Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)

Director:

Michael Cimino

Writer:

Michael Cimino (written by)

Release Date:

2 September 1974 (Sweden)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Thunderbolt... the man with the reputation. Lightfoot... the kid who's about to make one!

Plot:

With the help of an irreverent young sidekick, a bank robber gets his old gang back together to organize a daring new heist.

Plot Keywords:

Heist | Nudity | Carjacking | Female Frontal Nudity | Hidden Money

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Clint Eastwood	...	John "Thunderbolt" Doherty
Jeff Bridges	...	Lightfoot
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Eddie Goody
Catherine Bach	...	Melody
Gary Busey	...	Curly (as Garey Busey)
Jack Dodson	...	Vault Manager, Montana Armor
Gene Elman	...	Tourist at Schoolhouse
Burton Gilliam	...	Welder
Roy Jenson	...	Dunlop
Claudia Lennear	...	Secretary
Bill McKinney	...	Crazy Driver
Vic Tayback	...	Mario Pinski, Contractor
Dub Taylor	...	Station Attendant
Gregory Walcott	...	Used Car Salesman
Erica Hagen	...	Waitress
Alvin Childress	...	Janitor in Department Store
Virginia Baker	...	Woman at Station
Stuart Nisbet	...	Arnold, Man at Station
Irene K. Cooper	...	Cashier
Cliff Emmich	...	Fat Man at Telegraph Office
June Fairchild	...	Gloria
Ted Foulkes	...	Young Boy
Leslie Oliver	...	Teenager
Mark Montgomery	...	Teenager
Karen Lamm	...	Girl on Motorcycle
Luanne Roberts	...	Suburban Housewife
Lila Teigh	...	Tourist at Schoolhouse
George Kennedy	...	Red Leary
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Chow	...	Kung-Fu Master (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Cimino

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Michael Cimino		written by

Produced by
Robert Daley	....	producer

Original Music by
Dee Barton

Cinematography by
Frank Stanley

Film Editing by
Ferris Webster

Casting by
Patricia Mock

Art Direction by
Tambi Larsen

Set Decoration by
James L. Berkey		(as James Berkey)

Makeup Department
Kathryn Blondell	....	hair stylist
Joe McKinney	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Abby Singer	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Hamburger	....	second assistant director
Charles Okun	....	first assistant director
Arne Schmidt	....	second assistant director
Paul J. Crossey	....	dga trainee (uncredited)

Art Department
Edward Aiona	....	property master

Sound Department
Bert Hallberg	....	sound
Richard Portman	....	dubbing mixer
Keith Stafford	....	sound editor
Norman Webster	....	sound

Special Effects by
Sass Bedig	....	special effects

Stunts
Buddy Van Horn	....	stunt coordinator
Loyd Catlett	....	stunt double: Jeff Bridges (uncredited)
Loyd Catlett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Carey Loftin	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Orrison	....	stunt double: Clint Eastwood (uncredited)
George Orrison	....	stunts (uncredited)
Buddy Van Horn	....	stunt double (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Barber	....	assistant camera
Wynn Bowles	....	gaffer
Don Christie	....	still photographer
William N. Clark	....	camera operator (as William Clarke)
Bud Howell	....	key grip (as Carmon Howell)
Cliff Ralke	....	assistant camera

Casting Department
Jack Kosslyn	....	additional location casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jules Melillo	....	key costumer
Glenn Wright	....	costume supervisor (as Glenn T. Wright)

Editorial Department
Rick Meyer	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Jerry Roberts	....	music editor
Dan Wallin	....	scoring mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Art Rimdzius	....	driver captain

Other crew
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer
Carey Loftin	....	special action sequences
Hope McLachlin	....	script supervisor
Carol Rydall	....	secretary to producer
Ralph M. Leo	....	production accountant (uncredited)
Dominic Santarone	....	caterer (uncredited)
Ruth Santarone	....	caterer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Malpaso Company, The

Distributors

• United Artists (1974) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1974) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Video (1982) (USA) (VHS)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1976) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• MGM Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Warner Home Video (????) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Panavision  filmed in
• Technicolor  color by

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Spain:18 | South Korea:18 | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 (re-rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Sweden:15 | UK:X (original rating) | USA:R | West Germany:16 | UK:18 (video rating) (1986) | Netherlands:16

Filming Locations:

Fort Benton, Montana, USA

Company:

Malpaso Company, The

Trivia:

When Michael Cimino was discussing the film with Jeff Bridges, he told Bridges it was his job to make Clint Eastwood laugh both on and off camera, and he did.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Thunderbolt is delivering his sermon in the church, his hair is heavily oiled but it appears quite dry when he emerges from the church, chased by Dunlop.

Quotes:

Red Leary: Does he know everything?
[At the same time]
John Doherty: No.
Lightfoot: Yes.

Movie Connections:

References Captain Lightfoot (1955)

Soundtrack:

Where Do I Go from Here

Somewhere between "The Man With No Name" and "Dirty Harry"....

"Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" is somewhat of a puzzle. It is an uneasy mixture of comedy, buddy road movie, and action film. While Eastwood's "spaghetti western" anti-hero was a "good" bad guy, "Thunderbolt" fails to elicit the same reaction. He plots a heist with bad guys, and were it not for Eastwood's support of the highly likable "Lightfoot", his character would be difficult to embrace as anything but just another criminal. In fact, Eastwood's "Thunderbolt" is completely overshadowed by Jeff Bridges endearing performance. The movie benefits from terrific supporting characters, great on location photography, and surprising comic moments. It is weakened by uneven transitions from comedy to drama, and about 10 minutes of car chases that could have been trimmed. - MERK