Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) Part 1

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot is a 1974 American crime film written and directed by Michael Cimino and starring Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges, George Kennedy, and Geoffrey Lewis.
Stan Kamen of the William Morris Agency came up with the initial idea for Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, but gave it to Michael Cimino to write on speculation with Eastwood in mind. Due to the great financial success of Dennis Hopper's Easy Rider, road pictures were a popular genre in Hollywood. Eastwood himself wanted to do a road movie. Agent Leonard Hirshan brought the script to Eastwood from fellow agent Kamen. Reading it, Eastwood liked it so much that he originally intended to direct it himself. However, on meeting Cimino, he decided to give him the directing job instead, giving Cimino his big break and feature-film directorial debut. Cimino later said that if it was not for Eastwood, he never would have had a career in film. Cimino patterned Thunderbolt after one of his favorite '50s films, Captain Lightfoot.
Eastwood did not like to do any more than three takes on any given shot, according to co-star Bridges. "I would always go to Mike and say 'I think I can do one more. I got an idea.' And Mike would say 'I gotta ask Clint.' Clint would say, 'Give the kid a shot.'" Charles Okun, first assistant director on Thunderbolt, added, "Clint was the only guy that ever said 'no'. Michael said 'OK, let's go for another take.' It was take four, Clint would say 'No we got enough. We got it.' [...] And if [Cimino] took too long to get it ready, [Clint] would say, 'It's good, let's go.'"
Given that for Eastwood this was an offbeat film, Franks Wells of Warner Brothers refused to back Malpaso in the production, leaving him to turn to United Artists and producer Bob Daley. Eastwood was unhappy with the way that United Artists had produced the film and swore "he would never work for United Artists again", and the scheduled two film deal between Malpaso and UA was cancelled.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
• Michael Cimino
• Clint Eastwood
• Jeff Bridges
• George Kennedy
• Geoffrey Lewis
• Gary (Garey) Busey
• Catherine Bach
• Jack Dodson
• Dub Taylor
• Bill McKinney
• Robert Daley
• Paul Williams
• Dee Barton
• Frank Stanley
• Ferris Webster
• Malpaso
• Where Do I Go From Here?
• Captain Lightfoot
• bank robbery
• road movie
• Gran Torino
• True Grit
• Mystic River
• The Big Lebowski

[AmbassadorJediSpock]

I love that song

"If I knew the way I'd go back home, but the countryside has changed so much I'd surely end up lost. Half-remembered names and faces so far in the past. On the other side of the bridges that were burned once they were crossed. Tell me where, where does a fool go when there's no-one left to listen"

[thepirateboy81]

@AmbassadorJediSpock Somewhere South of Heaven.

[AmbassadorJediSpock]

@thepirateboy81 Thanks, also, I love the guitar at 00:36

[Tusc9969]

This is one of my favorite on the road buddy films next to "midnight cowboy" and "scarecrow"

[clikityclak]

This is a movie you really have to watch twice to understand all the small jokes haha

[ltloganwaffle0]

Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges nuff said

[Jazzspace38]

One of the best films in either filmography of Jeff Bridges and Clint Eastwood!

Another terrific buddy film from the same era is 'Harold & Maude'.

Blu-rays take a while to be prepared for market. Older titles are often ignored by the studios unless they have explicit classic status like 'The Godfather' or 'Taxi Driver'.

[Jazzspace38]

@SidJustice1 A lot of great 1970's films are not seen on cable because they mostly showcase current cinema. I agree re this film. The studios also spend a lot to make true HD transfers of older titles. This is a great film, but not as marketable as later films by both stars!

[cliffworks4321]

I love this flick on a different level, in 2006 in I Tokyo was assaulted kicked in the head repeatedly, spent years recovering, can never fully, fucking Jap cops and authorities protected one of their own from being justly punished, now i will end my life getting revenge...

[bornwithoutwarning]

@thepirateboy81 Do you know who that is playing the acoustic guitar at the beginning?

[SalemStorm]

Idaho

[corvettegeorge1979]

So let each of us study to improve ourselves to God through Jesus Christ.As under the redeemers gentle reign the wolf shall dwell with the lamb and the leopard shall lie down with the kid. True Christian like his devine master is of a meek and forgiving temper, he owes no man anything but to love one another he overcomes evil with good.Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and good will towards men. Amen.

[clikityclak]

That grunt from that guy jumping over the fence is priceless