Continuity mistake: In the scene where Thunderbolt and Lightfoot are in the car with the crazy driver. The car goes over the embankment and as it flips you can see a wheel break off. A short time later they both drive off in the same car, with the wheel attached again.
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)
Directed by: Michael Cimino
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges, Gary Busey, George Kennedy, Geoffrey Lewis, Catherine Bach
Continuity mistake: When the girl is yelling rape at the motel, she is wearing a bra and panties. After getting some money for a cab, she puts on her dress and she is bra-less.
Revealing mistake: When Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges are being chased by George Kennedy and his partner, Bridges is driving off the dirt road down and embankment and you can clearly see that in the passenger seat is a faceless dummy instead of Eastwood or another stunt man.
Melody: I didn't get your name.
Lightfoot: Well, I didn't give it to ya'. My name is Lightfoot.
Melody: "Lightfoot"?
Lightfoot: That's right.
Melody: That's a dumb name. I mean, what kind of person would name a kid that, ya' know?
Lightfoot: What's your name?
Melody: Melody.
Lightfoot: "Melody"? That's not a dumb name?.. Hey, maybe we had the same father?
Red Leary: Go... fuck... a duck.
John Doherty: I don't wish to be forward but we'd like to exchange cars with you. So the faster you get out, the better it'll be for your ass.
Question: I could swear when I saw it it had a different ending. The one I saw at the end Jeff Bridges dies in the car. And Clint Eastwood pushes him out of the car and leaves him on the side of the road, then drives away. But I can't find anything on that. Has anyone else seen that version?
Answer: I remember the scene of pushing Jeff Bridges out of the car as well. I recently watched the movie on Cable, and Eastwood just kept on driving with Bridges (dead) slumped in his seat. I could have sworn he pushed him out in some alternate version.
Answer: I saw the film on VHS tape 30 years ago and the ending on the tape had Clint Eastwood throwing Jeff Bridge off the cliff.
Answer: Mandela effect.
Answer: The one thrown out of the car was red pushing his friend out of the trunk of the car after he was shot Clint saw his friend die, and he drove off with him still in the car.
Question: How did they get the 20mm cannon? Did they buy it legitimately, or obtain it by deception?
Answer: Since the crate was labelled machine parts, I'm guessing fraudulently.
Question: In Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, George Kennedy isn't listed with the other main characters. Was that by choice?
Answer: He is given what it known as "last billing" (which you see as "and George Kennedy). Nowadays it can also be referred to as "special billing." This is typically done for more famous actors who are playing a smaller role, or in this case a non-titular character. It was done on purpose and most likely as part of his agent's negotiation with the film studio.
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Answer: You must be thinking of another movie, because as far as I know there is no different ending.
I totally agree with your answer. Sometimes movies do film alternate endings that may be used in different markets (i.e. Europe or Asia). Also, alternate endings are sometimes filmed after a test audience reacts negatively to the original one and they may show up in the DVD or director's cut. I didn't find any indication that another version was ever filmed for this movie.
raywest ★
I concur - I can't find any evidence of this alternate ending existing beyond some people claiming it does. Like other examples (Wizard of Oz ending with a shot of the shoes under Dorothy's bed, etc.) I suspect this is just a false memory, although no doubt some will argue that, trouble is there's no way to prove a negative.
You are absolutely correct. Just watched this film again for the first time since the 70's. Thunderbolt leaves Lightfoot sitting (respectfully) by the roadside before driving off! Hope you come across this comment one day.