In backwoods Tennessee, slick cigarette smoker Robert Mitchum (as Lucas "Luke" Doolin) wins a car chase with federal agents. Fresh out of the Korean War, Mr. Mitchum illegally transports whiskey made in his father's still. As the story progresses, it appears those were bootleggers working for Mitchum's rival, not federal agents. A powerful whiskey racketeer wants to drive Mitchum's family out of business. Hold on, it may be that Mitchum isn't a veteran, after all, because Alcohol, Tobacco and Treasury Department leader Gene Barry (as Troy Barrett) later asks Mitchum's son why his father did not serve in the army. Wait, that's not Mitchum's son turning up his collar in high school, it's his brother James Mitchum (as Robin "Rob" Doolin). Mitchum wants his son out of the family business, which has been bootlegging, way back to their ancestors in Ireland...
"Thunder Road" is a great title, especially for a "drive-in" movie. There are a lot of scenes where you can pretend you're actually "in" the on-screen car. No doubt, many guys sat there, spinning their steering wheels. With any luck, one's date got anxious and slide over in the seat, during the chase scenes. Other than that, this Mitchum production is dire. The star looks out of place as a "hardnosed hillbilly" (although "Thunder Road" certainly needed his name in the cast). Mitchum and some of his co-stars may have benefited from some rehearsal time, before facing the camera. The story could have been re-tooled to have the star be a more age appropriate WW II vet, who secretly fathered young Jim Mitchum with girlfriend Francie (contemporary singer Keely Smith). This would give the limp and stilted relationship between the elder Mitchum and Ms. Smith some life...
Federal agent Gene Barry doesn't do much to warrant his second billing, but he's dependable. Other multi-TV series favorites Mitchell Ryan (in his first screen role, as Jethro "Jed" Moultrie) and Peter Breck (as Stacey Gouge) are likewise agreeable, early in their careers. Several sources state Elvis Presley wanted to accept the role played by Mitchum's son, but was prevented from doing so when his manager asked for an exorbitant salary. After 1956, it's difficult to believe Mr. Presley would accept a secondary role in this picture, and sing tunes co-written by Robert Mitchum. Perhaps his salary request was a polite way of turning the project down. Interestingly, Mitchum re-recorded his movie theme song and had a big hit record. "The Ballad of Thunder Road" never made the US top ten, but sold steadily enough to be considered one.
**** Thunder Road (1958-05-10) Arthur Ripley ~ Robert Mitchum, James Mitchum, Gene Barry, Mitchell Ryan
"Thunder Road" is a great title, especially for a "drive-in" movie. There are a lot of scenes where you can pretend you're actually "in" the on-screen car. No doubt, many guys sat there, spinning their steering wheels. With any luck, one's date got anxious and slide over in the seat, during the chase scenes. Other than that, this Mitchum production is dire. The star looks out of place as a "hardnosed hillbilly" (although "Thunder Road" certainly needed his name in the cast). Mitchum and some of his co-stars may have benefited from some rehearsal time, before facing the camera. The story could have been re-tooled to have the star be a more age appropriate WW II vet, who secretly fathered young Jim Mitchum with girlfriend Francie (contemporary singer Keely Smith). This would give the limp and stilted relationship between the elder Mitchum and Ms. Smith some life...
Federal agent Gene Barry doesn't do much to warrant his second billing, but he's dependable. Other multi-TV series favorites Mitchell Ryan (in his first screen role, as Jethro "Jed" Moultrie) and Peter Breck (as Stacey Gouge) are likewise agreeable, early in their careers. Several sources state Elvis Presley wanted to accept the role played by Mitchum's son, but was prevented from doing so when his manager asked for an exorbitant salary. After 1956, it's difficult to believe Mr. Presley would accept a secondary role in this picture, and sing tunes co-written by Robert Mitchum. Perhaps his salary request was a polite way of turning the project down. Interestingly, Mitchum re-recorded his movie theme song and had a big hit record. "The Ballad of Thunder Road" never made the US top ten, but sold steadily enough to be considered one.
**** Thunder Road (1958-05-10) Arthur Ripley ~ Robert Mitchum, James Mitchum, Gene Barry, Mitchell Ryan