Thunderbolt main backdrop
Thunderbolt main poster

Thunderbolt

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5.8/10 • 28

1929-06-201h 31m

CrimeDrama

George Bancroft making Love With the Determination of a Bull Dog! Fay Wray His Foil and Richard Arlen His Enemy

A criminal known as Thunderbolt is imprisoned and facing execution. Into the next cell is placed Bob Moran, an innocent man who has been framed and who is in love with Thunderbolt's girl, without knowing of their relationship. Thunderbolt hopes to stave off the execution long enough to kill young Moran for romancing his girl.

Directors
Josef von Sternberg
Writters
Herman J. Mankiewicz
Editors
Helen Lewis

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. George Bancroft

    George Bancroft

    Thunderbolt Jim Lang

  2. Fay Wray

    Fay Wray

    Ritzy

  3. Richard Arlen

    Richard Arlen

    Bob Moran

  4. Tully Marshall

    Tully Marshall

    Warden

  5. Eugenie Besserer

    Eugenie Besserer

    Mrs. Moran

  6. James Spottswood

    James Spottswood

    'Snapper' O'Shea

  7. Fred Kohler

    Fred Kohler

    'Bad Al' Friedberg

  8. Robert Elliott

    Robert Elliott

    Prison chaplain

  9. E.H. Calvert

    E.H. Calvert

    Dist. Atty. McKay

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Jun 6, 2022

6/10

If you can get past the really rather stilted production here - almost stage bound in it's presentation, this is quite an entertaining film that sees the authorities on the trail of the most wanted "Thunderbolt" (George Bancroft). He is elusive, though - and their only route to him might be through his ex-girfriend "Ritzie" (Fay Wray) - but she isn't playing ball for reasons of her own. It's only when "Thunderbolt" makes good on an earlier threat he made to her about seeing anyone else, that the police see some light. The performances are fine, not great but the writing is really quite good - plenty of quirky vernacular and it moves along well despite the frequent silent movie style direction and scene framing from Josef von Sternberg. There is also quite an enjoyable contribution from a blues ensemble and though certainly dated, this is still worth a watch almost 100 years later.

Media

  • Thunderbolt poster
  • Thunderbolt poster
  • Thunderbolt poster
  • Thunderbolt poster
  • Thunderbolt poster
  • Thunderbolt poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
film noirpre-code