Blu Ray Review: Thunderbolt (1929)

One of the most significant blu ray releases by Kino Lorber, Thunderbolt is a Josef von Sterburg film that was not only his first talkie, but one of the first sound films to eschew theater-based dialog and present a more natural conversation for authenticity.

Josef von Sternberg had established a keen understanding of the gangster genre with his silent films, The Dragnet and Underworld, both of which starred George Bancroft. Bancroft had also starred in what many believe to be Josef von Sternberg’s masterpiece, Docks of New York. But it is his appearance in Thunderbolt that netted George Bancroft his only Oscar nomination.

Bancroft plays the title gangster, Thunderbolt Jim Lang, who wields a great deal of power on the streets and must stay one jump ahead of the cops. He is in love with Ritzy (Fay Wray), who no longer is attracted to his lifestyle, and has fallen for another man, banker Bob Moran (Richard Arlen). Because of his association with Ritzy, Bob loses his job, and is later framed and sent to prison. He gets the cell next to Thunderbolt, who is imprisoned for murder. But he wants to stave off his walk to death row long enough to kill the man who has been romancing his girl.

Written by Herman Mankiewicz from a story by Jules and Charles Furthman, Thunderbolt is an exciting, well acted gangster melodrama that could serve as the transition between silent like Underworld, and such classic pre-code talkies as Little Caesar and The Public Enemy. However, Thunderbolt offers another element by presenting a very dark visual, with looming shadows behind the actors. It’s very effective and impressive, making Thunderbolt something of a portent to later film noir crime dramas.

There is a scene early in the film where Thunderbolt and Ritzy have dinner at an African American-owned nightclub. This allows us to see a couple of noted African American performers from this period, including Oscar Smith, who has a seriocomic role as a stuttering waiter, and Theresa Harris, making her film debut. Harris usually played domestics, acting into the 1950s and living into the 1980s. However she had significantly more prominent supporting roles in the films Baby Face and Hold Your Man. In Thunderbolt, Harris is shown singing Sam Coslow’s song Daddy Won’t You Please Come Home, backed by the Curtis Mosby orchestera.

Thunderbolt is a great movie, with both historical and aesthetic significance. Kino Lorber’s blu ray also includes an audio commentary by film critic Nick Pinkerton that offers more interest about the film’s overall importance.

Thunderbolt can be ordered at this link: THUNDERBOLT