Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)

What makes it different from others?

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

Clint Eastwood takes a radical departure from his usual action-oriented fare with this utterly disarming character-driven delight in which Eastwood portrays laid-back former thief Thunderbolt with his trademark low-key self -assurance, but basically lets Jeff Bridges reign supreme with his wonderfully cocky and dynamic turn as brash drifter Lightfoot, who convinces Thunderbolt to join forces with several old cohorts for one last big daring bank heist. Writer/director Michael Cimino not only derives a lot of charm and warmth from the friendship between Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, but also makes excellent use of the wide open prairie locations, offers a wealth of quirky moments and colorful oddball folks, stages the exciting last reel action with rip-roaring gusto, and astutely captures the despair, loneliness, and restlessness lurking right underneath the deceptively cheerful surface of heartland America. Eastwood and Bridges display a natural and relaxed chemistry in the lead roles. George Kennedy likewise excels as the volatile Red Leary while Geoffrey Lewis is typically sturdy as the bumbling Eddie Goody. Moreover, there are sharp cameos from Catherine Bach as the sassy Melody, Gary Busey as amiable good ol' boy Curly, Bill McKinney as a crazy motorist who gives Thunderbolt and Lightfoot a lift, Dub Taylor as a crusty gas station attendant, and Gregory Walcott as a smarmy used car salesman. Frank Stanley's breathtaking widescreen cinematography provides plenty of striking visuals. The surprise tragic ending packs a devastating punch. An offbeat and enjoyable treat.

This is not so much a review as a question. I found the movie to be a lot of fun, fast paced, well acted, great scenery, direction, and reasonably put together. My question is: why was this movie the effective end of June Fairchild's career? Sure, she had a couple of nowhere roles in stupid movies, but this was her high point. Cathy Bach, on the other hand did very well after this. Why? June's acting was very good, she had a much bigger part, well, than almost any of the other bit players. Further, she cute as the dickens. She was likable, and she screamed beautifully. This lady had a sad end, and it seems that everyone just wrote her off. Could something have happened on the set that made her an outcast? No doubt it will never be known, but it should be said by someone that she played a good part and is NOT forgotten.

It's 2017 and I had never seen Thunderbolt and Lightfoot. I was too young to see a R-rated film I believe was the likely reason I didn't see it when it came out. Why I waited so long was probably because it seem to never be on TV or whatever. I decided now because I saw a recent interview with Jeff Bridges where he was asked to name his seven nominations for a Oscar. Thunderbolt and Lightfoot came up and the catchy name combined with Clint Eastwood and Bridges beckoned.This is a good character building movie. The story isn't anything nearly as special as the characters of Thunderbolt and Lightfoot. Even early on in Eastwood's movie career he had a good feel for what kind of characters he'd be able to breathe life into. New comber Jeff Bridges was an inspired second banana as Lightfoot. Within minutes of meeting both Thunderbolt and Lightfoot the viewer is "in". Director/writer Michael Cimino creates a perfectly sparse background of a time not yet past a vital bit of that wild west Americana. Combined with the two central characters the script suddenly begins to take hold. These are men thrown together with a helping of that wildness and a bit of desperation. The desperation is courtesy of Lightfoot's loose canon devil may care attitude and Thunderbolt's old criminal buddy's ire. It's a nice setup for a road movie with two memorable characters.There may have been better heist flicks, but the pairing of Eastwood and Bridges is pure cinematic gold. Their tenuous attachment grows a stronger bond between the two and they're off to attempt to evade the George Kennedy character and recover Thunderbolt's big score which was never located by the law. As they can't beat 'em, regarding Kennedy's Leary bad guy with sidekick criminal crony Goody played by Eastwood regular Geoffrey Lewis, they end up joining 'em for a repeat big score performance. Yeah it's a stretched long shot but by this time you can't stop watching the two central figures who make an uneasy truce for one final big job. The writing gets better as the "big job" unfolds and as a hooked viewer you seriously root for Thunderbolt and Lightfoot to get that rainbow they're chasing. The plan goes well save for the alibi to which a small detail proves to be crucial. As criminals will do the heat brings out the worst and when it seems the dream is all but lost something providential occurs. The rainbow reappears right up until the dark cloud ending wraps it all up in a kind of moving finale. It raises this modest movie which fits the two great characters it birthed. A fine film that doesn't over- reach.. I'm glad I corrected my omission of almost missing this. If, like me, you have yet to see this film I give it my full recommendation. If you have seen it and it's been a while revisit how a simple story with fantastically realized characters can rise above it's humbleness. I see why Bridges was nominated for the Oscar for supporting actor. It presages a career, along with Eastwood's, that kept bringing us cinematic gold. Rainbow found!

Clint Eastwood & Jeff Bridges star in this peculiar crime/road picture as they portray a veteran crook/thief and his willing/free-spirited young partner who reunite with Clint's(Thunderbolt) old partners(George Kennedy & Geoffrey Lewis) to finish a heist job they had committed seven years earlier, but were unable to collect the loot. They formulate an elaborate plan to get it back from where it is still hidden, but of course they can't quite trust each other either as personalities clash.I say peculiar because(despite the good actors) three of the lead characters are unsympathetic crooks, and the fourth seems too immature to care about. Being quite profane at times doesn't help matters either, nor does the over length. Michael Cimino directs in his debut.