On 14 October 2021, I watched the road movie Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, a decidedly quirky but very enjoyable buddies/heist/comedy/action hybrid.
Directed and written by Michael Cimino (in his debut as a movie director), and released by United Artists in 1974, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot stars Clint Eastwood as bank robber Thunderbolt, on the run from two ex-collaborators – namely, the vengeful Red Leary (George Kennedy, in a particularly vicious role), and the more passive Eddie Goody (Geoffrey Lewis). However, he is rescued just in the nick of time by a youthful and somewhat goofy drifter named Lightfoot (Jeff Bridges, fittingly Oscar-nominated as Best Supporting Actor for this role, in which he excelled, out-performing even the seasoned Eastwood, at least imho).
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot soon bond as friends and become embroiled in various comedic situations, caused mostly by Lightfoot's zany attitude to life in general. Eventually, moreover, they make peace with a reluctant Leary and rather more enthusiastic Goody in order to commit a new heist, but things do not go to plan...at all.
BEWARE! SPOILER AHEAD:
I've often seen it in TV listings here in the UK, but until last October I'd only watched Thunderbolt and Lightfoot once before (about 35-40 years ago), although I did subsequently purchase the paperback novelization of it by Joe Millard, first published in 1974 to accompany the film's release, which was an enjoyable read. My reason for never having re-watched the film was the very likeable Lightfoot's truly tragic, undeserved denouement, which I hadn't been expecting at all when I'd originally viewed this movie, and which therefore left a lasting memory in my mind.
However, because I did now know how it ends and therefore what to expect, when I saw Thunderbolt and Lightfoot included in the UK TV listings again last October I decided to give this intriguing movie a very belated second viewing, and apart from the ending I was thoroughly captivated by it. I won’t say any more about the plot, because it has some very unusual – and humorous – twists and turns along the way, not least of all being what they employ to achieve their heist's outcome…
Even so, I must mention one classic clip, in which a thoroughly deranged redneck (played by Bill McKinney) gives hitch-hiking T & L a lift, only to do his best to murder them via a variety of crazy means before opening his car's boot (trunk) to reveal inside a host of live white rabbits that promptly hop out in all directions. And if you don't believe me, click here to watch this surreal scene in all its wacky weirdness!
Yes indeed, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot is certainly one of a kind, definitely offbeat but very entertaining, and well worth a watch, so be sure to click here to view an official (if somewhat less than picture-perfect quality) trailer for it on YouTube.
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I enjoyed the movie until 'Lightfoot' played by Jeff Bridges dies a somewhat slow death.
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