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Poster for Thunderbolt

Thunderbolt

Seen it?

1929 | 91 min | Crime, Drama

Weeknight Watchearly rating

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

With almost no lasting buzz and soft box office, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Great for crime fans and people who like stories about real, flawed people. Plenty of moral grey areas to chew on. If you loved The Asphalt Jungle or Point Blank, start here.
The mood
Dark and gritty.
The pace
Lets scenes breathe, at 1 hr 31 min.
What might put you off
  • Made in 1929: an older pace and style.
  • Skip it if you like your heroes clean-cut.

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.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsSolid

    70% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsBelow par

    Nominated for 1 Oscar.

  • Reach & staying powerBelow par

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 8K people sought it out in the past year

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Cast & crew

Directed by Josef von Sternberg

  • George BancroftThunderbolt Jim Lang
  • Fay WrayRitzy
  • Richard ArlenBob Moran
  • Tully MarshallWarden
  • Eugenie BessererMrs. Moran
  • James Spottswood'Snapper' O'Shea
  • Fred Kohler'Bad Al' Friedberg
  • Robert ElliottPrison chaplain
  • E.H. CalvertDist. Atty. McKay
  • George IrvingMr. Corwin