It doesn't hold up today

this is one of the finest movies of clint, so underrated

I don't know how many times I've seen this movie since its debut in '74, but I never tire of it. I've always considered it a minor classic, especially in the heist movie genre; and the classics never go out of style. The cast, from the protagonists to the supporting characters, is as good as it gets. Each and every performance in this serio-comic classic is spot on and the direction of this stalwart film could not have been pulled off with any greater aplomb. I like the way the relationship between the veteran criminal and the wayfaring bad boy develops over the course of the movie from a grudging partnership to a genuine friendship imbued with mutual admiration and respect. If the Thunderbolt and Lightfoot characters had been played by actors less appealing and talented than Eastwood and Bridges, the ending would not have been anywhere near as poignant. Like most of the viewers who love this movie, I hated to see the demise of Lightfoot in the end, but the movie would have been less indelible had the producers opted for a more light-hearted conclusion. Few, if any of the movies of this genre made in the past decade or two will wear as well as this one. They are completely disposable by comparison. Thunderbolt is surely still out there somewhere and Lightfoot lives on.

(SPOILERS) So, it is February 2014, and I just finished watching this movie for the first time. I should say I agree with dwarol in that "it's a disjointed mess". Disjointed is key here. Disjointed in plot (the first half and the second half could easily be different movies). Disjointed in tone (it can't decide whether it should be funny or serious. George Kennedy's character is a perfect example of this indecisiveness. He starts off trying to shoot Thunderbolt. Twice. Pretty serious. Then they fight. He falls down panting explaining that he's got asthma. Funny. He kicks unconscious Lightfoot in the head. Three times. Pretty serious and sick stuff. He turns up in that store with dogs. Ends up with a funny death). Furthermore, a lot of random stuff is happening. A crazy guy picks them up, sends his car rolling over, a trunkful of white rabbits, the guy starts shooting at them. And what was up with that scene with Gloria shouting "Rape!", and the stark-naked lady in the window, and Lightfoot borrowing a car from Gary Busey, and that ugly as plague tourist lady in the end with her mumbling husband.
Such a shame when you think that by browsing through a back catalogue of classics, in this case Eastwood's, you have a chance to come across a gem, and what you end up with is a bland flat mess, a waste of time, nothing to take away from.
Then again, it's jusy my opinion.

--- TOUT IRA BIEN ---

I saw this movie for the first time today after missing it when it came out in '74, and I just don't see anything to it. It's a disjointed mess, and far too long to boot. Besides some beautiful scenery, the whole chase scene in the first half-hour of the movie was pointless. In general the car chase scenes were too numerous and pedestrian.

A lot of people here talk about the movie showing the pointlessness of society, turning convention upside down, etc. but while those elements may be there, it's almost like Eastwood and his buddies got together one weekend and decided to make a movie. Not much art to it.

I generally like Eastwood movies, especially from this time in his career. What am I missing? Maybe this movie was a pioneer of many of these themes, and since then many movies copied them with a lot more style?

Showed Thunderbolt and Lightfoot to a 32 year old friend of mine last week, so she was born 8 years after the film came out. She loved it and thought it was very good. I heard no complaints about it not holding up today from her.

I hate when people say a movie made 45 years ago "doesnt hold up". Is it supposed to look like it was made in 2015???? enjoy it for what it is...a movie from 1974. Which in many ways is better than a movie made today.

I totally disagree.

Agree with the OP to a certain extent, first half is a mess. No cohesion, tonally inconsistent and void of any plot progression. The second half is immensely better but unfortunately doesn't erase the memory of the first.