Thunderbolt (1929 film)

Thunderbolt
Full-bleed theatrical release poster
Directed byJosef von Sternberg
Screenplay byJules Furthman
Herman Mankiewicz
Story byCharles Furthman
Jules Furthman
Produced byB. P. Fineman
StarringGeorge Bancroft
Fay Wray
Richard Arlen
Tully Marshall
Eugénie Besserer
CinematographyHenry W. Gerrard
Edited byHelen Lewis
Color processBlack and white
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • June 20, 1929 (1929-06-20) (U.S.)
Running time
91 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Thunderbolt (also released as At The Gates of Death) is a 1929 American pre-Code proto-noir film directed by Josef von Sternberg and starring George Bancroft, Fay Wray, Richard Arlen, Tully Marshall and Eugenie Besserer. It tells the story of a criminal, facing execution, who wants to kill the man in the next cell for being in love with his former girlfriend.

The film was adapted by Herman J. Mankiewicz, Joseph L. Mankiewicz (titles) and Josef von Sternberg from the story by Jules and Charles Furthman.[1]

Bancroft was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor.[2][3]

  1. ^ Sarris, 1966. p. 23
  2. ^ The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1921-30 by The American Film Institute, c.1971
  3. ^ Thunderbolt at silentera.com