Thunderbolt and Lightfoot

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot follows a veteran bank robber who has gone into hiding, only to find his former partners closing in on him. He teams up with a young drifter, and the two set out to recover loot that was stashed away after an earlier robbery, while the old gang pursues the same prize. Their plan centres on a heavily protected depository in Montana, and the uneasy partnership between the older criminal and his reckless new companion drives the story.

The film marked Michael Cimino's debut as a director and also his first produced screenplay; he went on to make The Deer Hunter, Heaven's Gate and Year of the Dragon, among others. Clint Eastwood plays Thunderbolt and Jeff Bridges plays Lightfoot, with George Kennedy, Geoffrey Lewis, Catherine Bach and Gary Busey in supporting roles. Robert Daley produced for Malpaso Productions and United Artists.

Released in May 1974, the film runs 116 minutes and blends crime, action, adventure, comedy and drama. Made for about four million dollars, it took roughly twenty-five million worldwide, a strong return. On IMDb it holds 7 out of 10 from around 33,000 votes, and on TMDB 6.8 out of 10 from far fewer votes. A critics' rating of 7.1 out of 10 from 35 reviews places it close to the audience score on IMDb.