Movie Review: Thunder Road

Thunder Road
D.R.M. Productions, USA, 1958.

Lucas Doolin (Robert Mitchum) is a Korean War veteran who makes his living smuggling whisky with his cousin Jed (Mitchell Ryan). It is a family business as his Papa (Trevor Bardette) distills the moonshine. Luke's little brother Robin (Robert's real life son James Mitchum) is a mechanic and wants to become a moonshine runner also. The cops are always after Luke but there are also worse problems. Gangster Carl Kogan (Jacques Aubuchon) wants to recruit the free moonshiners to his gang killing everyone who opposes. Lucas declares war on them. Treasury agent Barrett (Gene Barry) tries to turn Lucas into a snitch against Kogan - unsuccessfully. The world is changing and Luke does not like the Yankees meddling with the Southern way of life.

Lucas Doolin

Papa

Robin

Luke has a romance with singer Francie (Keely Smith) but also local girl Roxy (Sandra Knight) adores him. When the cops start a campaign to destroy the distilleries, Luke decides to make one final run. But Kogan has set a trap for him. Either Kogan or the cops will get Luke. Luke's friends try to stop Luke but for him it is freedom or death!

Carl Kogan

Francie

Roxy and Jed

This is the prototype for the moonshine smuggling chase movies and it gained cult reputation in drive-in theatres. Robert Mitchum wrote the story and also produced it with director Arthur Ripley. Mitchum also wrote and sung the theme song. Originally the role of Robin was written for Elvis Presley, but his manager demanded too much money. This is notably different from the 1970s moonshine films, as this is a serious and noirish crime story. The 1970s moonshining films were more or less comical with jestful smugglers playing tricks on stupid cops. The disappearance of old American way of life has almost "Easy Rider" style tone. Robert Mitchum is very cool in this, and the chase scenes look good for their age."The X-Files" actor Jerry Hardin has a small role in this as unlucky smuggler Niles Penland.

Jerry Hardin as Niles Penland

Rating: Very good

Starring: Robert Mitchum, Gene Barry, Jacques Aubuchon, Keely Smith, Trevor Bardette, Sandra Knight, James Mitchum, Peter Breck, Charles Elledge, Jerry Hardin , Charles Hendrix, Betsy Holt, Peter Hornsby, Francis Koon, Christopher Mitchum, Jack Perry, Robert Porterfield, Mitchell Ryan, Randy Sparks, Dale Van Sickel 

Director: Arthur Ripley