Thunder Bay

Although filmed in the standard 1.37-1 aspect ratio, this film was chosen by Universal-International as its first widescreen feature, accomplishing this by cropping the top and bottom and projecting it at 1.85-1 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.

Thunder Bay marked Universal Pictures' entry into the widescreen format craze of the day. Some contemporary reviewers complained that the sound, with its use of three speakers, was loud and distracting. Publicity materials also indicate that the picture was originally planned as a 3-D production.

The townspeople secure a restraining order from the state to stop the blasting in the Gulf of Mexico. Since the blasting is further than 3 miles from shore, the state would not have jurisdiction- these are Federal waters.

Opening credits prologue: LOUISIANA 1946

Referenced in Inside the Dream Factory (1995)