Debuting director Michael Cimino obtains superior performances from Clint Eastwood, George Kennedy, Geoffrey Lewis and especially Jeff Bridges.
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted: 21
Fresh: 18
Rotten:3
Average Rating: 6.7/10
Runtime: 1 hr 57 mins
Genre: Westerns
Synopsis: Michael Cimino's first picture follows in the tradition of such films as BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID, telling the tale of two outlaws, their friendship, and a robbery that goes awry. The... Michael Cimino's first picture follows in the tradition of such films as BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID, telling the tale of two outlaws, their friendship, and a robbery that goes awry. The story begins with Eastwood's character, an ex-con and present-day cowtown preacher who is hiding away from his old partners from a previous caper whose loot was hidden and has since disappeared. Eastwood's partners believe he has conned them out of their share, so Eastwood finds himself reluctantly teaming up with Jeff Bridges's character, a young drifter who can help him escape. The escape fails, Eastwood convinces his pursuers of his innocence, and the five men find themselves contemplating a repeat caper performance, masterminded by Bridges. Detached from the world and yet desperate for friendship, the characters of THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTFOOT are a clear precursor to Cimino's seminal film, THE DEER HUNTER. [More]
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges, George Kennedy, Geoffrey Lewis
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges, George Kennedy, Geoffrey Lewis, Catherine Bach, Gary Busey, Burton Gilliam, Jack Dodson
Director: Michael Cimino
Director: Michael Cimino
Producer: Robert Daley
Composer: Dee Barton
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Reviews for Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
Eastwood is in good, if not great form, Bridges steals the whole show, and Cimino displays a sense of unpretentious fun and appealing grasp of character that should have held him in good stead for a lengthy career. It didn't.
A multifaceted caper film told in fine detail with richly developed characters.
Cimino is so into making his images glow that he forgets to make the film move.
The likeable result, made for and with the personnel of Eastwood's Malpaso Company, looks like a throwaway Eastwood vehicle.
...a simple story with interesting characters, told in a laid-back fashion.
Eastwood's best non-western movie and Cimino's great debut as writer-director.
Remember seeing this as a kid and loving it. I don't know if it still holds up, but I loved it way back when.
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