Rolling Thunder (1977)

            “Rolling Thunder” is a cult classic about a Vietnam veteran.  It was directed by John Flynn (The Sergeant).  The original script was by Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver), but there was a substantial rewrite.  Schrader’s movie would have been critical of the Vietnam War and fascism and racism in America.  His Maj. Rane is a white trash racist who returns home a hero although he never fired a shot in Vietnam.  The character bears some resemblance to Travis Bickle.  He cracks and murders a bunch of Mexicans which was Schrader’s way of criticizing the civilian casualties in the war.  He was not happy with the final script.  And a preview audience was not happy with the rewrite.  It was one of the most violent films made in the 1970s and one particular scene involving a hand and a garbage disposal had people freaking out.  The scene had to be toned down for the final cut.  The movie is a favorite of Quentin Tarantino.  It was filmed in 31 days in San Antonio.  It was not a box office hit, although some critics gave it good reviews. 

            Major Charles Rane (William Devane) returns home to San Antonio after seven years as a POW.  On the same plane is Sgt. Vohden (Tommy Lee Jones).  They share PTSD.  Even though they part ways, you know these two will see each other again. And you can be confident this is one of those 1970’s flicks that made some Americans think all returning servicemen were unable to adjust to America.  Rane is a hero and he is presented with a Cadillac and $2,555.  (One silver dollar for each day he was a prisoner.)  And he gets a groupie named Linda (Linda Haynes).  He’s married, so she’ll have to wait.  You’re probably thinking he is headed for a divorce, but that will not be what sets him free.  He has a son who was just a baby when he left and a wife who is in love with another man.  He does not snap. Yet.  He was the kind of POW who made a homemade flag.  He’s not bitter about the war, but he is not interested in fitting in.  He’s a ship without a harbor.  Before the usual domestic problems and awkward bonding with his son, they are visited by a gang of thugs who want his silver dollars.  He won’t talk, of course.  What could they do to him that the Vietnamese captors didn’t do?  Well, here’s where the garbage disposal come in.  And his wife and son are soon out of the picture.  The movie is now a road trip/revenge film.  He goes after the gang with Linda and Vohden.  Guns will be fired.

            “Rolling Thunder” has been described as a noir film.  That may be true, but it certainly is a revenge pic with stereotypical Vietnam veterans.  Oddly, Rane was a pilot, so he is not trying to relive his adrenaline-fueled violence in the bush.  Lohlen fits the trope better.  Devane and Jones raise the movie a notch.  I am a fan of Devane and he is perfect for the role.  He always seems like he is seething underneath in all of his movies.  Jones is good as the grunt who is just itching for a fight, even if he has nothing to do with him.  Although most of the movie is predictable, Rane’s relationship with Linda isn’t.  His relationship with his son and his wife also doesn’t fit the vet returning to his cheating wife situation.  However, the dynamic of Rane and his wife and son is not explored.  The movie is not interested in getting into anything deep.  As far as the violence, I guess I’ve seen too many violent movies because I did not find it excessive.  Certainly, the movie deserved an R-rating, but that test audience must have been a bunch of grandmas.  Well, if they were treated to the graphic version of the garbage disposal scene, you wouldn’t have to have been a grandma to be grossed out.  But the scene was degrossified in the final cut.

            “Rolling Thunder” had been on my TBW list for a long time.  But similar to another cult classic (“The Fourth War”) that I had a hard time finding, it did not live up to the wait.  Often, “cult classic” is a phrase used for a bad movie that is fondly remembered in spite of itself.  Those two movies fit that.  On the plus side, “Rolling Thunder” has William Devane (which is paralleled by “The Fourth Wars” starring Roy Scheider).  It doesn’t waste a lot of time psychoanalyzing and doesn’t bother with the consequences of the massacre.  So, if you want to see some overrated violence, it may be for you.

 

GRADE  =  C