Home
search
more | tips
SHOP THUNDER ROAD
Amazon.com Amazon.ca Amazon.co.uk Amazon.de Amazon.fr
IMDb > Thunder Road (1958)
Poster Not Submitted
[Add to My Movies]
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglinestrailers and videospostersphoto gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Thunder Road (1958)

advertisement
Register or login to rate this title
User Rating: 6.7/10 (944 votes)
Photos (see all 5 | slideshow)

Overview

Director:
Arthur Ripley
Writers:
Robert Mitchum (story)
James Atlee Phillips (screenplay) ...
more
Release Date:
10 May 1958 (USA) more
Genre:
Crime | Drama | Thriller more
Tagline:
Raw And Rough As Today's Billion-Dollar Whiskey War!
Plot:
A veteran comes home from the Korean War to the mountains and takes over the family moonshining business... more | full synopsis (warning! may contain spoilers)
User Comments:
The film I love more

Cast

 (Complete credited cast)

Robert Mitchum ... Lucas Doolin
Gene Barry ... Troy Barrett, Treasury Agent

Jacques Aubuchon ... Carl Kogan
Keely Smith ... Francie Wymore
Trevor Bardette ... Vernon Doolin
Sandra Knight ... Roxanna Ledbetter
James Mitchum ... Robin Doolin
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
92 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
USA:Approved (PCA #18919) (original rating) | Norway:16 | USA:PG (re-rating) (1975) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15
MOVIEmeter: ?
^ 24% since last week why?

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The 1950 Ford that Robert Mitchum drives in the beginning is actually a 1951 Ford with a 1950 grille, and the chrome windsplits removed. The give-away: the V-8 emblems, the "Ford Custom" emblems on the front fenders, the dashboard, and steering wheel. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Luke and Francie are sitting on a sofa, he has his right arm around her shoulder. In close-up her right hand is up, caressing his hand; after the cut to mid-shot, her right hand is holding a drink. more
Quotes:
Vernon Doolin: [referring to Niles Penlands being ambushed] So it begins. Saw a corpse bird the other day, hadn't seen one in years, shoulda known it was an ill omen. more
Movie Connections:
Edited into They Saved Hitler's Brain (1963) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
Whipporwill more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
18 out of 19 people found the following comment useful:-
The film I love, 25 June 2004
Author: kongrragnar from Minneapolis, Mn

Filmed in 1957, and sent to theaters in 1958, it had the 'Rods' of the day. This was a film of youth, and wild rebels. In some ways, you had to be born then to understand it. I saw it for the first time at the Flying Cloud Drive-In. Siting in a 1951 Ford Custom with a full race flat head engine, and my best girl at my side. Three duces, Lakers, and overdrive trans. The car, not her. To this day I can close my eyes and hear the the high pitch voice singing the theme song. "Let me tell the story, I can tell it well, 'bout the whipperwill that drove...", well you know the song if you have seen the movie.

Imagine a drive-in filled with 'Rods'. On the screen you see a 50 Ford, with its lights out, driving down a dark country road. A 57 Chev pulls out from a hiding spot and gives chase. All heck lets loose, not on the screen, but in the drive-in. Fifty 'Rods' rev their 'Mills' with the Lakers open. Flames shoot from the pipes, and the noise pounds in your guts. Outside the drive-in 20 cops are waiting for the movie to end, and play time to start. Have this picture in your mind? That's the way it was back then. The movie showed a 50 Ford front clip on a 51 Ford. The inside view of the car shows a 51 dash. I spotted that when I first viewed the movie. The 57 Ford, that Bob drove later in the movie, had a 312 supercharged engine. I know that engine well. I had to get one after I saw the movie. Oh, and the car to go with it. Bootleging is not a southern exclusive. I grew up in a small town in Minnesota, and we had 'shiners, and 'runners here. Minnesota 13 was the 'shine of the Volstead Days. Sorry, I forgot what this is all about, and no, I will not say if I did any of that. All my friends knew the song by heart, and we would sing it all the time. Bad guys drove Chev (Feds) and the good guys (Runners) drove Fords.

Simple, plain, and all 1950's. Lots of bad acting. Lots of continuity errors. Lots of hot cars. Lots of great action shots. A great title song. Look, if you were not born then, you have to see what Grandpa and Grandma made out to when they were young. No Drive-ins are around today. My 2002 Thunderbird has computers that limit my speed. I still know all the words to the song. I can still close my eyes and hear the roar of the 'mills', and see the flames from the Lakers, today. I still wish it was 'way back then', and 20 cops were waiting to play. "And when his engine roared, they called the highway Thunder Road"

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this title with other users on IMDb message board for Thunder Road (1958)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Editing goofs in Thunder Road jenny-565
Widescreen version? biker45
Questions About This Movie bookrefuge
THUNDER ROAD taylorvnsa
THUNDER ROAD taylorvnsa
A few more goofs sanlyn
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Midnight Court Joshua Tree Radar Patrol vs. Spy King G-Men Never Forget Bullitt
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Crime section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.