Thunder Road (1958)

The Whiskey Wars

The video begins with a preview of highlights from this action film. Every year millions of dollars are lost from untaxed whiskey. The Treasury Dept. prosecutes those who are caught transporting "moonshine". You will see many cars from the 1950s; one brand predominates. The money earned from "moonshine" can attract unwanted attention. Another driver was killed while driving. Who could have done it? A syndicate wants to take over the independent producers, but they will resist Mr. Kogen. The telephone brings news.

Luke goes on his run. Shots are fired at his car. [No one has seat belts.] Luke delivers his load and collects the payment. Carl Kogen wants to meet him, Luke refuses his offers. Federal agents stop him. They will fine and release him so he can be followed to lead to others. Barrett wants to know about the organization that is moving into the area. Luke says they will have to catch him first. Whiskey making was a family tradition. Luke realizes he will get caught in time. A friend asks to use his 1950 car, even though it is known to the police. Somebody has wired the car to eliminate the competition after it was left unguarded overnight!

Treasury agents hike through the hills to find and destroy stills. The whiskey makers decide to shut down for a while. Luke will make one last run, and finds trouble. [Robin Doolin wears his collar in the cool-guy style.] Barrett wants to talk to Luke to warn him against Kogen. Will Robin get into the whiskey business? Can Luke stop him? Is there a trap being set? Will Doolin threaten Kogen? What will Roxanne do? There is a lull in the action before the final scenes. Luke makes his last run. This film provides an example of a low-budget film that provided entertainment in the late 1950s. What was the future for these actors? Its moderate drama and slow-pace do not make it a good action film. (This film was made with the cooperation of the Alcohol Tax division of the IRS and Treasury Department.)
[This film claimed "250 gallons" will fit in the trunk of that 1950s car. One quart of water weighs about 2 pounds. Could 2,000 pounds be contained in that trunk? Even 220 quarts, 55 gallons, is still a load.]
October 2, 2008

Mitchum At His Coolest

The archetypal moonshine flick, "Thunder Road" (1958) remains a cult classic among Robert Mitchum fans. There's enough revved-up action and Mitchum cool to glide past the limited budget and a few amateurish performances. Mitchum produced and co-wrote this drive-in favorite, which utilizes the mountainous North Carolina terrain to good effect. The fiery climax was recycled in 1963's notorious "They Saved Hitler's Brain." September 7, 2008

Thunder Road

I have been looking for this movie for quite a while. I think it is one of the best Robert Mitchum movies. Mitchum is Lucas Doolin, a man who comes from a long line of whisky makers, located somewhere in the southeastern United States.Mr. Mitchum even wrote and sang the title song. I can always imagine these guys running around the "mountain roads" doing this stuff. His real life son James, plays his younger brother, Robin who he endeavors to keep out of the family business. He keeps the rods in better than woking order as Lucas tears up the back roads of Tennessee evading both groups chasing him. The ending has always been a tear jerker for me.
As I said ...best Mitchum film.
September 1, 2008

classic american film

Thunder Road benefits from a strong story, and an honest appreciation of the redneck code of honor that allows a democratic vote on how the community will break the law and defy outside criminal elements no matter what the cost.
the strong family relationships among the moonshiners are revealed in authentic dialogue. The director never lets the strong and stoic characters become caricatures of themselves. They are slow spoken,and easy with long silence, like the real life people the story depicts. Anyone who has met mountsin folk sees it immediately.

The car chases are not drawn out for effect, they are nasty, brutish fights to the death and Mitchum's character shows that he knows he is not immune. He chooses to fight and die with honor rather than try and hide from the troubles he faces.

I hear a remake is in the works, spearheaded by James Mitchum. Well done it would be a fine tribute to his father's work and a way to show a new generation the ethos and values that redneck culture gives to America for good and bad. August 23, 2008

Every second is fully-charged.

This movie is as close to perfect as I've ever seen. Action! Drama! Suspense! And the coolest-cat protagonist ever. Oh, some of Mitchum's moves are so timeless and glorious-- it's the Sistine Chapel of bootlegger movies. July 15, 2008

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