Friday 6 February 2009

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1974

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot is a 1974 crime film starring Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges, George Kennedy, and Geoffrey Lewis.
As the movie opens, a young ne'er-do-well named Lightfoot (Jeff Bridges) is stealing a car, and independently, an assassin is preparing to kill a minister at his pulpit (John "Thunderbolt" Doherty, played by Clint Eastwood). Thunderbolt escapes on foot and Lightfoot inadvertently rescues him by running over his pursuer. It emerges that Thunderbolt is a veteran bank robber who had been hiding under the guise of a clergyman following a successful looting of an armored car company.

The money from that heist was never recovered..


Below: How Thunderbolt and Lightfoot would have opened when seen in UK cinemas with its original X certificate

To view the Original Theatrical Trailer, click below:
             
From the unreleased soundtrack, here's a nicely produced video for the Paul Williams song Where do I go from here
             
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1974 Original U.S. banner 82 X 24
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1974 Clint Eastwood Jeff Bridges UK QUAD poster

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot / Way of the Dragon Clint / Bruce Lee Double Bill Rare UK QUAD
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1974 Clint Eastwood Jeff Bridges Original Australian Day bill poster

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1974 Clint Eastwood Jeff Bridges Original Turkish Poster

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1974 Clint Eastwood Jeff Bridges Original Belgium
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1974 Clint Eastwood Original German A1 Poster

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1974 DVD Clint Eastwood Jeff Bridges with Trailer

Below: Thunderbolt & Lightfoot Blu-ray from Twilight Time
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1974 FOH set x 8 UK
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1974 Japan Original Thick full colour Brochure
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot Rare Original 35mm film trailer on core
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1974 Lobby set x 12 German - Some of these were hand tinted which did not look particularly good (9/12 shown)
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1974 Lobby set x 9 French
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1974 2 Original French Grande posters (approx 4ft x 5ft)
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1974 Original Radio Spots 60, 30, 30, 30secs
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1974 Paul Williams Single Where do we go from here
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1974 10 x 8 Press Stills b/w x 25
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1974 Rare US Original rolled half sheet poster Style A
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1974 Set of Original UK production notes from UA 10 pages

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1974 UK Original Press book
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1974 UK Original Press book (with 1 cut)
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1974 USA Extremely rare Original rolled style C insert poster Absolute MINT

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1974 USA Original 1 sheet poster Style D rolled (previously folded) Excellent

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1974 USA Original Press book
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1974 x 2 Diff film Paperbacks (U.S. version with photo cover)


Some superb collectables from around the World.
Below: The U.S. 40 x 60 poster style C
Below: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (United Artists 1974) U.S. 1 Sheet (27 X 41) Style C
Below: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (United Artists 1974) U.S. Half Sheet Style C
Below: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot Japanese B2 poster and the Japanese version of the Laserdisc
Below: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot double sided Japanese B3 poster
Below; Thunderbolt and Lightfoot Warner Home Video Japanese Laserdisc
Below: The U.S. Laserdisc from CBS Fox Panned and Scanned version
Below: The U.S. Remastered Widescreen Laserdisc from MGM/UA, also contained original trailer
Below: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot U.S. CED Video Discs
Below: A very rare 3rd paperback version, I had never seen this before, thanks to Mal Baker for providing the image.
Below: An Original Thunderbolt and Lightfoot Swedish Insert Poster
Below: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot Advance U.S. 1 sheet poster
Below: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot U.S. International 1 sheet poster
Below: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot U.S. International Half sheet poster
Below: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (United Artists 1974) U.S. 1 Sheet (27 X 41) Style A
Below: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot Style A U.S. Insert
Below: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (United Artists 1974) U.S. 1 Sheet (27 X 41) Style B
Below: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot U.S. Lobby card set of 8 (14 x 11)
Below: A close up example of the U.S. Lobby card
Below: Thunderbolt & Lightfoot US mini lobby card set of 8 (10x8) 
Above: Here's a beautiful Thunderbolt and Lightfoot Italian Locandina poster I've never seen before
Below: Nice Thunderbolt & Lightfoot collection of 8 Italian Fotobustas
Below: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot French poster design for a recent screening in France 2011

Below: Another poster for a screening of Michael Cimino's Thunderbolt and Lightfoot at Cinéma le Grand Action in Paris 2011
Below: The Spanish release poster for Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
From my friend Philip McLean, here is the Japanese DVD of Thunderbolt and Lightfoot - Philip explained that the film is simply known as 'Lightfoot' in Japan.


Original Revews
Thunderbolt And Lightfoot (1974)
Engaging 'Thunderbolt and Lightfoot'
HOWARD THOMPSON, New York Times
Published: May 24, 1974

Of the current movies on vagrant banditry, a theme that is being run into the ground, the most engaging is "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot," a funny, tough-fibered crime comedy with an unobtrusive edge of drama. With Clint Eastwood as an older, wise thief and Jeff Bridges as his grinning apprentice, the picture is consistently entertaining and interesting.


Mr. Eastwood is a smart fellow. For his Malpaso Company unit, he engaged a bright new young director, Michael Cimino, who also wrote an original script that is freshly turned in characterization and plot, amusingly ribald and neatly paced. The pattern is essentially familiar—crime still doesn't pay and the big climactic heist misfires—but Mr. Cimino's expert piloting scoots the action forward colorfully. The playing is entirely disarming, with Mr. Eastwood's wry restraint meshing perfectly with Mr. Bridges's impish exuberance, and Geoffrey Lewis and George Kennedy lending sturdy support.


As Frank Stanley's beautiful photography evokes the sweep of Montana's Big Sky country, the picture mercifully avoids footnotes on social significance except for one subtle, succinct touch in a climactic, schoolhouse scene, a thoughtful twist. The Eastwood team has pulled off a modest enjoyable winner.

The Cast
THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTFOOT written and directed by Michael Cimino; produced by Robert Daley for the Malpaso Company; photographed by Frank Stanley; released by United Artists.
At the Cinerama Theater, Broadway and 47th Street, and other showcases.
Running time: 115 minutes.
(This film is rated R.)
Thunderbolt . . . . . Clint Eastwood
Lightfoot . . . . . Jeff Bridges
Leary . . . . . George Kennedy
Goody . . . . . Geoffrey Lewis


Thunderbolt & Lightfoot - reunited!
Clint and Jeff attend the 17th annual AFI Awards at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills on January 6th, 2017, Los Angeles, California.
Below: A car is crashed into the shop front of The Paris, downtown, Great falls, Montana
Below: Another selection of press stills from Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
Below: Here's a small (A5) UK leaflet from United Artists - one piece that I still have missing from my collection.
Below: Here is a rare badge originally worn by Ushers in American theatres to advertise coming films
Below: Director Cimino and Clint during the opening chase scene
Below: Here's a really nice, recently discovered double-sided French press sheet.
Below: Here is the very rare UK Double Crown poster 30" x 20" for the double bill screening of Thunderbolt and Lightfoot / The Way of the Dragon
Below: An original newspaper ad for Thunderbolt & Lightfoot
Below: Thunderbolt & Lightfoot original U.S. 8 1/2” x 11” movie Ad Sheet
Below: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot original UK ad
Thunderbolt & Lightfoot A rare, re-constructed FYC ad for Jeff Bridges - Best Supporting Actor




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