Tweet THUNDERBOLT (1929)

For some reason I thought this film was a talkie remake by Josef von Sternberg of his great silent Underworld. Although George Bancroft is again the star here (and won an Oscar nomination for best actor) this is an entirely different storyline.

Bancroft stars a a tough hood in love with Fay Wray. But she's trying to go straight with Richard Arlen, who works in a bank. A man hunt captures Bancroft and convicts him to death row. But even from the cell, Bancroft is able to frame Arlen for a murder during a ban robbery. Arlen is sentenced to death row and ends up across the hall from Bancroft. Will there be fairness? Will there be redemption?

As in Underworld, Bancroft is terrific as the obsessed and all-powerful thug. His voice is great as he growls and groans and threatens. Wray looks stunning, and Arlen is good as the innocent man.

For a 1929 talkie, this film has its stagnant moments when the editors didn't know when to cut. But it also features some terrific work by von Sternberg.

The entrance scene into the jazz club is a barrage of trellises and picket fences... quite beautiful... and also boasts a really nice song from Theresa Harris (who usually played a maid). There's also a wondrous scene where Arlen has been hurt and is being tended by his mother (Eugenie Besserer). While's she's applying iodine, he pulls his hands away and the bottle smashes. Both try to clean it up and the scene ends in a giggling tickle fight. Totally unexpected and totally wonderful.

Fred Kohler plays a convict. Tully Marshall is marvelous is a jittery warden.

The ending is probably expected but is beautifully done.

For some reason I thought this film was a talkie remake by Josef von Sternberg of his great silent Underworld. Although George Bancroft is again the star here (and won an Oscar nomination for best actor) this is an entirely different storyline.[snip]

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Would you mind if I asked where you saw THUNDERBOLT? As a Sternberg fanatic I've been seeking this film for decades; all I've managed to find is a rip from a German television broadcast of poor quality.

While I'm at it, why is it so hard to see Sternberg's AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY [1931]? (Rhetorical question.)

Yo... the copy I saw also had the German subtitles... but it was a decent copy....

Over the last few weeks I have watched Underworld, The Last Command and last night the Docks of New York. Loved them all,. In reading about them I came across mention of Thunderbolt with George Bancroft and directed by Sternberg. The DVD of this is not easy to find. I located a copy on lovingtheclassics. Com

Does anyone know anything about this Site? They want $15.

THANKS,
Matt

Over the last few weeks I have watched Underworld, The Last Command and last night the Docks of New York. Loved them all,. In reading about them I came across mention of Thunderbolt with George Bancroft and directed by Sternberg. The DVD of this is not easy to find. I located a copy on lovingtheclassics. Com

Does anyone know anything about this Site? They want $15.

THANKS,
Matt

How do I put this? Uh, don't expect much. It'll be watchable but only barely, if they run to form.

Tread warily with that one. A bad and ridiculous experience put me off for life. Others felt the same as well at the time. One went around in circles and got nowhere. But them if luck is with you, you may experience a better result.

While I'm at it, why is it so hard to see Sternberg's AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY [1931]?

The aforementioned questionable source also offers this one, which I'd like to see. Phillips Holmes & Sylvia Sidney seem like they might be good choices to play the muderer & his victim.