Year of Eastwood #8

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)

Starring: Eastwood, Jeff Bridges
Directed by Michael Cimino

Clint Eastwood is Thunderbolt in one of his few movies where Clint plays a criminal. In the tradition of other 70’s anti-hero flicks, Thunderbolt is a con-man and bank robber but he is also the hero of the movie. As the movie begins, Clint is a preacher in a small Montana church, interrupted mid-sermon by a gun toting assailant. On the run, Clint meets up with car-thief Lightfoot (Jeff Bridges, not of Madison County) and an unusual friendship begins. They do some crimes, but of course there’s a price to pay in the end…

The anti-hero genre grew out of the rebellion against the system of the 60’s. Politicians were corrupt, Vietnam was the first American war that brought out large protests at home, and hippies were told to cut their damn hair. Cinema became enamored with characters that would stand up to the Man (meaning whoever’s in authority). Some of the many classics include Cool Hand Luke, Dog Day Afternoon, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and Taxi Driver. Audiences rooted for these underdogs as they battled to express their individuality - but in the end the lesson is always the same (dead, dead, dead, and dead). It wasn’t until the late 70’s that audiences cheered as plucky Rocky rose up from the dumpsters and won the title - wait - I guess Rocky actually lost that first fight. Umm, how about Star Wars then? Yea, those Rebels blew up that Death Star but good.

The first half of the film hits all the bases of 70’s standards - fast cars, loose women, Olympia beer, and a deranged fella with a trunk full of bunny rabbits. George Kennedy and Geoffrey Lewis (an Eastwood 70’s staple) provide comic relief for the film when they chase down Thunderbolt and Lightfoot in one of the movies funniest scenes in a riverside brawl. Unlike most movie fights (Clint included), this bust up has the guys worn out and in pain from beating the crap out of each other.

The foursome join forces to recreate a bank heist which involves ice cream trucks, drive-in movies, and Bridges in a dress. This film demonstrates Eastwood in his full 70’s swagger which made him the biggest star in America. During this time, Eastwood made several fluff entertainment films that featured lots of action and short on plot. The film was a hit during its day, but looking back on it now - the film falls squarely in the middle of Eastwood career highlights, but it’s got a catchy title, Thunderfoot and Lightningbolt.