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Rolling Thunder

  • 19771977
  • RR
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
8.9K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
8,639
1,004
William Devane in Rolling Thunder (1977)
Trailer for Rolling Thunder
Play trailer2:31
1 Video
73 Photos
CrimeDramaThriller
A returning war veteran loses his family to a violent home invasion and decides to seek and retaliate against those responsible.A returning war veteran loses his family to a violent home invasion and decides to seek and retaliate against those responsible.A returning war veteran loses his family to a violent home invasion and decides to seek and retaliate against those responsible.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
8.9K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
8,639
1,004
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • John Flynn
    • Writers
      • Paul Schrader(screenplay by)
      • Heywood Gould(screenplay by)
    • Stars
      • William Devane
      • Tommy Lee Jones
      • Linda Haynes
    Top credits
    • Director
      • John Flynn
    • Writers
      • Paul Schrader(screenplay by)
      • Heywood Gould(screenplay by)
    • Stars
      • William Devane
      • Tommy Lee Jones
      • Linda Haynes
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 92User reviews
    • 111Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore

    Videos1

    Rolling Thunder
    Trailer 2:31
    Rolling Thunder

    Photos73

    William Devane in Rolling Thunder (1977)
    Michael Nakamura in Rolling Thunder (1977)
    James N. Harrell in Rolling Thunder (1977)
    Anthony Castillo in Rolling Thunder (1977)
    Linda Haynes and Arturo R. Tamez Jr. in Rolling Thunder (1977)
    Lisa Blake Richards and Michael R. Witte in Rolling Thunder (1977)
    Cassie Yates in Rolling Thunder (1977)
    Carol Sowa in Rolling Thunder (1977)
    Paul A. Partain in Rolling Thunder (1977)
    Jane Abbott in Rolling Thunder (1977)
    Tommy Lee Jones in Rolling Thunder (1977)
    Rudy T. Gonzales in Rolling Thunder (1977)

    Top cast

    Edit
    William Devane
    William Devane
    • Major Charles Rane
    Tommy Lee Jones
    Tommy Lee Jones
    • Johnny Vohden
    Linda Haynes
    Linda Haynes
    • Linda Forchet
    James Best
    James Best
    • Texan
    Dabney Coleman
    Dabney Coleman
    • Maxwell
    Lisa Blake Richards
    Lisa Blake Richards
    • Janet
    • (as Lisa Richards)
    Luke Askew
    Luke Askew
    • Automatic Slim
    Lawrason Driscoll
    • Cliff
    James Victor
    James Victor
    • Lopez
    Cassie Yates
    Cassie Yates
    • Candy
    Jordan Gerler
    • Mark
    Jane Abbott
    • Sister
    Jerry Brown
    Jerry Brown
    • Patrolman 1
    Jacque Burandt
    • Bebe
    Anthony Castillo
    • Street Urchin
    Charles Escamilla
    • T Bird
    Rudy T. Gonzales
    • Bartender
    Robert K. Guthrie
    • Reporter 3
    • Director
      • John Flynn
    • Writers
      • Paul Schrader(screenplay by) (from an original story by)
      • Heywood Gould(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Quentin Tarantino named his distributing company, Rolling Thunder Pictures, after this film. Rolling Thunder Pictures released B-movies, cult classics, independent films, exploitation movies, and foreign films. The company went under due to poor sales.
    • Goofs
      When Rane threatens to shoot Lopez, it is clear that his missing tooth is just a black cap, as it shines in the light.
    • Quotes

      Major Charles Rane: I found them.

      Johnny: Who?

      Major Charles Rane: The men who killed my son.

      Johnny: I'll just get my gear.

      Major Charles Rane: They're in a whorehouse over in Juarez right now. There's the four that came into my home, and there's eight or ten others.

      Johnny: Let's go clean em' up.

    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Take 2: Vietnam Movies (1980)
    • Soundtracks
      San Antone
      Written by Barry De Vorzon (uncredited)

      Sung by Denny Brooks

    User reviews92

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    One Look Says It All!
    Boy, it's good to see a film one really likes that is just about unknown.....and read other reviewers who share your high opinion of that movie.

    That's the case here in this simple revenge tale. My attraction to this film, outside of the interesting story, is the acting performance of William Devane, who plays the lead character. Seldom have I seen such a fascinating character.

    Devane's character, "Major Charles Rane," had some interesting things to say BUT his silence was downright fascinating. Just the looks on his face and the absolute silence when his wife tells him she had been fooling around in his absence (when he had been suffering as POW, no less!) or when the robbers are giving him a horrible, sadistic beating. With the exception of one, maybe two outbursts, his language was surprisingly civil, too.

    The movie had what I call "that gritty '70s look" to it but was well-filmed and probably would look very good on DVD. (We are still waiting for that to happen.) There were some solid closeup and shadow shots which added nicely to the neo-noir story. The violence is no-nonsense, straight-to-the-point and, with one exception at the end, realistically brutal........ but not overdone. The film starts slowly for the first 10-15 minutes but is a fast ride once the thieves enter the picture.

    Co-star Linda Haynes reminded me of Tuesday Weld but not quite as pretty and a tiny bit harder looking. Nonetheless, she was an interesting new face and one I still don't recall ever seeing in any other film. It's also fun to see such a young Tommy Lee Jones.

    Revenge movies can be a dime-a-dozen but this has at least one scene I guarantee you will never forget.
    helpful•39
    12
    • ccthemovieman-1
    • Oct 26, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 6, 1978 (Sweden)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Der Mann mit der Stahlkralle
    • Filming locations
      • San Antonio, Texas, USA
    • Production companies
      • American International Pictures (AIP)
      • Lawrence Gordon Productions
      • TBC Film Presentation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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