Die Letzten beißen die Hunde

Like a tribute to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot were a contemporary edition of the duo.

Thunderbolt (Clint Eastwood) met Lightfoot (Jeff Bridges) quite serendipitously. Thunderbolt was running from his would-be killer only to be saved by the fast driving Lightfoot. Their fortuitous meeting started a friendship between the two that was like journeyman and apprentice for thieves.

The young Jeff Bridges stole every scene he was in. He had the boyish young looks and the bubbly personality to go with them. Eastwood was... well he was Eastwood. You don't get much range from him. He's stoic, few-worded, and gruff. I think Eastwood is at his best when there's another star there for contrast. This crime and friendship story had some funny moments, intense moments, and even somber moments. The story and acting were great. This was a quality film.

I found 'Thunderbolt And Lightfoot' in the "action" section of my local video store, and a quick glance at the cover and blurb might make you think you're in for a buddy action comedy, like Eddie Murphy et al made in the 1980s and Jackie Chan is making now. This is not entirely correct. While it is essentially a buddy movie and there is "action" in it, it is much more character-driven and episodic than most movies in the genre, and has more in common with forgotten 1970s gems like 'Scarecrow' or 'Fat City', than your typical Clint Eastwood fare from this period. Michael Cimino, who co-wrote the ecological SF sleeper 'Silent Running', and wrote the first (and best) movie in Eastwood's 'Dirty Harry' series, debuts impressively as director here. Eastwood himself is very good as enigmatic thief Thunderbolt, even better is Jeff Bridges who steals the movie as his young protege Lightfoot. Some people dislike this movie because it appears to meander along for no particular reason, but I really enjoyed the interaction between Eastwood and Bridges, who really seem to be having a ball working together. The plot eventually comes together with a robbery involving the two and character actors George Kennedy ('Cool Hand Luke' and Eastwood regular Geoffrey Lewis ('The Way Of The Gun'). I still really wouldn't call this a caper movie (ala 'Rififi', 'The Killing', 'The Anderson Tapes', etc,etc.), it's not as straightforward as that. The robbery plot is almost an excuse for a bunch of enjoyable scenes between the actors, who are all excellent and really play off each other in an entertaining way. Also keep an eye out for bit parts by Gary Busey ('Big Wednesday'), Catherine Bach (Daisy Duke!), Dub Taylor ('The Wild Bunch') and others, especially an unforgettable bit with the legendary Bill McKinney ('Deliverance'), one of the highlights of the movie. There's no way I'm going to argue that 'Thunderbolt And Lightfoot' is a forgotten classic, but it is a lot of fun to watch, it is unpredictable and interesting and features some fine performances, and that is a lot more than you can say for most subsequent Hollywood movies of this type. Recommended to 1970s buffs and anyone who enjoys Jeff Bridges.

I think this movie gets lost in all the commercial Clint Eastwood vehicles,it far surpasses most of his 70's attempts. This is mostly due to Cimino's script and Bridges acting and honest words.This is far more than a buddy picture,rather one of the greatest love stories on film(all homosexual connotations aside),taking the male relationship in film to new levels because of the contrast of characters and there immediate like for one another.Skipped is most of the bickering used in lessor buddy flicks instead great interaction between the two and Clint still gets to shine as one of the coolest tough guys of the 70's.Great cinematography coupled with beautiful backdrops and a fine supporting cast make this a must see.

This was Cimino's preparation to great epic and Oscarized "Deer Hunter" . Here Eastwood is a thief called Thunderbolt , he is on the run from his previous partners : George Kennedy, Geoffrey Lewis . Thunderbolt then joins joins up with a drifter nicknamed Lightfoot : Jeff Bridges . As Thunderbolt attempts to carry out a last job . Later on, Thunderbolt is captured by his former colleagues but he arranges to convince them he does not know where the money is from a prior hold-up . Lightfoot : Jeff Bridges, manages to convince them they should plan the same heist and rob the same government vault. Thunderbolt ..the man with the reputation. Lightfoot ...the kid who's about to make one ¡ . He has exactly seven minutes to get rich quick !

An amusing and fun film with likeable result and full of noisy action , pursuits , shootouts , car chases , humor , and a spectacular heist . Having written the script Cimino was given opportunity to direct it thanks to Clint Eastwood for whom he had formerly collaborated with John Milius in "Magnum Force" . All around give fine performances from Clint Eastwood as the expert robber believes he's made off with the loot from his last job and exceptional James Bridges as the good-natured colleague , as he steals the show by striking most of the sparks , being notable his scenes dressed in drag . Although Eastwood and Bridges are the central roles, here also appears George Kennedy and Geoffrey Lewis who fill their characters impressively , collectively overshadowing the stars , at times. As Clint Eastwod and Jeff Bridges are well accompanied by a top-notch support cast , such as : George Kennedy, Geoffrey Lewis , Roy Jenson, Bill McKinney , Dub Taylor , Vic Tayback , Gregory Walcott ,Catherine Bach and Gary Busey .

It contains colorful and adequate cinematography by Frank Stanley. As well as thrilling and atmospheric musical score by Dee Barton. The motion picture was well directed by Michael Cimino. This filmmaker wa a good craftsman who made few but very nice films with successes and flops, such as : Heaven's Gate , Year of the Dragon, The Sicilian , Desperate Hours , The Sunchaser and , of course , his biggest hit : The Deer Hunter . Rating : 7/10 . The flick will appeal to Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges fans .

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) isn't perfect, but it has a lot going for it. The pairing Eastwood and Bridges is great, these aren't the same kinds of actors, and yet their on-screen relationship works well. Supporting character actors George Kennedy and Geoffrey Lewis round out rest of the heisters, and Gary Busey makes an early appearance in a small role. Also of note is the striking Montana scenery, quite unseen on film, this movie does an admirable job showcasing it. What I'm really surprised about is how no one else seems to have noticed a couple of things about this film.

First: The title of this film, and its two main characters are an homage to a pair of famous 19th century highwaymen who called themselves respectively `Captain Thunderbolt' and `Captain Lightfoot'. This isn't the last time Hollywood film criminals would be named after real life bandits. In the film `The Way Of The Gun' the characters are called `Mr. Parker and Mr. Longbaugh' which of course were the real names of Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid! Also of interest is the fact that Geoffrey Lewis appears in The Way Of The Gun!

Second: Those interested in a companion piece to this film might consider watching `Thelma and Louise' which mirrors the on-the-road relationship of this film very closely. Though the plot is different, the relationship with the landscape and the emphasis on two characters is strikingly similar. In short a good film, worth watching!