Thunderbolt (1929): cast, story & where to watch
1929 · Film · ★ 5.5
Released in 1929, Thunderbolt is a drama and crime film directed by Josef von Sternberg, running about 85 minutes. “George Bancroft making Love With the Determination of a Bull Dog! Fay Wray His Foil and Richard Arlen His Enemy” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A criminal known as Thunderbolt is imprisoned and facing execution. Into the next cell is placed Bob Moran, an innocent man who has been framed and who is in love with Thunderbolt's girl, without knowing of their relationship. Thunderbolt hopes to stave off the execution long enough to kill young Moran for romancing his girl.
Who’s in it. Thunderbolt stars George Bancroft as Thunderbolt Jim Lang, Fay Wray as Ritzy, Richard Arlen as Bob Moran and Tully Marshall as Warden, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.5/10, Thunderbolt has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Thunderbolt page.
If you liked it. Fans of Thunderbolt tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Thunderbolt (1929)?
- In US, Thunderbolt is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Thunderbolt worth watching?
- Thunderbolt holds an audience score of 5.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and crime. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Thunderbolt?
- Thunderbolt stars George Bancroft, Fay Wray, Richard Arlen, Tully Marshall and Eugenie Besserer.
- When was Thunderbolt released?
- Thunderbolt was released in 1929, with a runtime of about 85 minutes.