Thunder in the Sun

Thunder in the Sun
Directed by	Russell Rouse
Produced by	Clarence Greene
Written by	Russell Rouse Stewart Stern
Based on	story by James Hill Guy Trosper
Starring	Susan Hayward Jeff Chandler
Music by	Cyril J. Mockridge
Cinematography	Stanley Cortez
Edited by	Chester W. Schaeffer
Production company	Seven Arts Productions Carrolton Inc
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	April 8, 1959
Running time	81 min.
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$1.8 million (est. US/ Canada rentals)

Thunder in the Sun is a 1959 western film directed by Russell Rouse starring Susan Hayward and Jeff Chandler.

The film shows a family of French Basque immigrants pioneering into the Wild West while carrying their ancestral vines. Hard drinking trail driver Lon Bennett is hired to lead them and he falls for the spirited Gabrielle Dauphin.

The film is infamous among Basques for its misunderstandings of Basque customs, such as the use of the xistera (a device of the jai alai sport) as a weapon or shouting irrintzi ululations as meaningful communication. Other commentators, though, have noted the well staged action scenes, the absorbing story, and the excellent cinematography. Which is a marvel since 90% of the lead actors scenes were shot in a studio with projected backgrounds.

The film was made by Seven Arts Productions and acquired by Paramount for distribution. It was the company's third film, after Gunrunners and Ten Seconds to Hell. It was known during filming as Between the Thunder and the Sun and The Gun and the Arrow.

Filming took place in August 1958 with location work in Mount Whitney.

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