay Flippen), but also the local fishermen, that their scheme is worth the risk. The former proves much easier than the latter.A secondary aspect of the plot involves two beautiful flirtatious Nordic-looking daughters of an elderly Latino fisherman, who have a strong hankering to leave this little backwater village, and find Stewart's and Duryea's characters convenient prospects toward a more exciting, affluent, life. Unfortunately, papa doesn't like losing his daughters to these outsiders, expecting that they would marry fishermen like himself. Joanne Dru's character(Stella) has baggage of a hurtful 3 year romance in Chicago. She and Steve spend the film alternatively hating and loving each other. Marcia Henderson, playing Stella's more naïve younger sister, develops a more stable relationship with Duryea. But, we suspect he is not really a right man for her: too old and a potential drunkard. Duryea mostly played villains, and his role as Stewart's sometimes disapproving sidekick doesn't feel quite comfortable.If you like stories about oil discoveries, you might check out some of the following films I am familiar with: "Boom Town"(1940), "Flowing Gold"(1940), Tulsa(1949) and "Joe Dakota"(1957). Of these, "Tulsa" has the most similar plot to the present film. It's a war between cattle and oil interests. In place of poor Cajun fishermen, the oil interests have to deal with Native Americans. In the end, its decided that cattle and oil, like shrimp and oil, can get along well enough. Another film the present film reminds me of is the 1936 "Trail of the Lonesome Pine"(also shot in Technicolor, believe it or not!). Fred Mac Murray takes on Stewart's role, as the representative of a coal company that wants to mine the coal on land belonging to warring backwoodsmen. Again, there is a bittersweet romance with one of the 'native' girls.
dbdumonteil
Anthony Mann made five movies with James Stewart;my favorites are "the naked spur "and mainly "the man from Laramie" ."Thunder bay " is,IMHO ,the least interesting of the lot.Conceived to be shown on a wide screen for it contains many spectacular scenes (particularly the finale),much of it is lost on a tiny TV screen.Besides ,if James Stewart and Dan Duryea seem to be as thick as thieves ,you cannot say the same about the two love affairs.Joanne Dru is so cold there's no real chemistry between Steve and Stella .Like in "bend of the river" ,Mann shows some interest in economics :oil- drillers against shrimp fishermen,in this case.
Michael O'Keefe
Anthony Mann directs this drama based on a story by George W. George. An all-star cast keeps this film moving. Steve Martin(James Stewart)and his buddy Johnny Gambi(Dan Duryea)are wildcatters that have intentions of building an off-shore storm-proof oil rig off the shores of Port Felicity, Louisiana. There is strong resistance from the shrimpers led by Gilbert Roland. The shrimpers fear that the oil drilling will interfere with their livelihood. Joanne Dru and Marcia Henderson are headstrong beauties that provide love interest. Photography is crisp and vivid. Supporting cast includes: Jay C. Lippen, Robert Monet and Harry(Henry)Morgan. This adventure/drama was filmed in and near Morgan City, Louisiana.
bkoganbing
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.
