'50s Trash?: Thunder Road (1958)

 This one is a personal pick from my Parents, so blame them if you disagree.  This is Thunder Road, a 1958 Film for Robert Mitchum.  If you like Films like this, they are 'Passion Projects.'  For instance, Kevin Spacey wanted to play Bobby Darrin for so long that he took the chance even when he was too old.  That was definitely the last mistake he'd ever make!  If you don't like the final product, then a Film like this is called a 'Vanity Project.'  For instance, Matthew McConaughey taking time away from Award-winning/nominated Films to make Surfer Dude.  If you want to go more Era-related, see Glen or Glenda?, where Ed Wood infamously took the tale of the World's first (official) Gender Reassignment Surgery...and turned into a tale of him finding love while also wearing lady's clothing.  I don't mock him for that part- just the ridiculous Film.  In this case, Mitchum allegedly heard the tale of Moonshine Runners (after one's famous death) and wanted to make the Film.  To get it done, he brought a Director out of retirement in Film (his last one was in 1944) and tried to go big with the Casting.  He is credited as a Writer and a Performer for the Film's Title Track.  The Film exists solely due to him, his influence and his desire to see it made.  So is it a Passion Project or a Vanity Project?  To find out, let's drive on...

Mitchum starts as a Moonshine Runner who has the most backstory of anyone.

He served in 'The War' and is scared of nothing!

He's back home with his Mother and  Brother...who is younger than him...and looks more like his Son.

Yeah, it's his Son.

He tried to get Elvis to play this part, but his Manager allegedly asked for too much money.

Oh well, your Son in his first Role ever is a good replacement!

He talks to the Elder of the Family who tells him that a new guy from 'the City' is trying to take over.

So, to be clear, the bad guys who run from the Cops/Federal Agents are not the bad guys because...other bad guys exist?

Remember how 'noble' Mitchum and company are as they cause Federal Agents to be killed in a car wreck while pursuing them.

Also take note of how fake all of the driving bits are.

Too bad the Film is ALL ABOUT DRIVING!

Mitchum drives into the City to meet with the guy he's heard about.  He gets the usual 'join us or be taken over' speech.

As you can see, Mitchum doesn't agree.

To pad out the runtime, we get this romance sub-plot with him and this Singer.

When Robert Mitchum is in company bad enough to ruin Scenes he's in, the less said the better!

Things escalate as the City Boss targets Mitchum and other Runners.

We get some collateral damage as one Runner buys Mitchum's previous car, only for it to get blown up in retaliation.

This takes out two Federal Agents as well.

The main Agent goes to talk to Mitchum's Son...er, Brother.

In front of this totally real location, the latter denies everything, while the former does the 'call me when you want to talk' spiel.

Totally real!

There's an awkward break as the Third Act begins...

Mitchum evades a trap, but is stuck.

People keep finding him that want to (but not the bad guys, somehow!).

He insists on going on a final run as pressure mounts.

He...dies, which is kind of a given considering the origin of this tale.

At least his Son-Brother and his Not-Girlfriend live happily ever after.

A possibly-well-intentioned dud.  So I'm adding a qualifier there for a good reason.  Was being an illegal Moonshine Runner considered to be an 'heroic' profession?  Is that context just lost after 60+ years?  If so, I can understand the idea behind this.  If not, then...not so much.  Mitchum tries to glamorize people that were outright breaking the law.  Was it supposed to be okay because they could die too?  The whole thing is built around Mitchum as some noble, well-intentioned man who sticks to his principles.  I'm sure the dead people appreciate you sticking to them!  Getting past all that, the Movie just looks and feels kind of cheap lots of the time.  All of the driving bits look fake as hell and the crash footage they use never quite matches.  The Acting ranges from alright to outright terrible.  So I can't related to our Hero or his plight...and everyone else is not great either.  Nice!  Thunder Road is definitely a Vanity Project and that's a shame.  An even-handed and better take on this would be nice (assuming it doesn't already exist).  Fun fact: besides featuring his eldest Son, Mitchum also put his younger son Christopher in as this boy in the back.  Thankfully, he never lived to see him play Santa in David DeCoteau's Santa's Summer House...

Next time, I take a compare-contrast look at a classic Sci-Fi Film and an in-name only TV Remake.  Will Plants conquer us all?!?  Stay tuned...