Character Relationship Map: Thunder Afloat

Characters

• John Thorson (played by Wallace Beery) — protagonist

  Rival tugboat owner and widower who enlists in the Navy during WWI. Initially an insubordinate ensign commanding a sub chaser, he is later demoted and joins a decoy fishing schooner, where he successf...

• 'Rocky' Blake (played by Chester Morris) — protagonist

  Tugboat owner and rival to Thorson who denies sabotaging his boat. Enlists in the Navy and rises to lieutenant, commanding the sub chaser fleet. He mentors the insubordinate Thorson, rescues him after...

• Susan Thorson (played by Virginia Grey) — supporting

  Adult daughter of Pop Thorson who lives on his tugboat. She harbors conflicting feelings for her father and his rival Blake. She helps trick Blake into enlisting, accompanies her father when he plans...

• District Commander (played by Douglass Dumbrille) — supporting
• U-Boat Petty Officer (played by Hans Joby) — supporting
• U-Boat Captain (played by Carl Esmond) — supporting

  Commanding officer of a German submarine that attacks Thorson's tug and later a decoy fishing schooner. He initially tricks Thorson into breaking off an attack and later boards the decoy ship, taking...

• 'Cap' Finch (played by Clem Bevans) — supporting
• Fisherman (uncredited) (played by Joseph E. Bernard) — minor
• Ensign Dyer (played by Henry Hunter) — minor
• Recruiting Officer (uncredited) (played by Leon Ames) — minor
• Recruiting Officer (uncredited) (played by Wade Boteler) — minor
• Fisherman (uncredited) (played by Al Bridge) — minor
• Radio Operator (uncredited) (played by Don Castle) — minor
• Fisherman (uncredited) (played by Arthur Belasco) — minor
• Listener (uncredited) (played by Rand Brooks) — minor
• Admiral Girard (played by Jonathan Hale) — minor
• Sailor (uncredited) (played by Jack Chapin) — minor
• Milo (played by John Qualen) — supporting
• Ives (played by Regis Toomey) — supporting
• Admiral Ross (played by Addison Richards) — supporting

Story Analysis

A stubborn tugboat captain navigates wartime naval duty, clashing with a former rival before achieving redemption through submarine warfare.

Plot Progression

1. Rivalry and Sabotage — Pop Thorson and Rocky Blake clash over maritime contracts in a New England port. Thorson accuses Blake of sabotaging his tugboat, while Susan tries to mediate their feud. The tension escalates as the...
2. Naval Commission and Conflict — Thorson and Susan trick Blake into enlisting, securing a military contract for Thorson. After his tug is sunk by a German submarine, Thorson joins the Navy and is immediately placed under Blake's comm...
3. Demotion and Decoy Mission — Thorson's insubordination leads to a court-martial and demotion, pushing him toward desertion. Blake intervenes, assigning Thorson to a disguised decoy ship designed to lure and signal enemy submarine...
4. Submarine Siege and Rescue — The decoy ship is boarded by Germans, but Thorson signals Blake's fleet from inside the captured submarine. Blake launches a risky assault, damaging the U-boat and ultimately securing Thorson's surviv...