THUNDER ROAD

US, 1958, 92 minutes, Black andwhite.
Robert Mitchum, Gene Barry, Jacques Aubuchon.
Directed by Arthur Ripley.

Thunder Road.is a road film which has achieved something of cult status in succeeding decades. It is based on an original story by Robert Mitchum, who also sings the theme song in the film. To continue the family association, his son Jim Mitchum portrays one of his brothers. (The film anticipates another film about bootlegging with Mitchum in the '70s, Moonrunners.)

The film is familiar material, the bootlegging families of the mountains and their clashes with gangsters as well as the police. However, the film is efficiently written and made - and is interesting and entertaining of its kind.

1. The road film? The film about bootlegging? Action features? Part of the American heritage? The reputation of this film and its cult status?

2. Black and white photography, the atmosphere of Harlen County, the mountains, the stills, the road and action sequences, the cities?

3. The title and the theme for a road film? The song and the iyrics?

4. The focus on the families and the illicit stills? The generations working the stills? The range of customers? The various families in the hills and their collaboration? The city gangsters trying to intimidate and take over the stills and the trucking? The clashes? The Federal agents and their involvement? The film combining these strands for an effective thriller?

5. The Doolan family and their operation? Vernon and his working the still, his influence on his sons? Lucas and his deliveries? his skill as a driver? Robin and his admiration for his brother? The details of their life, home, friends?

6. Kogan and his-coming from Detroit, the pressure on the family, the attempt to take over the still? The ambushing of the truck? The killing of the driver? The decision to take Lucas? As a hostage? Lucas's escape, his defying of Kogan? Lucas in the city, at the nightclub, with Frances? Kogan and his attempts to retaliate? The arrest?

7. Troy Barrett and the Federal agents, their knowledge of the bootlegging, the following of the gangsters? Trying to do deals? Trying to influence Lucas?

8. The final confrontation, the chase, Kogan and his violence, the crash ,into the pylon?

9. The pessimism of the screenplay? The passing of the old families? The gangsters and their violence? The enforcement of the law by Federal agents? An atmosphere of death?

10. The reputation of the film? The archetypal bootlegging film? The contribution of Robert Mitchum, his manner and style? The song?