{"id":79381,"date":"2021-12-27T16:51:12","date_gmt":"2021-12-27T23:51:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=79381"},"modified":"2021-12-27T20:04:19","modified_gmt":"2021-12-28T03:04:19","slug":"thunder-road-1958","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=79381","title":{"rendered":"Thunder Road (1958)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I reckon you can do all you say, only first you got to catch me &#8212; if you can.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Poster-199x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-79382\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Poster-199x300.png 199w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Poster-85x128.png 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Poster-179x270.png 179w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Poster.png 577w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA Tennessee moonshiner (Robert Mitchum) whose younger brother (Jim Mitchum) is eager to enter the family profession visits his singer-girlfriend (Keely Smith) as often as possible in between carrying out his work and refusing to make a deal with a bigwig bootlegger (Jacques Aubochon) hoping to take over all business in the area. Meanwhile, Lucas (Mitchum Sr.) is hunted down by a U.S. Treasury agent (Gene Barry) and pursued by a local beauty (Sandra Knight) who worries (rightfully so) about his safety.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bootlegging<\/li>\n<li>Car Chase<\/li>\n<li>Deep South<\/li>\n<li>Robert Mitchum Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary\u2019s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary writes that this &#8220;drive-in favorite&#8221; &#8212; written by, produced by, and starring Robert Mitchum &#8212; is &#8220;the first and choicest of the many car-chase films in which lawmen race after moonshine runners on twisting Southern backgrounds.&#8221; He notes that the &#8220;picture has exciting scenes and offbeat touches by director Arthur Ripley, but its reputation is inflated&#8221; given that &#8220;the low budget hurts&#8221; and the &#8220;supporting actors &#8212; including Mitchum&#8217;s son, Jim, who plays his younger brother [Robin] &#8212; are weak&#8221; (agreed).  <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mitchum-Father-Son.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mitchum-Father-Son.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"624\" height=\"448\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-79392\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mitchum-Father-Son.png 624w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mitchum-Father-Son-300x215.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mitchum-Father-Son-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mitchum-Father-Son-376x270.png 376w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Indeed, Peary argues that senior &#8220;Mitchum carries [the] film alone on his massive shoulders.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mitchum2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mitchum2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"624\" height=\"448\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-79385\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mitchum2.png 624w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mitchum2-300x215.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mitchum2-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mitchum2-376x270.png 376w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>He adds that the film includes &#8220;interesting, if not always proper, use of music&#8221; &#8212; though I&#8217;m not quite sure why he considers it improper. In one scene, for instance, Lucas listens to his girlfriend (Smith) singing at a club: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Smith.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Smith.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"624\" height=\"448\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-79386\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Smith.png 624w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Smith-300x215.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Smith-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Smith-376x270.png 376w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and we see how he handles a patron who won&#8217;t shut up during her performance, which adds to our understanding of his no-nonsense, take-care-of-problems nature. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Tie.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Tie.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"624\" height=\"448\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-79387\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Tie.png 624w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Tie-300x215.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Tie-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Tie-376x270.png 376w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The film&#8217;s drive-in appeal makes sense, given Mitchum&#8217;s stardom, an action- and conflict-filled storyline, and behind-the-scenes glimpses at how a moonshine operation works: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Tank.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Tank.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"624\" height=\"448\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-79393\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Tank.png 624w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Tank-300x215.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Tank-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Tank-376x270.png 376w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; but it&#8217;s also (unintentionally) humorous at times, thanks primarily to Mitchum Jr.&#8217;s earnest but wooden performance: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mitchum-Jr.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mitchum-Jr.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"624\" height=\"448\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-79389\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mitchum-Jr.png 624w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mitchum-Jr-300x215.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mitchum-Jr-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mitchum-Jr-376x270.png 376w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and singer Smith&#8217;s similar lack of acting experience (her voice is beautiful but she&#8217;s an <em>interesting<\/em> choice to play Mitchum Sr.&#8217;s love interest). <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Smith2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Smith2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"624\" height=\"448\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-79390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Smith2.png 624w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Smith2-300x215.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Smith2-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Smith2-376x270.png 376w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>When Mitchum advises lovestruck Knight, &#8220;Find someone content to punch a time clock, plough a field, have a mess of kids,&#8221; and she responds, &#8220;I would &#8212; if they looked like you&#8221;: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Knight.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Knight.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"624\" height=\"448\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-79388\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Knight.png 624w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Knight-300x215.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Knight-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Knight-376x270.png 376w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; we can&#8217;t help thinking how convenient it is that there&#8217;s someone who looks ALMOST EXACTLY LIKE HIM waiting in the wings (Mitchum, Jr.). <\/p>\n<p>Favorite random line (Mitchum Sr. speaking to Smith): &#8220;I&#8217;ve been across an ocean, met all the pretty people. I know how to read an expensive restaurant menu. <em>I know what a mobile is<\/em>.&#8221; (?!?!?!) <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mobile.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mobile.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"624\" height=\"448\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-79383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mobile.png 624w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mobile-300x215.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mobile-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mobile-376x270.png 376w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Robert Mitchum as Lucas Doolin<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mitchum3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mitchum3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"624\" height=\"448\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-79396\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mitchum3.png 624w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mitchum3-300x215.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mitchum3-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Thunder-Road-Mitchum3-376x270.png 376w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, once, simply for its cult status. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cult Movie<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0052293\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s4868thun.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=463&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/17809\/thunder-road#articles-reviews?articleId=12700\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/thunder-road\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I reckon you can do all you say, only first you got to catch me &#8212; if you can.&#8221; Synopsis: A Tennessee moonshiner (Robert Mitchum) whose younger brother (Jim Mitchum) is eager to enter the family profession visits his singer-girlfriend (Keely Smith) as often as possible in between carrying out his work and refusing to make a deal with a bigwig bootlegger (Jacques Aubochon) hoping to take over all business in the area. Meanwhile, Lucas (Mitchum Sr.) is hunted down&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=79381\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-79381","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79381","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=79381"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79381\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":79403,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79381\/revisions\/79403"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=79381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=79381"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=79381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}