Thunderbolt

Thunderbolt (1929)

5.8/10 28 votes 1h 31m HD

Overview

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.

Watch Now

Cast

George Bancroft

George Bancroft

Thunderbolt Jim Lang

Fay Wray

Fay Wray

Ritzy

Richard Arlen

Richard Arlen

Bob Moran

Tully Marshall

Tully Marshall

Warden

Eugenie Besserer

Eugenie Besserer

Mrs. Moran

Fred Kohler

Fred Kohler

'Bad Al' Friedberg

Robert Elliott

Robert Elliott

Prison chaplain

E.H. Calvert

E.H. Calvert

Dist. Atty. McKay

  • Similar Movies
  • Reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

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.

June 6, 2022