Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Drama thriller

Thunder Road (1958): Cast, Ratings & Plot

Thunder Road (1958) movie poster

Thunder Road is a 1958 drama thriller directed by Arthur Ripley, starring Robert Mitchum, Trevor Bardette and James Mitchum. It runs 1 hour 32 minutes. Critics gave it 73 on Metacritic.

Loading streaming availability…
Thunder Road (1958) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 32m (92 min)
Director
Arthur Ripley
Genres
Drama , Thriller , Crime , Film-Noir
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Thunder Road About?

The premise of Thunder Road without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A reckless moonshine runner, Luke Doolin, fights to protect his family’s bootlegging business from dangerous gangsters and law enforcement. Starring Robert Mitchum, this gritty film noir follows Luke as he races against time through the backwoods, facing perilous situations and confronting the risks of his outlaw life. He must battle ruthless adversaries while grappling with his own mortality and the precariousness of his empire.

Thunder Road Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • southern gothic
  • 1950s
  • mother son relationship
  • father son relationship
  • hixploitation
  • psychotronic film
  • teensploitation
  • car rollover
  • boyfriend girlfriend relationship
  • memphis tennessee
  • road block
  • show down
+38 more
  • police scanner
  • arrest
  • kiss
  • car run off the road
  • spike strip
  • trap
  • korean war veteran
  • war veteran as protagonist
  • redneck
  • harlan county kentucky
  • church service
  • prayer before meal
  • whippoorwill
  • family relationships
  • police
  • business
  • united states of america
  • gangster
  • chicago gangster
  • highway
  • double bitted axe
  • cautious man
  • meeting
  • road spike
  • car fire
  • car bomb
  • crashing through a roadblock
  • death of boyfriend
  • handcuffed
  • calling home
  • dancing
  • death threat
  • begins with voice over narration
  • exploding car
  • long distance telephone call
  • electrical substation
  • four flat tires
  • ambushed
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

Thunder Road Cast

Robert Mitchum leads the cast, with Trevor Bardette and James Mitchum. Directed by Arthur Ripley; 10 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Arthur Ripley

More films directed by Arthur Ripley: The Chase, Voice in the Wind, How to Train a Dog and How to Behave.

Full filmography
Ratings

Thunder Road Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Thunder Road 73 on Metacritic.

Plot

Thunder Road Plot Summary

What happens in Thunder Road from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Lucas Doolin finds himself embroiled in a game of cat and mouse with federal agents from the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Treasury Department, spearheaded by the relentless Troy Barrett. After a narrow escape from their grasp, he returns to his tranquil home nestled in a country valley, where a tragic incident sends ripples of fear through the local community. A local liquor transporter is brutally murdered during a calculated ambush, and suspicions quickly arise that the nefarious Kogan, an outsider with a sinister agenda, may be behind the attack.

Full summary

The whole story of Thunder Road, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

Thunder Road Trailers & Videos

3 videos: 1 trailer and 2 featurettes.

Thunder Road (1958) Original Trailer [FHD]
  • Featurette Robert Mitchum sings The Ballad of Thunder Road
  • Featurette Josh Olson on THUNDER ROAD
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Thunder Road?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the main character of Thunder Road?

Cars

Cars in Thunder Road

31 cars on screen, including the 1957 Chevrolet Two-Ten and the 1951 Ford Custom.

All 31 cars
  • 1957 Chevrolet Two-Ten in Thunder Road 1957 Chevrolet Two-Ten Important role
  • 1951 Ford Custom in Thunder Road 1951 Ford Custom Important role
  • 1957 Ford Custom in Thunder Road 1957 Ford Custom Important role
  • 1950 Ford Custom De Luxe in Thunder Road 1950 Ford Custom De Luxe Important role
Details

Thunder Road Also Known As

14 alternative titles, including “Die letzte Fahrt nach Memphis” and “La Route de la Fraude”.

Also known as
  • Die letzte Fahrt nach Memphis
  • La Route de la Fraude
  • Il contrabbandiere
  • Kilometerstein 375
  • Camino de odio
  • Mániákus motorosok
  • Дорога грома
  • 霹雳街歼枭战
  • A Lei da Montanha
  • 썬더 로드
  • Hromská cesta
  • La ruta del tro
+2 more
  • Kampen om smuglervejen
  • Rattens djävlar

Seen Thunder Road?

FAQ

Thunder Road FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of Thunder Road, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Thunder Road?

Thunder Road runs 1 hour 32 minutes (92 minutes).

When was Thunder Road released?

Thunder Road was released on May 10, 1958.

Who directed Thunder Road?

Thunder Road was directed by Arthur Ripley.

More films by Arthur Ripley

Who is in the cast of Thunder Road?

Thunder Road stars Robert Mitchum, Trevor Bardette and James Mitchum, among 10 credited actors.

How is Thunder Road rated?

Thunder Road has 73 on Metacritic and 62% on TMDB.

Does Thunder Road have a post-credit scene?

No. Thunder Road has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app