Noir City 2026: Thunder Road
February 18, 2026
High octane on a low budget! Robert Mitchum is a moonshiner who runs afoul of big-city gangsters and federal agents, and his real-life son, James, portrays the kid brother wanting in on the action. Mitchum’s most personal film – he wrote the story, co-produced the film, and co-wrote two of the film’s songs including “The Ballad of Thunder Road.”
Tickets
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Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Robert Mitchum may well be the reigning male icon of film noir, but in this one he swaps the trench coat and fedora for a windbreaker and greasy dungarees and he trades in the ’48 Buick for a custom-built, souped-up moonshine mobile. Lucas Doolin (Mitchum) and his younger brother Robin (Mitchum’s actual son, Jim) only want to keep alive the family tradition of running contraband whiskey from the Appalachians to the big city, but the Feds are out to spoil the party. Luckily, swinging chanteuse Keely Smith is around to keep things lively. This may be Mitchum’s most personal film: he wrote the story, co-produced it with director Arthur Ripley, and co-wrote two of the film’s songs—“The Whippoorwill” and the title song “The Ballad of Thunder Road.” Try not to think of what this picture might have been had Mitchum had the dough to land his co-star of choice: Elvis Presley. As it is, it’s still high octane on a low budget.
- Director: Arthur Ripley
- Principal Cast: Robert Mitchum, Gene Barry, Jacques Aubuchon, Keely Smith, Trevor Bardette
- Country: USA
- Year: 1958
- Running Time: 92 min.
- Producer: Robert Mitchum, Arthur Ripley
- Screenplay: James Atlee Phillips, Walter Wise
- Cinematographers: David Ettenson, Alan Stensvold
- Editors: Harry Marker
- Format: DCP
- US Distributor: Park Circus