Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, 1974.
Directed by Michael Cimino.
Starring Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges, George Kennedy, and Geoffrey Lewis.
SYNOPSIS:
Michael Cimino’s 1974 minor classic Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, starring Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges as a pair of ne’er-do-wells who become partners in crime after a chance encounter, has been reissued on Blu-ray and is new to 4K Ultra HD too, courtesy of Kino Lorber. The company used a new 2023 high-def remaster for this edition, but there aren’t any new bonus features.
I can imagine the studio notes if Thunderbolt and Lightfoot was being made today: “We need to know why these guys live the way they do!” “We need more of a build-up to an inciting event!” “Why do these two randomly encounter each other?”
Ah, the 70s. A time when filmmaking seemed a bit looser and freewheeling. A time when all a lot of directors needed was a pretty good script and a solid cast. A time when a movie like Thunderbolt and Lightfoot could be made.
This minor classic in director Michael Cimino’s filmography stars Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges as Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, respectively. As the film opens, the former has been living in disguise as a preacher when a member of his old gang comes into his church and tries to kill him.
Meanwhile, Lightfoot is a drifter who brazenly steals a car off a lot and ends up inadvertently rescuing Thunderbolt. The two end up on the run together, trying to have fun (my inner 12-year-old was excited to see Catherine Bach in a small supporting role) while evading two more assassins from Thunderbolt’s past, played by George Kennedy and Geoffrey Lewis.
The storyline kicks into gear as those would-be assassins join forces with Thunderbolt and Lightfoot and what was originally a road movie now becomes a heist film. (Another note if this film was made today: “It’s too easy the way the four of them come together!” Also: “Pick a lane! Either this is a road movie or a heist film!”)
The four of them cook up a scheme to rob a bank vault, complete with an intricate plan to overcome the various security measures Thunderbolt knows will be in place. The rest of the story revolves around the question of whether they’ll pull off the heist and, if they do, whether anyone will try to take out anyone else to get a larger share of the windfall.
This was my first time watching Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, and my main takeaway was that it’s a nice little film showcasing some great actors in their prime. Jeff Bridges is always great, in my book, and he definitely earned his Oscar nomination, the only one for this movie. Clint Eastwood is no slouch either, of coursed, but I’ve never warmed to him the way I have to Bridges.
Moviegoers in 1974 seemed to mostly agree with me. The film turned a tidy profit and has gone on to become a bit of a cult film, especially among Cimino fans. If you’re among them, you may want to nab this new Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, thanks to the 2023 high-def remaster used for this disc.
Kino Lorber previously issued this movie on Blu-ray in 2019, touting the use of a high-def remaster then too, but since I don’t have that disc, I don’t know if the new picture quality here is necessarily enough to warrant a double-dip. Aside from the opening titles, which look like they could have used some additional cleaning, the rest of the film looked fine to me.
I should add that Kino Lorber has also released this movie on 4K Ultra HD. I don’t know anything about the picture quality of that disc, but I assume the company used this opportunity to reissue it on Blu-ray too and take advantage of the new remaster.
If you’re thinking about double-dipping in the hope of new bonus features, however, I need you to put away your wallet. Everything found here, which isn’t much, appeared on that 2019 disc too. I don’t know if there are other home video editions with more robust extras.
The main bonus feature is a commentary track by film critic Nick Pinkerton. Like so many other similar tracks, this one functions like a nice little film class lecture, complete with not only an examination of the making of Thunderbolt and Lightfoot but also its place in the pantheon of early 70s movies and in Cimino’s filmography.
The other extra is For the Love of Characters, a 29-minute, audio-only interview with Cimino conducted by Swiss journalist Stephane Gobbo. It’s a very worthwhile listen for fans of the director, since it delves into parts of his career that were connected to this movie.
The theatrical trailer and TV and radio ads round out the platter.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Brad Cook
