ROLLING THUNDER is April’s Late Nite Grindhouse

Rolling Thunder is one of my favorite films. I’m not just saying that because it is next month’s Late Nite Grindhouse screening, it includes almost everything I loved in 70’s cinema. It is a vigilante story, a character study, a road movie and a great, justifying finale. It doesn’t hurt that it feels, at times, an echo of co-writer, Paul Schrader’s previous work, Taxi Driver (which is definitely in my top 5 of my favorite films).

The film has had a release history that was troubled. Rolling Thunder was to be released by 20th Century Fox but after it showed as a sneak 2nd feature in a double bill with the third Dirty Harry film, The Enforcer, the crowd reacted violently towards some of the studio heads in the audience. This infamous screening took place in San Jose where the majority of the crowd was latino and our main character goes on a rampage in Mexico to avenge his family. 20th Century Fox sold the film to American International Pictures and they released it theatrically. On the home video market, the film never got the attention it was deserved. Initially released on VHS by Vestron Video and later Video Treasures in the United States, these VHS releases would be the only legitimate home video releases for almost 30 years.

Quentin Tarantino brought some attention to the film by naming his short-lived distribution company, Rolling Thunder Pictures, after the film and releasing DVDs like Switchblade Sisters, Detroit 9000 and more with a DVD deal with Miramax and even theatrical distribution in a collaboration with Grindhouse Releasing when Lucio Fulci’s The Beyond was released theatrically in the 90’s. However, Tarantino’s company never got the chance to release its namesake.

In the mid 2000’s, MGM aired the film in HD on their MGM HD channel which showed a new scan of the film. At this point, this was the only way to see the film at home in its original format. The transmission was bootlegged immediately and sold at conventions – hell, that’s where I got my copy. Then, in 2011, MGM did a MOD (Manufactured on Demand) DVD release of the film via Amazon. The following year, the UK released a Blu-Ray of Rolling Thunder with Shout Factory to follow suit in the States in 2013.

Rolling Thunder feels like a working man’s picture. On the surface, it plays out like a pedestrian revenge film but with director John Flynn’s gritty realism and exploration into the already damaged psyche of Major Charles Rane (played by William Devane) and his Vietnam buddy played by Tommy Lee Jones, who carries a quiet cool with hints of intensity and directness, Rolling Thunder is a unique beast and I’m proud to be showing the film – on my birthday weekend, nonetheless.

Tickets are 7 and you can buy them online via Moolah’s website.

Our psychotronic pre-show starts around 11:30p with the film starting at Midnight.

The Moolah Theatre & Lounge serves alcohol until 3AM! Feel free to show up early and stay late to have some drinks and get friendly with the amazing Moolah staff.

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