Thunder Road Reviews

• Moonshine, moonshine, to quench the devil's thirst

  
  By AK61LQI92GTCH on 2004-05-06
  IF you're a Robert Mitchum fan, it's almost impossible not to give THUNDER ROAD five stars. Heck, he even wrote and sang the title song.
  Mitchum plays Lucas Doolin, a Korean War vet turned Kentucky moonshine runner, a man with "a machine gunner's outlook and death don't faze him much." Times are hard along Thunder Road, the revenuers from Alcohol and Tobacco are stepping up the pressure and a big city operator, Carl Kogan (Jacques Aubuchon), is trying to buy out all the local moonshiners. Luke Doolin is the best runner out there, and when the revenuers & Kogan push, he pushes back.
  The revenuers, personified by Troy Barrett (Gene Barry), want to shut down things and especially want help in capturing the big fish Kogan. At one point he even (mistakenly) tries to intimate Luke into cooperating. "I reckon you can do all you say," the sleepy-eyed Luke says after listening to Barrett's threats. "But first you got to catch me. If you can." Kogan's threat is more direct and lethal. He wants to buy out and build his empire. In other words, the moonshiners belong to a loose cooperative and Kogan is threatening a hostile takeover. Barrett tries to win through persuasion; Kogan's goons use guns.
  THUNDER ROAD loves cars and driving. When we aren't underneath the souped-up '51 Ford's hood admiring the curves of its engine, we're speeding and chasing and crashing along the rural backroads. The chase scenes were probably pretty exciting for the time, although today they just look quaint and hokey.
  Mitchum is, as always, excellent. In an interesting bit of casting, and perhaps as a nod to the dubious paternity in some areas of rural America, Mitchum's son James is cast as his brother Robin Doolin. The less said about his acting the better, but they do look an awful lot alike. Another interesting and somewhat wooden choice is the golden-throated Keely Smith as Mitchum's big city's girlfriend Francie Wymore. As a bonus to her fans, she sings a couple of songs.
  THUNDER ROAD is a minor cult classic, most popular in the Appalachia region. I read an interesting bit of trivia from the IMDB site: Elvis Presley was originally offered the part of Robin Doolin, but Tom Parker put the kabosh on it. Now THAT would have been interesting.
  
  

• One of the All-Time Drive-In Movies

  
  By AKCF45Z2DV6TN on 2000-03-13
  Produced by, co-written by and starring Robert Mitchum, this is his film all the way -- and would still be if it had been a slick studion product, instead of the wildcat production it was.

  Seeing this film for the first time today, it must be almost impossible to imagine the impact it had (especially in the South) forty plus years ago; it's one of the first i know of that actually showed some understanding of what made those folks up there in the hills tick. I grew up in the Piedmont region of South Carolina and i was ten when this came out -- watching it today takes me right back to that time and that world.

  I know for a fact that this film was so popular that it was still playing regularly as a summer drive-in movie in the Carolinas ten and more years after its release.

  The story is a bit simplistic, the dialog ranges from adequate to banal, some of the performances just about adequately cover up otherwise blank places on the screen, there are continuity slipups (a scene set in Memphis is shot right in front of a store that says "Asheville's Finest", as i recall)... but none of that stuff MATTERS.

  It doesn't matter because the performance that counts -- Mitchum's (and to a lesser extent, Gene Barry as the Fed) is Right On The Money. It's a classic Mitchum performance -- Big Bob at his sleepy-eyed, existentialist-loner best... the man who doesn't really give a damn about much of anything till someone *makes* him care. Which is about equivalent to walking up to a sleeping pride of lions and kicking one in the teeth.

  The final, 3-way chase that leads to the inevitable tragic/mythic ending is a bit crude by the slick standards of today's action films, but, (especially for anyone who has driven the back roads and hills where they shot it and where it is set) it'll still get your adrenaline pumping. (Watch for the cigarette...)

  ((Of course, any review of "Thunder Road" must inevitably mention Mitchum's hit recording of the theme song from the film -- which i have to warn you is, unfortunately, *not* the version that was used on the print i remember, but which is worth looking for in and of itself.))

  A great film, just on its own terms, but there's a bit more:

  This, from what i have read, was the film that Mitchum ramrodded thru to save his career and prove he was still "bankable" -- that people would still go to his films -- after a brush with the law that would barely even be reported today, but was looked upon in the Hollywood of the mid-Fifties as a career-killer.

  Imagine what we would have missed between then and now if "Thunder Road" had flopped.
  
  

• Thunder Road a Great Movie

  
  By AQQNRHPMC0LPV on 2000-03-04
  The movie Robert Mitchum's " Thunder Road" released in 1958 is a classic in the truest sense it combines the culture of hotted up cars, rum runners and bonds to the strong family values that are part of life in America's south. The traditional values of the Appalachian mountain people, their strict code of silence, to even talk to a Federal man means ex-communication from their kin forever. Robert Mitchum wrote the story based on an actual accident and crash of a blockader. The accident occured just near Knoxville at Reardon, Tennessee in 1954 and is told through song " The Ballad of ThunderRoad " written and sung by Robert Mitchum. During the opening credits the song supports the movie theme. RM also wrote another song in the movie "The Whipporwill." . Mr. Robert Mitchum recorded the title song with RCA records remaining high on the charts during 1958 and it was re-released in 1962 staying in the charts for months, certainly a credit to this fine multi-skilled talented actor. The Cast The lead of course is Mr. Robert Mitchum playing the role of Lucas Doolin a returned Korean war hero living with his folks high in the Appalachian mountains and his kid brother played by RM's son, James Mitchum in his first role as Robin Doolin. They produce moonshine and RM transports it to distribution centres in Tennessee. The other notable talent is Mr Gene Barry playing ATF Federal Agent Troy Barrett. The balance between these two great actors is emense. There is only two scenes where they actually appear together, very powerful and played to a tee by both great veterans. Jacques Aubuchon plays Carl Kogan the fat greedy leader of the Mafia style organization that wants to take over Harlan County and the illegal whiskey it produces. Aubuchon moved onto other small roles and was notable in McHales Navy playing a corrupt fat island chief. Ms.Keely Smith plays Francie Wymore a cheap nite club singer down on her luck working in rundown dives and shine boxes, she is also the romantic end of the city where Doolan delivers his shine. Her acting is ordinary and stiff however with only a small part she is passable. The other actor worth noting is a very young Mr Mitch Ryan who plays Jed Moultrie, he is uncredited in this movie, however he has progressed very well over the years and shines in this small role. His career now has covered four decades and he appears in motion pictures and the successful TV sitcom Dharma and Greg playing Greg's wealthy father. Locations The locations are very well done the country scenes were taken around Translyvania County, North Caroline. The city scenes were shot in and around Asheville. The Story It is a simple tale about a family of moonshiners that have been making whiskey in them there hills for nee on 250 years, honest hard working tax evaders that have been romanced in this entertaining movie. The highlights The movie high points are the car chase scenes which were shot during the day and filtered over to give the appearance of nighttime. The chases are exciting and the final scene where RM's car blows all of its tyres through of the use of steel spike trays placed across the road by the bad guys. The rollover in his Ford Fairlane was executed very professionally by stunt driver / stunt director Gary Loftins. The other notable scenes staged by Gary Loftin was the drive through crash scene by RM whilst out running the bad guys. To finalise this review; The legend Robert Mitchum is great and never misses entertaining the viewer regardless how many times this movie is shown. It has a cult following and was mentioned in a Australian TV series some months back which centred around fast cars and illegal activity. Gone but not forgotten. Still some forty plus years the movie ThunderRoad is credited for the start of hot cars, teenage loving and just about everything that the movie stood for small people taking on Federal governments and organised crime. Thunder Road personified a feeling that existed in the World of the 1950's. Five Stars all of the Way.
  
  

• Possibly Robert Mitchum's finest; a must!

  
  By on 1999-01-28
  This black-and-white movie appeared in countless drive-in theatres in the south during the late 1950's and achieved a cult following as the definite favorite of the good old boy set. In fact, any understanding of southern males who are today between the ages of 45 and 60 is incomplete without considering this movie. Robert Mitchum is a moonshine runner, using souped-up Fords as tankers and fighting both the feds (Gene Barry plays the head fed) and organized crime. The attitude conveyed is that a man should be able to do what he wants on his own land, including make alcohol. Mitchum's movie makes a compelling case for this, one especially receptive to southerners and those who were then between ages 15 and 25.

  Thunder Road has thrilling car chase scenes and fine acting performances by Mitchum, Keely Smith, Gene Barry, and Jim Mitchum (Robert's son). A big song was also composed by Mitchum: "The Ballad of Thunder Road." This is one to get and watch over and over again, especially with a six=pack of beer, hot dogs, barbecue, and lots of serious drive-in grade junk (fun) food,

  This is for a good old time, so grab it and enjoy!
  
  

• Thunder was his engine, white lighting was his load...

  
  By A25ZVI6RH1KA5L on 2005-02-13
  The Amazon editorial review for Thunder Road (1958) begins "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." The preeminent moonshine movie? This would suggest to me a whole sub genre of films about moonshiners, and after a quick search, sure enough, there were any number of films dedicated to the making, selling, and distribution of illegal hooch including The Moonshine War (1970), I Walk the Line (1970), with Gregory Peck no less, White Lighting (1973), and Moonrunners (1975), to name a few (the genre appears to date back to the very early days of cinema, but eventually petered out in the late 70's). Directed by Arthur Ripley (The Chase), the film stars Robert Mitchum, who, incidentally, had a hand in writing and producing the film, and even composed some of the original music (although his version of `Thunder Road' isn't present in the film. Also appearing is Robert's oldest son James, Gene Barry (The War of the Worlds), Jacques Aubuchon (The Love God?), singer, and one time wife to Louis Prima, Keely Smith, and Sandra Knight (Frankenstein's Daughter, Tower of London). Very brief appearances to look for... Jerry Hardin, a character actor whom many may know as the original `Deep Throat' character in the X-Files Television series, and a very young Mitch Ryan, who more recently appeared on the television series `Dharma & Greg', as Greg's uptight father.
  
  Robert Mitchum is Lucas Doolin, a man who comes from a long line of whisky makers, located somewhere in the southeastern United States. Now, from what I can tell, there's about three or four things you can do in the south to make a living...pig farming, growing tobacco or cotton, or making that old timey sipping whiskey...problem with that last profession is it's illegal, and basically only because the gooberment can't tax it...there's also the factor that some of it may be made in such a way as to be impure and ultimately dangerous to consume, but that's relatively minor the whole lost revenue issue. Anyway, it's a family affair for Lucas as his father makes the shine, Lucas delivers the shine (generally termed transporter in the film), and Lucas' brother Robin (James Mitchum) is the mechanic, keeping Lucas' cars in tip top running order, even adding a few James Bondian modifications when necessary (his dream is to ride with his brother, but Lucas is dead set against his little brother becoming any more entangled in the business). Anyway, on top of having to deal with the gooberment types, there's also the emergence of Kogan (Aubuchon), a shady, yet smooth talking criminal with visions of unifying all the still owners and drivers under one organization, led by Kogan of course, even if it means using strong arm tactics and the occasional murder here or there. The stakes are high and chances of death higher, but if this film taught me anything it's hillbillies are a stubborn lot, and once the moonshinin' gets in their blood, they ain't a never going to stop.
  
  I did like this film a lot, and it seems I'm not alone. A long time staple of southern drive-ins, Thunder Road speaks not only to specific population, but deals in terms many can understand. The underlying theme seems to be the ingress of a gooberment determined to take what it believes to be its' share, and an individual's right to do as he pleases on his own land, especially if it's particular trade passed down from generation to generation. The main theme is a small group of whiskey makers and their unwillingness to acquiesce to outside forces, regardless of the consequences (actually, after the demise of a few `transporters', the small band decides to suspend operations until the heat dies down). The film does have its' share of problems (continuity flubs, poor acting, etc.), but the production ultimately overcomes these issues solely based on Mitchum Sr.'s performance. My favorite Mitchum film has always been (and still is) The Night of the Hunter (1955), but this one ranks very high. The casting of Mitchum's real life son James as his character's younger brother was interesting and worked well, as the two look a heckuva lot alike (almost to the point of twins), but I couldn't help feel a little creepy as the twenty plus year age difference seemed to be apparent (I know, I know, this separation in age can occur in siblings, especially in the south, but it's just not something I'm used to, being a Yankee and all). The car chase sequences are certainly thrilling (apparently many of the cars used were real moonshining cars, sold to the production by real transporters who then used the money to by newer, faster cars), and I especially liked the cool modifications Lucas had on his car (the quick release bumper, oil slick, etc.) The plot did slow down at certain points, especially when Lucas was interacting with his girlfriends, but I think the point here was to give definition to Mitchum's character, so for any of us watching the film and asking, `Well, if what he's doing has become so dangerous, why doesn't he just quit?', we can see things aren't as simple as they may appear, presenting a story tinged with a sort of Shakespearian quality, especially as the ominous portends around the main character continue to build.
  
  The full screen, original format picture looks fairly sharp throughout, with some very minor age deterioration, and the audio came through fairly clear. Special features include an original theatrical trailer, and on the back of the DVD it does say a collectable booklet is included, but mine seems to be missing. Remember kiddies, the next time you're high ballin' it with 250 gallons of Tennessee's finest mountain juice, keep your eyes peeled on the road in front...spike strips are real and they will ruin your day.
  
  Cookieman108
  
  
  
• If You loved Mitchum. You'll love "Thunder Road"
  By on 1999-08-03
  I was eleven years old when I first saw "Thunder Road" Madly in love with Robert Mitchum, I went home and told my mother scene by scene of this movie. I explained how much Bob Mitchum's "brother" looked just like him. My mother broke the news, "that was his son" I cried for hours when she told me he was married. I expected him to wait for me. This was the first movie I ever remember seeing a young Keely Smith in. Oh! how she did love Mitchum in that movie. What is she doing these days. She must be in her eighties by now?
  
  
• Greed will get you gone!
  By A1DTCJV6KOMJOA on 2001-09-04
  Robert Mitchum had it. You know that magic that just pops and sizzles on camera and when it came time to have self doubt and inner turmoil nobody does it better on film! For all the i don't give a damn and blank stares of his half sleep doe shaped eyes. Through out this film Mitchum gives us hints of a not to sure man on a not to safe "run" The films dialogue and pace are break neck. The plot is simple get you illegal booze to wher eit has to go but there is a problem the law and when you travel in a souped up car with some tricks that the Bat mobile would envy! You might stand a chance! The film sees Mitchum confronted with all kinds of human nature from greed to lust to love but only one thing drives him his own inner demon its not he chase that matters its that the people around him notice that he is being chased! The film is perfect and set to a mellow and nightmarish atmosphere. For all the yelling, crying and death we witness in this flick the horror of human will in the wrong state of mind is the most jarring visual rush of all!
  
  
• Brings Back Childhood Memories.....
  By AOEBBOUOQ8M8V on 2005-07-29
  Having grown up in western North Carolina, I well know of the Moonshine runners first hand. Most were very similar to Mitchum's character. Just plain working people who did what they did like their dads and uncles had done before them. It wasn't a matter of greed, sin, or excitement, but rather just making a living. Thunder Road was filmed in and around Asheville, NC. It was the talk of the mountains,.."they're making a movie in Asheville!!" everybody came to watch. The one scene I saw as a child was where Mitchum crushed KOGAN's hat, bailed out a second story window and landed on a dump truck full of dirt below. Slid off the dump truck, jumped into the '50 Ford, squeeling tires, driving about 10 ft. getting out of the car and walking away. To everyone's amazment, the guy who jumped out the window and did all the stunts was not Mitchum, but a double. Robert Mitchum walked up and got in the car when the stunt guy got out and drove away tires smoking. The shoot was over.We saw Mitchum about 2 mins. Yet this movie remains one of the truest to life as one I could recommend. Classic is not enough word to really describe THUNDER ROAD. It was shown at every drive-in 5 states bordering North Carolina and seen dozens of time by hundreds of dozens of people. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!! After all if you couldn't live the 1950's you can see a small portion of a lost era.
  
  
• Great car and bootlegging movie
  By on 1999-07-16
  When this flick was shown on tv, most of the guys I went to high school with flipped over it. It was way ahead of its time for the driving sequences. It still holds up.

  From most reports, Mitchum did a good job of capturing how moonshiners ran liquor in the 50's. Most of what's shown fits right in with what folks like Junior Johnson and Ralph Moody have described in what turned out to be the early days of NASCAR.

  Anybody who likes forties and mid-fifties cars will get a charge out this movie.
  
  

• Docked one star for cutting this movie to pieces!
  By on 2003-04-12
  My father told me about this film so I had to buy it. I liked the movie, but my father said they cut out the scenes with the mirrors on the highway. WHY?! I wanted the full movie!! I'm disappointed.
  
  
• Reliving my youth
  By A33ZOFA9O98WI2 on 2004-12-21
  I was 12 years old when this movie was made, and its impact on me was immense. It is what probably singlehandedly sparked my interest in cars, which eventually led to a lifetime as a "gearhead", many trips down the drag strip, and a career as an engineer working in and around the auto industry.
  
  Yes, the chase scenes and much else about the movie are hokey by today's filmmaking standards, but that is true of almost any 50s-era black and white film. I am sure that it would not appeal much to anyone younger than about 40, but for those of us who remember those days, it's a powerful piece of nostalgia.
  
  I would put this along with the other significant motoring-related films that I never tire of rewatching, "Bullitt" and "Grand Prix".
  
  
• My All-Time Favorite Movie!
  By A29U2YMW2KSDDE on 1999-02-08
  Robert Mitchum is a cool moonshine runner in Thunder Road. It's my all-time favorite movie in a campy way. This is the first movie that had great car chases that I remember, although, of course, the special effects are nowhere up to today's standards. The dialog is corny: (upon viewing the reluctant moonshiner Jeb's funeral procession), (sappily) "They're bringing him back to the valley he never wanted to leave." The acting is corny too - see Keely Smith's open-mouthed expression in the resturant when she turns around to find Robert Mitchum gone. Anyway the story holds together, the characters are interesting, the action is good, and so is the song. Gene Barry is good as the BATF agent. Jim Mitchum (Robert's son who played his younger brother here) was corny. But Robert Mitchum was the coolest!
  
  
• A special influence.
  By A2ERWKIG3MZQZW on 2001-04-14
  I first saw this film in the UK when I was twelve years old. Beside the glamour of fast cars there was something very special for me in the film. There was a quality in the writing/the charactors that reinforced a feeling I had that this sort of quality was what I had to aim for in my intention to become a writer. OK, I made it. I've had twelve novels published, usa and uk, but I would never have got started without as sharp a prod. Great film, and from a writer now becoming a literary agent and a screenplay writer, thanks to Mitcham and co. A really great big thanks.
  
  
• THUNDER ROAD....A CLASSIC OF TIME
  By A1YZPA1VBV0Q7D on 2001-10-28
  This is the first movie I ever saw at the drive-in...I was probably about 10 yrs old.

  I have watched it many many times since then and I own the video.

  Everytime I watch it, it seems new.

  Some of the acting leaves something to be desired...but the story line is very good...and makes one wish they could have been a part of that time and place.

  Those "hill boys" and "transporters" were for real...and hot-rodding must have certainly benifited from their necessity to build faster cars.
  
  

• thunder road
  By A1JYEGACOA1PNE on 2002-06-21
  i love the movie very i show my mom she want buy her one i did
  
  
• Mitchum Classic
  By A3UI7WFCP2S6K2 on 2006-03-09
  I had not seen this movie since it was first shown years ago. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Robert and James Mitchum are look alikes! If you are a Mitchum fan you need this movie in your library.
  
  
• The law they swore they'd get him, but the Devil got him first...
  By A220FJEQNGMSRN on 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.
  
  
• not too bad for an old 50's flick
  By on 1999-11-03
  I thought "Thunder Road" was a great flick. It reminded me a lot of the old Jimmy Dean movies, only Mitchum wasn't quite as cool.
  
  
• Moonrunners Is Better
  By A20QA0U89IGBTU on 2004-03-13
  I Love This Movie So Much but in my opinion the sort of remake ala Thunder Road for the next generation is better entitled Moonrunners its the film The Dukes Of Hazzard was based on and it stars Jim Mitchum Robert Mitchuns son anyway you'll love both movie full of good old crash'em up chases and real good acting so check'em out you won't be dissapointed
  
  
• The origins of NASCAR
  By A1L1S42BOGPF96 on 2005-03-19
  Every NASCAR fan owes it to himself to see this movie. American stock car racing grew out of the hopped-up autos the moonshiners used to get their products down from the mountain stills - past the ATF boys - and into the cities where the customers were.
  I was a kid when this film was released and my friends and I were blown away by it. A buddy of mine even pirated the plot for an English class theme. (Fortunately, the teacher hadn't seen the movie and my friend got away with it.)
  Singer Keely Smith plays the love interest. I thought she was incredibly hot at the time. Now, I'm struck by her wooden delivery of the really clunky dialog she and Robert Mitchum exchange.
  This is truly Robert Mitchum's movie. He wrote and sang the title song, he's in almost every scene and his son, Jim,plays his younger brother. He's at the top of his game in this film, wearing his reputation as a Hollywood Bad Boy like a badge, and he's absolutely mesmerizing.
  The period cars and locations are a treat and all the really hot cars are Fords.
  If you're building a collection of significant American films, or if you're heavily into NASCAR, this DVD belongs in your library.
  
  
• THUNDER ROAD ROARS
  By A3B9QVLSWVUD09 on 2005-08-09
  R.Mitchum wrote,directed and acted in this gem.What more can you ask for.(Mitchum is as explosive,yet under control as DeNiro at his best.)
  
  The stunt budget is miniscule compared to the new "Dukes of Hazard" and there are no auto-erotic bikini carwashing scenes. The movie is just about a man who stands up against the law and the mob to continue to support and honor his family's way of life, and who pays a high price. I dig it.
  
  
• Movie Myth-Making
  By A2UUWETDYA2EKV on 2005-11-09
  Whatever the film lacks, which is a lot, focus on the imagery -- duelling hotrods, a dangling cigarette, country two-lanes, and a precious load of illegal booze, family honor, and a good woman. This is movie myth-making at its near purest, so what else could a ducktailed Elvis-clone of the 50's have wanted. Girls may have swooned over treacle like "A Summer Place", but hot-rodders packed this drive-in classic bumper to bumper. Sure, it's badly produced ($50 budget, tops), badly acted (even Mitchum struggles with the hopeless Keely Smith), and features one of the worst canvas backdrops on record (the water-wheel scene). Still it has the King of Cool gunning down the asphalt (don't let the sleepy eyes fool you), pits rugged individualism against angry collectivism (organized crime and big govn't), and opens with a throbbing title tune (composed and sung by Mitchum) -- topped by a look and feel unlike the usual Hollywood contrivance. And who can forget those forlorn headbeams searching their way through an existential void. The imagery was compelling and caught the edgy mood of a drive-in crowd feeling their own way through a world of teenage angst. Few would grow into the mythic shoes of road-warrior, Luke Doolin, but a lot sure wanted to try. Which is why this primitive slice of small-screen black-and-white continues to resonate, even into the big-screen myth-making of souped-up starships, evil empires, and computerized magic.
  
  
• Robert Mitchum is his own man in this `50's cult classic.
  By A315K47GRB024C on 2005-11-18
  This review is for the 2000 MGM DVD.
  
  "Thunder Road" is set in Tennessee where country bootleggers make their moonshine and transport it to the major cities to sell for a decent profit. The men that move the homemade alcohol with their souped-up hotrods are called "transporters". Lucas Doolin (Robert Mitchum) is a legend among transporters since his has yet to caught by the U.S. Treasury agents who continuously try to arrest bootleggers for tax evasion. Part of Lucas Doolin's success has to do with some of the technical gadgets installed by his younger brother Robin (play by James Mitchum - Robert's son) on his car. Some of the innovations predate James Bond's Austin Martin such as a releasable rear bumper in case the police lock on to it in a chase or an oil spraying device that will surely force any tailing car out of control.
  
  If the law wasn't enough for the local bootleggers, a rich city slicker named Carl Kogan (Jacques Aubuchon) wants to muscle in on the local yokels and have them work for him as an organized syndicate. Kogan actually makes them a very fair offer, but it's obvious that Lucas is his own man and refuses to answer to anyone, and snubs Kogan on a joint venture. This escalates the already existing hostility between the two rival bootlegging gangs and sets up the rest of the film for a three way conflict between the local independent bootleggers headed by Lucas Doolin, the Feds headed by Troy Barrett (Gene Barry) and the organized city mob headed by Carl Kogan.
  
  The movie in many ways has the feel of an old fashioned western flick where there are two tough dudes that can't be bossed around in a town that isn't big enough for the two of them. But this doesn't take place west of the Pecos but instead it's in the heart of backwoods country and this film pulls no punches are far as propagating all the stereotypical images of hillbillies. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the action and confrontation of this film. It's a fun movie to watch and reminisce about the old hotrod days, but the dialogue was at times agonizing and the acting was also occasionally a bit suspect. One interesting minor character in the film was Keely Smith, the famous recording star and wife of singing legend Louis Prima. Smith plays Lucas' girlfriend.
  
  The B&W full screen transfer varies throughout the film. On some occasions the film looks like it was mastered from a VHS tape while other parts looked like an impeccable digital transfer. It's a shame MGM didn't do a better job on this one. The only DVD bonus was the original trailer.
  
  
  Movie: B
  
  DVD Quality: B-
  
  
• The Dude Was Cool
  By ADE9OU2OLWS3N on 2006-01-14
  James Dean? Who the heck is James Dean? Robert Mitchum gives a great performance as a hillbilly moonshiner's son who risks his life at high speeds. He plays it way cool and delivers both the moonshine and a fantastic performance. If you're a motorhead, watch it just to see these old classics rumble through the Tennessee pines. The acting by Mitchem's younger brother sucks so bad that you can't help but laugh outloud, and the cops' dialogue is scripted like that NY City Library detective in the TV series Seinfeld, but it's still a good movie.
  
  
• History Flick
  By A2DDH56KN6VHBU on 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.
  
  
• Where It All Starts Out.
  By A2YRDIRL316QJL on 2008-02-04
  Ernest Hemingway said somewhere that all American literature starts with Twain's Huckleberry Finn. An equivalent observation for the American film industry would be that all car chase movies start with 1958's Thunder Road. There are alternative theories that go back as far as the wagon escape scene from burning Atlanta in Gone With the Wind or as late as Steve McQueen's Dodge Charger chase in Bullitt in the mid-60s, but for my money, Robert Mitchum's Thunder Road (the screenplay is based on a storyline he wrote) is the real point of origin in what is probably the most characteristic aspect of films in this country for the last half century. For that reason alone, this is a film that shouldn't be missed. It's a real 50s Indy b&w classic.
  
  
• Mitchum At His Coolest
  By A1J03J0HZ7KU5T on 2008-09-07
  The archetypal moonshine flick, "Thunder Road" (1958) remains a cult classic among Robert Mitchum fans. There's enough revved-up action and Mitchum cool to glide past the limited budget and a few amateurish performances. Mitchum produced and co-wrote this drive-in favorite, which utilizes the mountainous North Carolina terrain to good effect. The fiery climax was recycled in 1963's notorious "They Saved Hitler's Brain."
  
  
• ThunderRoad
  By on 2001-09-26
  I enjoy watching the video over and over. Maybe because it takes me back to the days of the 57 Ford Thunderbird. Only thing I didn't like was it being black and white. I guess color has spoiled us. Still a good movie now as it was then.
  
  
• 3.5, maybe...
  By A3CN9CCJUNIPKT on 2002-12-16
  A slow-moving crime melodrama about a family of old-fashioned, backwoods moonshiners being muscled out by big city gangsters. Robert Mitchum, in sort of a James Dean turn, sleepy-eyes his way through with his usual mix of menace and charm; Edie Adams plays his long-suffering nightclub-singer girlfriend, and gets a few vocal numbers in, too. (Adam's fans will definitely want to check this film out... those who don't quite get her charms will probably find her irritating, or simply adequate in her role.) The most interesting piece of casting, however is Mitchum's son (!) who looks just like him, and plays his younger brother, a weird but brilliant choice. This film was okay, but not great.
  
  
• Factual and Accurate - Good Film
  By A285VOPGKQ5CE6 on 2003-03-09
  But like most movies it only tells part of a very interesting story. If you like the movie, you should also read the book "Return to Thunder Road"
  
  

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