Thunderbolt *** (1929, George Bancroft, Fay Wray, Richard Arlen, Tully Marshall, Eugenie Besserer) – Classic Movie Review 12,100

Director Josef Von Sternberg’s 1929 film Thunderbolt [At the Gates of Death] is a tough, glum gangster picture, with the cops rounding up mobster Thunderbolt Jim Lang (George Bancroft, who was Oscar nominated for Best Actor). Just before his execution, he plans to kill his girl Ritzy (Fay Wray)’s lover, Bob Moran (Richard Arlen), another prisoner conveniently held in the next cell.

Thunderbolt is a very creaky antique, but director Von Sternberg adds some typically stylish atmosphere and striking visuals to relish in this early talkie from an original story by Jules and Charles Furthman, adapted by Herman J Mankiewicz (adaptation), Josef von Sternberg (adaptation) and Joseph L Mankiewicz (titles).

Thunderbolt is Josef von Sternberg’s first film using synchronized sound technology. Two versions were produced, the talkie and the silent version for cinemas still to be adapted to sound.

It was released on 20 June 20 1929 in the US.

It runs 91 minutes.

It follows Von Sternberg’s 1927 Underworld and the 1928 lost film The Drag Net.

The cast are George Bancroft as Thunderbolt Jim Lang, Fay Wray as Ritzy, Richard Arlen as Bob Moran, Tully Marshall as Warden, Eugenie Besserer as Mrs. Moran, James Spottswood as ‘Snapper’ O’Shea, Robert Elliott as Prison Chaplain, Fred Kohler as ‘Bad Al’ Frieberg, E.H. Calvert as Dist. Atty. McKay, George Irving as Mr. Corwin, Mike Donlin as Kentucky Sampson as Prisoner #4, S.S. Stewart as Prisoner #7 Piano Player, and William L Thorne as Police Inspector.

Thunderbolt is directed by Josef Von Sternberg, runs 91 minutes, is made and released by Paramount Pictures, is written by Herman J Mankiewicz (adaptation), Josef von Sternberg (adaptation) and Joseph L Mankiewicz (titles), is shot in black and white by Henry W Gerrard, is produced by B P Fineman, and designed by Hans Dreier.

Karl Hajos composed the title music.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,100

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