The Worst Film Ever

Excellent but underrated film

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Although not Robert Mitchum's best film (that would be the brilliant "Night of the Hunter" or "Out of the Past"), but it's one of my favorites of his films. Mitchum plays a moonshine runner (think a young Boss Hogg and Uncle Jesse) caught in the middle of moonshine war with the mob and some hard-nosed feds. The film was co-written and produced by Mitchum, and is rumored to have also directed much of the film. He also sang the film's theme song! The film had a chance to be even cooler with the part of Mitchum's kid brother being written for Elivis, who reportedly wanted to appear in the film, but Colonel Tom Parker demanded a huge salary that exceeded the entire budget of the small production. If you have to ding this very likable film, the story is a pretty corny one of Mitchum trying to keep his kid brother (played by his dead ringer real-life son instead of Elvis) while fending off Federal agents, rival moonshiners, and romancing nightclub singer Keely Smith.Still, Bob Mitchum running 'shine is pretty hard to resist, especially when you have some amazing stunt work from legendary stuntman Carey Loftin, the guy behind the car chases in "Bullitt," "Vanishing Point," and "The French Connection." This is easily THE definitive moonshine picture and a must see for fans of this type of picture.

Fine low-budget action drama that pits the moralistic urban view of "hillbillies" against the philosophy of people from the mountain (in this case of Irish ancestry) who live by simple rules. Robert Mitchum plays Luke Doolin, a stubborn man who is a war defector and also in charge of the illegal moon-shining business run by his family for 250 years. On top of this he has against him a ruthless intermediary who wants to control the business in the area, including the county where the Doolins live and operate. I found most interesting the way innocent lives were taken up to a point: in our times, both Luke's singer girlfriend and his brother would have been killed in the middle of act 2. Sandra Knight, James Mitchum and Keely Smith are convincing in first big roles.

Robert Mitchum - renaissance man? You better believe it as Bob besides. naturally doing the lead acting honours, is credited with the original story-line, cops a production credit and even co-writes the winsome "Whipoorwill" ballad which frequents the movie.The movie itself comes off like a contemporary "beat" novel set to film, an unglamorous story of moonshine whisky transporters living just outside the law with Mitchum's Luke Doolan's character as talismanic main driver, not part of any team, but somehow the lightning rod around whom the whole story sparks.While obviously low-budget, there's a good cast here who give the film an ensemble feel and if you can ignore the obvious process "driving in my car" shots, there are also some exciting car chases, particularly the concluding one which sees Doolan meet his demise.Mitchum even introduces us to his son James in a prominent acting role and while he, not unnaturally, seems too young to be his old man's kid brother, he certainly seems like a chip off the old block. I also like the actresses who respectively play Doolan's mother, not above dispensing some peremptory corporal punishment when Mitchum Junior steps out of line and also the girl singer who gets as close as anyone to getting under Mitchum's tough skin as love interest. No beauty and obviously contrasted with the prettier more youthful girl with a major crush on Mitchum, their "love" scenes (I'm stretching the term) come across with engaging naturalism and realism.Perhaps the film has a little too many sub-plots and characters for its own good and it takes some while to find its rhythm, but once it settles, it finds a kinetic energy which keeps you watching and draws you into its small world, inspiring genuine interest in the characters. I also just wonder if it inspired Bruce Springsteen's famous song of the same name, several years later...

In the back woods of Kentucky, Tennessee and Macon Georga, there is a tradition of making moonshine which dates back to when these towns were first founded. However, the fact that distilling alcohol is no longer illegal, most of the fun has been taken out of it. But back in 1958 a movie came on the silver screen which made its star a national icon and a household name. The movie was called " Thunder Road" and stars Robert Mitchum as 'cool driving' Lucas Doolin. His job in the film is transporting untaxed moonshine from one county to another. Although sought after by Treasury Agent Troy Barrett (Gene Barry) who plans to put all of the moonshine distillers out of business, it's a new criminal faction who becomes more dangerous than the law. The new organization, headed by Carl Kogan (Jacques Aubuchon) plans to take over Relow Valley by force and make the mountain people go back to raising Bumblebee Cotton. The night time, high speed chases along some of the hottest roads in the back woods, makes for exciting, shoot-em up, roll-over action and Mitchem is superb as the ex-army veteran, turned moonshine runner. Not to mention the movie's title song which he wrote and later became a radio hit. Robert Mitchum's on screen persona is what makes this 50's film a true Classic. ****