Plustown
A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.
Melanie Bouvet
The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.
Usamah Harvey
The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.
wes-connors
In backwoods Tennessee, slick cigarette smoker Robert Mitchum (as Lucas "Luke" Doolin) wins a car chase with federal agents. Fresh out of the Korean War, Mr. Mitchum illegally transports whiskey made in his father's still. As the story progresses, it appears those were bootleggers working for Mitchum's rival, not federal agents. A powerful whiskey racketeer wants to drive Mitchum's family out of business. Hold on, it may be that Mitchum isn't a veteran, after all, because Alcohol, Tobacco and Treasury Department leader Gene Barry (as Troy Barrett) later asks Mitchum's son why his father did not serve in the army. Wait, that's not Mitchum's son turning up his collar in high school, it's his brother James Mitchum (as Robin "Rob" Doolin). Mitchum wants his son out of the family business, which has been bootlegging, way back to their ancestors in Ireland..."Thunder Road" is a great title, especially for a "drive-in" movie. There are a lot of scenes where you can pretend you're actually "in" the on-screen car. No doubt, many guys sat there, spinning their steering wheels. With any luck, one's date got anxious and slide over in the seat, during the chase scenes. Other than that, this Mitchum production is dire. The star looks out of place as a "hardnosed hillbilly" (although "Thunder Road" certainly needed his name in the cast). Mitchum and some of his co-stars may have benefited from some rehearsal time, before facing the camera. The story could have been re-tooled to have the star be a more age appropriate WW II vet, who secretly fathered young Jim Mitchum with girlfriend Francie (contemporary singer Keely Smith). This would give the limp and stilted relationship between the elder Mitchum and Ms. Smith some life...Federal agent Gene Barry doesn't do much to warrant his second billing, but he's dependable. Other multi-TV series favorites Mitchell Ryan (in his first screen role, as Jethro "Jed" Moultrie) and Peter Breck (as Stacey Gouge) are likewise agreeable, early in their careers. Several sources state Elvis Presley wanted to accept the role played by Mitchum's son, but was prevented from doing so when his manager asked for an exorbitant salary. After 1956, it's difficult to believe Mr. Presley would accept a secondary role in this picture, and sing tunes co-written by Robert Mitchum. Perhaps his salary request was a polite way of turning the project down. Interestingly, Mitchum re-recorded his movie theme song and had a big hit record. "The Ballad of Thunder Road" never made the US top ten, but sold steadily enough to be considered one.**** Thunder Road (1958-05-10) Arthur Ripley ~ Robert Mitchum, James Mitchum, Gene Barry, Mitchell Ryan
bluesman-20
Thunder road. just the name brings back memories of being young. My dad's favourite movie is thunder road and he used to sing the song when I was young. He had the 45 of the ballad of Thunder road sung by Robert Mitchum. When the film was released on VHS My mom paid a $110. for it. the whole family sat down and was hooked and my dad was transported back to 1958. The film has a honest and touching quality about it. The people in it react as real people would.The story is simple and that's part of the charm.Lucas Doolin is home from the Korean War. Filled with a death wish. Luke drives his father's moonshine to the buyers. It's a dangerous job. the Mob is out to shut them down by any means needed. and the Tresury department is out to shut down the mob and the moonshiners. When drivers start getting killed and some drivers are arrested the pressure is on. only one driver is brave enough or reckless enough to keep running and that's Luke. Despite pressure from his mother and his father and his lover to quit. Luke just can't bring himself to quit. The recklessness of it gives him a thrill. Plus he doesn't like to be told what to do. When the mob boss contacts Luke and asks him to work for him Luke declines even though he knows it means a death sentence. When the Boss tells him if he can't get him then he'll get his brother Robin to drive. Luke beats the man and warns him. That No one will ever make a whisky runner out of his brother he'll kill the first man that tries. When one of Luke's cars is tagged as a whisky transport Luke sells it to a friend and buys a new car. When his friend dies in the old car the victim of a bomb meant for Luke he knows his time has run out. Trapped between the Mob and the G-Men Luke makes his last run and his last stand on Thunder Road. The Movie's influence is pretty far reaching Bruce Springsteen named one of his songs after it even tho he never saw the film. Steve Earle rewrote it as Copperhead Road his biggest hit song to date. And Burt Reynolds made a career out of his whisky runners in the 70's. And to this date it's been well remembered as the king of the drive in pictures. Tough gritty with some romance and a lot of action. The acting is decent. And Robert Mitchum can forever lay claim to the title of the king of cool after making this movie. This is the Movie that Steve Mcqueen could only dream of making !
jc-osms
Robert Mitchum - renaissance man? You better believe it as Bob besides. naturally doing the lead acting honours, is credited with the original story-line, cops a production credit and even co-writes the winsome "Whipoorwill" ballad which frequents the movie.The movie itself comes off like a contemporary "beat" novel set to film, an unglamorous story of moonshine whisky transporters living just outside the law with Mitchum's Luke Doolan's character as talismanic main driver, not part of any team, but somehow the lightning rod around whom the whole story sparks.While obviously low-budget, there's a good cast here who give the film an ensemble feel and if you can ignore the obvious process "driving in my car" shots, there are also some exciting car chases, particularly the concluding one which sees Doolan meet his demise.Mitchum even introduces us to his son James in a prominent acting role and while he, not unnaturally, seems too young to be his old man's kid brother, he certainly seems like a chip off the old block. I also like the actresses who respectively play Doolan's mother, not above dispensing some peremptory corporal punishment when Mitchum Junior steps out of line and also the girl singer who gets as close as anyone to getting under Mitchum's tough skin as love interest. No beauty and obviously contrasted with the prettier more youthful girl with a major crush on Mitchum, their "love" scenes (I'm stretching the term) come across with engaging naturalism and realism.Perhaps the film has a little too many sub-plots and characters for its own good and it takes some while to find its rhythm, but once it settles, it finds a kinetic energy which keeps you watching and draws you into its small world, inspiring genuine interest in the characters. I also just wonder if it inspired Bruce Springsteen's famous song of the same name, several years later...
thinker1691
In the back woods of Kentucky, Tennessee and Macon Georga, there is a tradition of making moonshine which dates back to when these towns were first founded. However, the fact that distilling alcohol is no longer illegal, most of the fun has been taken out of it. But back in 1958 a movie came on the silver screen which made its star a national icon and a household name. The movie was called " Thunder Road" and stars Robert Mitchum as 'cool driving' Lucas Doolin. His job in the film is transporting untaxed moonshine from one county to another. Although sought after by Treasury Agent Troy Barrett (Gene Barry) who plans to put all of the moonshine distillers out of business, it's a new criminal faction who becomes more dangerous than the law. The new organization, headed by Carl Kogan (Jacques Aubuchon) plans to take over Relow Valley by force and make the mountain people go back to raising Bumblebee Cotton. The night time, high speed chases along some of the hottest roads in the back woods, makes for exciting, shoot-em up, roll-over action and Mitchem is superb as the ex-army veteran, turned moonshine runner. Not to mention the movie's title song which he wrote and later became a radio hit. Robert Mitchum's on screen persona is what makes this 50's film a true Classic. ****
