THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTFOOT

US, 1974, 115 minutes, Colour.
Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges, George Kennedy, Geoffrey Lewis, Catherine Bach.
Directed by Michael Cimino.

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot is a change from the police twosomes, criminal twosomes. Above average action, this film relies on the Clint Eastwood mystique of tough coolness and the attractive larrikinism in Jeff Bridges. Whether chased by a villainous George Kennedy or involved in a spectacular robbery, the two make an interesting team and keep the audience with them in their adventures. The screenplay is a bonus for those who like something more to their action: deadpan wisecracks, some bristling character interaction, much small detail of the US background that situates the characters well in their contemporary world. Some of the action is fairly brutal and the whole plot tests one's sense of justice.

1. How enjoyable was this action film? Why? How important were the robbery sequences for its enjoyment? A comradeship and relationship between the two men?

2. How well made was the film? The use of colour and Panavision, locations, the screenplay and the tightness of the plot, the incidental detail of character and of location? The contribution of the actors? The ethos of the United States in the 70's?

3. Did the film take a moral stance? Did it make judgements on its characters? Was it in sympathy with its characters? Why? Could the audience have criteria for judging right and wrong? Did the film exploit the characters, situations, violence and crime?

4. How important was the irony of the film, in its opening, characterization? The irony of humour and wisecracks? The loss of the money, the repetition of the robbery, the final finding of the money, the death? How did the film move into a more. serious vein eventually?

5. How vividly portrayed was the interaction between Thunderbolt and Lightfoot? Why did they relate so well? One saving the other? The complementing of temperament and character? Old and young? Affection? Lightfoot daring Thunderbolt to another robbery? The example of the older run for the young? The sense of achievement and Lightfoot's reaction to this? How did the film portray this cinematically by the use of the actor's features, acting together, small details?

6. How typical a Clint Eastwood character was Thunderbolt? The first impressions as a Minister, the chase? His tough coolness and suavity? As a contrast with Lightfoot? His making mistakes? His relationship with Red and the suffering of violence? The agreement to go into the robbery again, his work, finesse in planning? His sense of vengeance as regards Red? What were Thunderbolt's dreams? How was he affected by people's death? As finally alone with his money? How typical a U.S. figure was he? The heroic gangster? The homely gangster?

7. How attractive was Lightfoot? Jeff Bridges' portrayal, young, brash, naive? His moral stance, the stealing of the car, saving Thunderbolt? His capacity for fear when bashed and bullied by Red? His Cadillac dreams his flippant and daring tone? His relationship to women to Red? His getting the job and training for it? His role in the plan his disguise and reaction to it? Our sympathy for him being bashed? Joy in finding the money? The irony and sadness of his death? As a typical U.S. American? The point be-hind his characterization?

8. Red and Goodie - greed, ignorance, Red gone to seed, violent and ageing.. callous? The portrayal of Goodle as a stooge? Their expertise in the robbery?

9. Comment on the details of place, the towns., motels whores, the details of work. the bank. the drive-in, cars.

10. The contribution of the people in the film: the congregation, the car salesman, the petrol assistant, the couple in the car, the whores, the workmates, the policemen, the girl on the bike, the night watchman, the final tourists?

11. What did the film have to say about robberies and justice? About violence and death? About dreams and reality?

12. How interesting a portrait of contemporary America did the film give -crime, heroes, achievement, justice, and all the ironies of life? was t an important entertainment?