Search - Thunder Rock on DVD

Content Advisory: Suitable for Children Movie Release: 1942 Format: DVD SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Studio: Blue Jackel Members Wishing: 0 Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Psychological Drama

Robert Ardrey's theatrical semi-fantasy Thunder Rock was transformed in 1944 into one of the most successful British films of the year. Michael Redgrave stars as a disillusioned war correspondent, David Charleston, who shuts himself away from society by taking up residence in a Lake Michigan lighthouse. During one particularly stormy evening, Charleston's solitude is invaded by several strangers, all dressed in 19th century costume. It develops that these strangers are the ghosts of immigrants whose ship went down some 100 years earlier. Through their optimistic example, Charleston renews his own spirits and gives the world a second chance. When Thunder Rock threatens to get too ethereal for its own good, it is brought back to earth by the sardonic presence of James Mason, playing a live visitor to the lighthouse who spars both verbally and physically with the self-pitying Charleston. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Michael Redgrave - David Charleston
Barbara Mullen - Ellen Kirby
James Mason - Streeter
Lilli Palmer - Melanie Kurtz
Finlay Currie - Capt. Joshua

Roy Boulting's wartime British fantasy film Thunder Rock (1942) is likely to never show up in the United States, but it has appeared in England from Partner Entertainment in this surprisingly handsome-looking and sounding version. The packaging includes a disclaimer about the age and quality of the materials, but this movie looks perfectly fine, sharp, and clear, and with a very consistent and well-mastered soundtrack. The only complaint, as with other releases in this series, is that the programming requires one to go through a four-minute selection of trailers for other movies before being able to access the movie, off of a simple three-selection menu. The film itself looks splendid, obviously drawn from an excellent 35 mm source and a very clean audio track that has been digitized well, bringing out the majesty and the subtlety of Hans May's score. The 112-minute movie has been given 16 chapter markers, which are more than sufficient to delineate its key elements. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide