
Thunderbolt
Seen it?1929 | 91 min | Crime, Drama
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
More like this
The Asphalt JungleFriday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed crime drama.
Point BlankSaturday SpecialAnother crime drama.
Killer's KissSaturday SpecialAnother crime drama that's easy to miss.
Nancy Drew and the Hidden StaircaseWeeknight WatchAnother crime story, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Cut BankWeeknight WatchAnother crime drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
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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