Quench the Devil’s Thirst: Robert Mitchum in THUNDER ROAD (United Artists 1958)


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Robert Mitchum  puts the pedal to the metal as a moonshine runner at odds with both the Feds and gangsters in THUNDER ROAD. This is Mitchum’s most personal picture, not only starring but producing, writing the story (and two songs!), and, rumor has it, doing much of the directing. His notorious independent streak comes through in his character Luke Doolin, a Korean War vet who believes in the right of individual ownership, whether on his land or in his car, and free market enterprise, without interference from outsiders or the government. That’s right, Luke Doolin is a true Libertarian hero!

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He’s also the best damn driver in River Valley, Kentucky, as we see in the opening scene, speeding down the backroads, eluding police with the greatest of ease. The Doolins have been making moonshine for generations, with daddy Vernon running the still, baby brother Robin the family mechanic, and mama Sarah praying for…

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2 responses to “Quench the Devil’s Thirst: Robert Mitchum in THUNDER ROAD (United Artists 1958)

  1. Pingback: Lisa Watches An Oscar Nominee: Separate Tables (dir by Delbert Mann) | Through the Shattered Lens

  2. Pingback: A Movie A Day #351: Moonshine Highway (1996, directed by Andy Armstrong) | Through the Shattered Lens

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