Thunder Road

Starring:Robert Mitchum, Gene Barry, Jacques Aubuchon, Keely Smith, Trevor Bardette, Sandra Knight, James Mitchum, Dale Van Sickel, Peter Breck, Jerry Hardin, Charles Perry, Randy Sparks, Betsy Holt, Mitch Ryan, Francis Koon, Charles Hendrix, Robert Porterfield, Peter Hornsby
Director: Arthur Ripley
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com essential video

The preeminent moonshine movie, the 1958 Thunder Road stars Robert Mitchum as a backwoods bootlegger in Tennessee, getting squeezed by both the federal government and organized crime. Mitchum had a big hand in creating this cult favorite (which reportedly played in drive-ins around America for years), writing the script, producing the movie, and even composing and singing the movie's theme song, which became a radio hit. Directed by longtime cinematographer Arthur Ripley, the film is strong on characters and action, the latter fulfilled by a memorable chase scene at the end. Mitchum was at an artistic peak at this point in his career, and this is really an indispensable movie for his fans. --Tom Keogh

Description

Transporting illegal alcohol over dark two-lane mountain highways, Lucas Doolin (Robert Mitchum) races wildly through the night, crashing road blocks and outrunning ambushes, defying anyone who triesto stop him. A man has a right to do anything, he says, including making whiskey, as long as he makes it on his own land. But when ruthless racketeers muscle in on Doolin's territoryand kill one of his men in the processthe Kentucky bootlegger declares war, fiercely determined to maintainhis hard-won business and independence...even if it costs him his life. Boasting breathtaking auto chase scenes (The Film Daily) and a superb performance from Robert Mitchum, Thunder Road is breathtaking excitementthe most exhilarating road thriller of them all.

Customer Reviews:

The law they swore they'd get him, but the Devil got him first..........2007-04-26

Thunder Road is something of a disappointment, but one that's not without interest. Practically creating a whole genre and with it laying the groundwork for Burt Reynolds' career, it stars Robert Mitchum as a moonshine runner facing the wrath of both the Revenuers and a crime syndicate trying to muscle in on the Good Ole Boys trade. Both moonshiners and revenuers have codes of honour and believe, not without justification, that they're both representatives of the American way: there's no real malice between them, more a balance of nature approach that is threatened on both sides by Jacques Aubuchon's mobster. Despite the setup and the car chases along mountain roads, the film is surprisingly low-key - even the great title song gets an incredibly laid back rendition that's nowhere near as much fun as Mitchum's record version - yet at times its weaknesses almost seem strengths. Mitchum's interest in independent productions at the height of his career resulted in a few films that were distinctly rough around the edges, and at times this borders on the amateurish, filmed on real locations with poor acoustics and variable performances and feeling more like an authentic drive-in movie aimed at them thrill-crazy kids complete with Hillbilly rock soundtrack than the fatalistic noirs that made his reputation. Yet it's hard to dislike even if it doesn't quite live up to its potential.

The DVD transfer is variable - acceptable but with a few scenes that look even more rough and ready than probably intended. The only extra is the theatrical trailer, albeit without the original captions and titles.

History Flick.......2007-04-01

I bought a copy of Thunder Road to enjoy a look at early twentieth century film and the legend of Kingston Pike in Tennessee. This is a good story line with interesting characters. I couldn't help wondering how long it would take a moonshiner to get his car repaired today compared to the overnight jobs that the Mitchum character got in the film. After Dukes of Hazard, this look at moonshiners with a more serious tone made for good balance.

never thought I would find it.......2007-03-08

Thunder Road starring Robert Mitchum was a movie that I had tried to find for many years without any luck. Amazon was there for me....great movie I can now enjoy at anytime.

Oldie but goodie.......2007-02-24

I saw this at the movies when I was young, and always enjoyed it. I got this for my husband because he loves the car racing in it. It was the original Nascar!

Excellent .......2007-02-23

Very fast shipping, and Product just as described
I will do business with again.

G Caudill in VA

Average customer rating:

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