Thunder Rock (1942): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1942, Thunder Rock is a fantasy, drama and war film directed by Roy Boulting, running about 112 minutes. “Strange Emotion Stir the Pulse...when LOVE and PASSION clash in the world's loneliest outpost!” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. David Charleston, once a world renowned journalist, now lives alone maintaining the Thunder Rock lighthouse in Lake Michigan. He doesn't cash his paychecks and has no contact other than the monthly inspector's visit. When alone, he imagines conversations with those who died when a 19th century packet ship with some 60 passengers sank. He imagines their lives, their problems, their fears and their hopes. In one of these conversations, he recalls his own efforts in the 1930s when he desperately tried to convince first his editors, and later the public, of the dangers of fascism and the inevitability of war. Few would listen. One of the passengers, a spinster, tells her story of seeking independence from a world dominated by men. There's also the case of a doctor who is banished for using unacceptable methods. David has given up on life, but the imaginary passengers give him hope for the future.

Who’s in it. Thunder Rock stars Michael Redgrave as David Charleston, Barbara Mullen as Ellen Kirby, James Mason as Streeter and Lilli Palmer as Melanie Kurtz, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.4/10, Thunder Rock has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Thunder Rock page.

If you liked it. Fans of Thunder Rock tend to enjoy The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Green Mile, Spirited Away and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.