Why didn't Thunderbolt take Lightfoot to a hospital. - Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) Discussion

[–] bmandrum 15 years ago

Not sure. But I'm guessing that Thunderbolt was afraid that if they went to a hospital that the police might be called and they'd get caught.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Boliwill 15 years ago

Watch the ending again,Lightfoot is clearly dead as Thunderbolt is driving down the road!

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[–] klydiate 15 years ago

MAJOR SPOILER COMING UP!!!!!

Leave now.

I have watched this film many times (all on tv) and I have seen two different endings.

First the usual one:-
Clint's driving, Jeff's slurring, they stop on a bridge. Jeff dies. If you pay close attention, when the car drives off again Jeff is NOT in the car.

Now the other ending:-
Clint's driving, Jeff's slurring, they stop on a bridge. Jeff dies. Clint picks up the body, carries it out of the car, and DROPS it over the side of the bridge. Believe it or not this is a very tender scene, where Clint realises he is as fond of the boy as the boy was of him.

this I've only seen once on the very first version ( was it a tv cut or a studio cut??)

I'll try to post this as a separate subject - I've never met anyone who has seen this ending.

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[–] bmandrum 15 years ago

I've never seen the ending you're talking about. Although it sounds interesting. Any idea where I might see it? Youtube perhaps?

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[–] sea_dog-1 14 years ago

I've seen that ending too. I've watched this film a few times and I was sure that there was a different ending to the one that's usually shown.

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] torquemama2002 12 years ago

Some Spoilers!

I just finished the movie, and Clint didn't throw anyone off a bridge, let alone Jeff! Lightfoot is clearly in the passenger seat when they drive off as the credits roll. I saw his hair flutter in the wind.

The New York Rangers suck. And Sidney Crosby is a cry baby!

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[–] MilesCo 11 years ago

I just looked at the final scene on YouTube, and Lightfoot (Jeff Bridges) definitely IS in the car, and remains so, right up to the end credits.

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[–] ZolotoyRetriever 11 years ago

...they stop on a bridge. Jeff dies. Clint picks up the body, carries it out of the car, and DROPS it over the side of the bridge.

I'd sure like to know where that bridge is that you speak of. Has it since been renamed the "Jeff Bridge"??

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[–] SunCanyonRoad 9 years ago

I would like to clear up that they do NOT stop on a bridge. It may appear to look like a bridge, but actually Lightfoot dies at the "scenic pull off" between exits 247 & 244 on I-15 South. Again this is not a bridge. The Missouri River is in the area, however if Thunderbolt were to drop Lightfoot over the railing his body would get mangled on jagged rocks.

I'm not saying they didn't shoot this reported alternate ending, I'm just saying they certainly didn't film it where Lightfoot dies.

"I don't want your watch, man. I want your friendship!" - Lightfoot

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[–] reallyme 10 years ago

I just watched the movie on MGM HD in Israel, and Bridges is in the car, slumped to the side, when Clint drives off after stopping and realizing Bridges is dead.

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[–] deplume 9 years ago

Clint's driving, Jeff's slurring, they stop on a bridge. Jeff dies. Clint picks up the body, carries it out of the car, and DROPS it over the side of the bridge. Believe it or not this is a very tender scene, where Clint realises he is as fond of the boy as the boy was of him.

This is the version I've seen in Australia.

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[–] lawmass 9 years ago

I have seen both endings. YOU Sir are correct.

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[–] SunCanyonRoad 9 years ago

It would be nice if someone could post the scene on youtube so we may all view it.

I have the blu-ray and when Clint drives off, you can see Jeff's head slumped in the car, so did they shoot the drive away also with just Clint?

"I don't want your watch, man. I want your friendship!" - Lightfoot

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[–] gnome-5 15 years ago

He didn't realize he was seriously hurt until it was too late.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] MilesCo 11 years ago

Yeah, that's right. I just reviewed the final scene, and it's clear that Thunderbolt (Eastwood) doesn't realize the extent of his partner's injuries until it's far too late.

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[–] leedamook 14 years ago

I first saw this film when i was 12 (twenty six years ago) and i just now caught it on tv and the same thing struck me as then, that after the kicking from red, lightfoot is just not the same, he's seriously injured. So i have always thought that Clint must be blind or thick not to notice. First time i saw this i was gutted lightfoot died.

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[–] toolkien 14 years ago

They're both career criminals, there's no going to hospitals for them.

Some people are afraid of the unknown. I don't know why, and it scares me.

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[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] MiST_SYL 14 years ago

It kinda seemed like he was having a stroke as he mentions his arm going numb, then he can't move his leg properly on the same side, then comes the slurring and his face kinda becomes expressionless all on one side. I guess it was internal bleeding but basically a head injury with clotting on the brain which is usually impossible to diagnose by sight till it's too late

"And by retarded i mean they can do anything!" - Big S

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[–] inspectors71 14 years ago

I think most everybody has missed what the original writer was questioning. He wasn't asking why Thunderbolt didn't take Lightfoot to the hospital after he had obviously died, but during the 18 or so hours between Red's assault on Lightfoot and when Lightfoot was picked up by Thunderbolt. Clearly Lightfoot was in trouble from the start--in the novelization, it's stated that Thunderbolt had seen head injuries in Korea and knew Lightfoot was on his way out. This makes no sense from Thunderbolt's behavior during the time we see them on their way to find Goody's body and when Lightfoot dies.

My take on this is that Thunderbolt is--pardon the cliche--in denial, or he's so focused on getting away that he's compartmentalized Lightfoot's injuries, prioritizing them away from reality.

Of course, we're psychoanalyzing a friggin' movie, so all bets are off, but it's fun to speculate about, huh?

January 20, 2013 cannot come too soon.

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[–] TongueFu 14 years ago

The worst place to drive to after you've committed a major heist is the police station. The second worst place to drive to after a major heist is the hospital. The police will be involved in either case.

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[–] masterblaster1975 14 years ago

I've read this opinion in a few posts now, and I tended to agree, but on further thinking about it I ask myself: Is that so? I mean, could Clint not have brought the boy to a hospital and tell them he fell and hit his head? I am not American, but is the police involved if somebody hits his head by accident in the US?

On the other hand, as someone wrote above, this is just a movie. And even if we treat it like reality maybe we should acknowledge that someone who just had the luck of his life might miss that his fellow is injured heavier than he admits.

Pity, though. Acted first class by Bridges, he earned his Oscar-nomination.

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[–] puredingo 14 years ago

The bloke a few posts back nailed it. They were career criminals..when you sign up for that life you know the risks involved, why do you think LF never asked TB "hey, mabey I should get my head looked at"
Lightfoot knew from then on in Thunderbolt was set for life him going to hospital could only jepordize his good fortune. And as for thunderbolt I believe he was playing the percentages, hoping the kid would pull through but not taking a chance if he doesn't.

I had a fish named Sam he lived in a bowl........

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[–] legato-bluesummers-1 12 years ago

Just finished watching it. Jeff is in the car, slumped over, all the way to the credits rolling.

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[–] nammage 11 years ago

I disagree. I just finished watching it, just now, and I zoomed in and played it on 'creep slow motion' and he was not in the passenger seat. In the scene right before it, he was but when Clint left the bridge, he wasn't.

It makes more sense that he dumped the body than hanging onto it; though he has all that money, as a criminal what would he do with it? Sure, he could bury him but he'd have to get the tools to do so and then the time it'd take to do it. A career criminal wouldn't take such a chance, I don't even think for a person he liked.

-Nam

I'm on the road less traveled...

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[–] the_expeditersd 11 years ago

A most interesting discussion...I never caught the older Bridges Bro being thrown off "Jeff's Bridge" and Clint driving away alone...After their friendship would he Really?? dump his body in such a disrespectful way? I think he shudda propped up his body next to a highway sign with his thumb out...

Live Long and Perspire!- Spock

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[–] TVholic 10 years ago

You need to get your eyes checked. Bridges is clearly still slumped in the car in every shot, his head resting on the door.

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[–] nammage 9 years ago

I zoomed in and he wasn't there. Perhaps, as someone else suggested, there are two versions of that scene.

-Nam

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[–] SunCanyonRoad 9 years ago

He's there on the Blu-ray

"I don't want your watch, man. I want your friendship!" - Lightfoot

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[–] mharris-994-573934 9 years ago

Wow, so much misinformation. First they are not on a bridge, it's a scenic overlook parking area and second he's clearly in the car. There was never a bridge at the end thus no one got tossed over. Bridges is clearly in the car.

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[–] SunCanyonRoad 9 years ago

I think people are suggesting "bridge" because it looks like a bridge. I have been there, physically on the very spot and you COULD toss a body over the side without issue. You are right, Lightfoot IS CLEARLY in the car... however, it was/is not uncommon for films to have alternate footage that can end up being used in special circumstances, like for television broadcasts and such. It has come out in this thread that it seems that those who believe they have seen this ending were watching a television broadcast, one of which was in Great Britain.

When Thunderbolt drives away, the camera pans from Lightfoot to him driving... a simple edit and you don't see Lightfoot... yes, the KEEN observer might still spot Lightfoot's head in the longshot, but most won't.

Still though, no footage has come forward of this scene in question.

"I don't want your watch, man. I want your friendship!" - Lightfoot

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[–] lewis-51 12 years ago

Good explanation!

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[–] Paul_Ke 11 years ago

I may be wrong, but I seem to recall Clint asking Bridges a couple of times towards the end if he was alright, and Bridges re-assuring him that he was okay.

I think between Clint knowing that if they go to a hospital they will be arrrested, and Bridges indicating to Clint that it wasn't that serious, it's pretty understandable why Clint didn't take him to a hospital. I know, of course, that at the end, it was becoming painfully apparent that it WAS serious, but by then it was too late; Bridges dies before Clint has time to make a decision.

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[–] SunCanyonRoad 11 years ago

My wife is a RN, was valedictorian of her class and knows alot about medical conditions and head traumas. So I asked her about this since I've seen this question about taking Lightfoot to a hospital on here for some time.

1. She said that Jeff Bridges acting was really, really good and spot on.

2. She said that taking him to a hospital (especially circa 1974) wouldn't have prevented him from dying anyway.

"Im telling you when my boss sees these figures he's gonna have a stroke."
- Rudy Russo

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[–] etabacek 10 years ago

Watched again for about 50th time and was wondering what Clint would do.
His only option is to dump the body, never saw the scene of Jeff being dumped off the bridge as described above, wish I could have.

BTW, 50 bucks never killed anyone! :)

Keith Moon was the greatest 'Keith Moon Style' drummer ever!!

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[–] SunCanyonRoad 10 years ago

I doubt that "scene" exists. He drives off into the mountains with dead buddy next to him.

"I don't want your watch, man. I want your friendship!" - Lightfoot

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[–] lwboho 10 years ago

Throughout the movie its like a Father taking a Son under his wing, albeit the Father is a criminal and hence a disaster as a role model. He likes L-foot because he makes him laugh and he(L-foot) has a serious "hero" worship towards T-bolt.

He protects the kid to a certain extent, but he has his limits, like when Foot mouths off once to many times to Red, and takes a good one to the breadbasket. They were obviously on the run and the last thing on anyone's mind was going to a hospital. Plus the betrayal by Red(didn't really see that coming... probably should have.) I doubt even the Foot character would have wanted it to go down that way. Going to the hospital is a leave it to beaver moment, not a gritty 70's crime drama plot point.

I saw this as a kid on TV back in the mid 80's and now own a Dvd copy. It made an impression on me much like the first two Rocky movies. I watch it probably a half dozen times a year.

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[–] trenchcoatwizard 9 years ago

There are two different endings - the one where Clint drives off down the long road with Jeff slumped over, and another ending where after Lightfoot has died Thunderbolt drags him out of the car and drives off on his own.

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[–] lwboho 9 years ago

I've never seen this "alternate ending". It certainly isn't on the DVD release that I have. What is your source for this??

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[–] trenchcoatwizard 9 years ago

Well, the DVD that I just watched before coming to the boards had Thunderbolt drive off with Lightfoot in the car, and the only other times that I have seen the film have all been on English television, and that has been where he left him at the side of the road.

EDIT - I just called and asked my father "how does the movie "Thunderbolt And Lightfoot" end?" and his response was tht Clint drags Jeff out of the car and drives off. Now, that being said, I can't find any reference to it online, so something strange is going on. Is there another film with that ending that perhaps we are mixing up with this??

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[–] SunCanyonRoad 9 years ago

You would think if this version existed ANYWHERE, we could find mention of it or a clip online... That being said, if it does exist I would like to see it, but can't imagine I'd like it better than him driving off WITH Lightfoot.

You mentioned though the only times you've seen him take Lightfoot out of the car was while watching on "English" Television... This is an interesting tidbit that might help solve the alternate ending riddle. A lot of times (especially prior to cable television) film productions would shoot "extra" scenes that normally would go on the cutting room floor for a theatrical release, but would be kept for use in televised broadcasts. Usually these scenes would "pad out" the film length or replace a non TV friendly scene so it could run in the allotted time or be presented on television without much editing. An example of this that comes to mind is Blazing Saddles... There are many extra scenes used in the TV released version that do not appear in the theatrical version. Thunderbolt and Lightfoot might have some of these extra scenes and one of which might be an alternate (longer or shorter) ending that was to be used in English TV broadcasts.

It aired on TV (with commercials) here in the Indianapolis market yesterday morning but I didn't make it up in time to watch to see if they used an alternate ending. I've only ever seen the film on VHS/DVD/Blu-Ray

Damn, I love this movie!

"I don't want your watch, man. I want your friendship!" - Lightfoot

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[–] trenchcoatwizard 9 years ago

Maybe the dragging him out of the car is a different movie then, and I'm just mixing the two up. Let us put our thinking caps on and see if we can get to the bottom of what that movie might be. :P

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[–] SunCanyonRoad 9 years ago

Re-read my post, I edited it because what you said got me to thinking.

"I don't want your watch, man. I want your friendship!" - Lightfoot

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[–] trenchcoatwizard 9 years ago

That was my initial thoughts - that there is simply more than one ending. Looking around though, I cannot find any mention of it anywhere, but will continue to look. Either way, it is a wonderful ending as is, and I cannot really see Thunderbolt just leaving Lightfoot on the side of the road, but what else could he possibly do with the body?

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[–] TVholic 9 years ago

He can stop in the middle of nowhere, dig a grave and give Lightfoot a decent burial. Plenty of wilderness in Montana where nobody would ever find the body.

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[–] gbuchan-34637 9 years ago

Correct. I first saw the film on UK TV sometime between 1978 and 1984. In that version Thunderbolt pulls over and drags Lightfoot out of the car and dumps him over the bridge and into the river/river bed, perhaps 40' to 50' below.

This was an entirely plausible, easy come - easy go ending. Thunderbolt couldn't drive around with the body or take it anywhere.

On every subsequent (UK TV) viewing I have seen the alternate, and in my opinion, inferior version. There is a finality about the 'original' version, Thunderbolt moves on, unencumbered by Lightfoot.

( I posted this info here several years ago but it seems to have disappeared. )

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[–] lgreatoreau 9 years ago

I have seen the version where Lightfoot is left on the side of the road. It was on late night British television about 10-15 years ago. I stayed up to watch the film, saw the first fifty minutes, fell asleep and woke up just as they were starting to blow through the vault wall. It definately finished with the body on the roadside.

I forgot about the film until I bought the DVD last week. I was surprised to see the version where he drives off with the body in the car.

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[–] SunCanyonRoad 9 years ago

That's different than what others are saying that Eastwood dropped Lightfoot over a bridge into a river.

It is pretty clear the alternate version was aired on British Television. The only one I've ever seen in the US is the one where he drives away with Lightfoot's body in the car.

"I don't want your watch, man. I want your friendship!" - Lightfoot

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