Breakinger A Brilliant Conflict

Odelecol Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Melanie Bouvet The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Francene Odetta It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Theo Robertson I had a conversation with a fellow IMDb member where the name Ken Maynard cropped up , an actor I'd never heard of but was relatively popular back in the day . Checking his biog on this site makes interesting reading and is one of those rags to riches back to rags again mainly caused by an inbuilt self destruct button . As someone who doesn't like Westerns it's not too surprising I'd never heard of Maynard since his resume revolves around the genre This film PHANTOM THUNDERBOLT is I'd hazard a guess somewhat typical of the actors output . One of these films that were popular at Saturday morning matinées that has its tongue planted firmly in its cheek . A man rides in to town warning the townsfolk that a stranger with a violent reputation is on his way and everyone had better board up their windows and doors if they know what's good for hem . Then the stranger rides in to town howling and firing his pistols and not only is he a misunderstood anti-hero he's someone who knows a fine dry cleaners in 19th Century frontier towns After this scene which feels it belongs in a slightly more camp version of BLAZING SADDLES the film continues in the same vein . It's a comedy with very unsophisticated humour and scenes that are laughably unrealistic . On the surface it's rather dreadful stuff but for some reason remains watchable probably because it doesn't take itself seriously in any way . On the subject of Maynard he does have a likable on screen persona and perhaps he's a better actor than he's given credit for since it's difficult to see how he is anywhere as mean and nasty as his reputation suggests . Mind you Hollywood is the dream factory and all too often some dreams become nightmares

MartinHafer When the Thunderbolt Kid (Ken Maynard) arrives in town, his friend runs all over talking about what a tough and evil man Thunderbolt is. As a result, everyone is scared to death of him--even though he's really a nice guy. But the town fathers are impressed enough with his tough-guy image that they offer him a job to clean up the town. It seems another nearby town is vying for the railroad to come through their city instead--and they sent a gang of roughnecks to this little town to stir up trouble to scare away the railroad. At first, Thunderbolt has a pretty easy time of it--and is thrilled to do it because he's met a cute lady there. But in the end, it looks like all is lost and the town is without hope.This is a pretty average B-western. While it's not at all exceptional in its production quality, at least the script is mildly funny and it is different. So, even if it isn't particularly great and Maynard has all the personality of soggy asparagus, it is easy to like in spite of its deficiencies.

classicsoncall By the time it's all over, the story of the "Phantom Thunderbolt" winds up being pretty lame, but it's about as much fun as you can have with a turn of the talkie era Western. Ken Maynard provides the thrills as the Thunderbolt Kid, arriving in the town of Coyote Gulch right after partner Nevady (Frank Rice) heralds his arrival with six guns blazing. Thunderbolt is quick to deliver, cleaning up Miss Judy's restaurant with the carcass of One Shot Mallory (Bob Kortman). Unfortunately, their mix up features an old style unrealistic fist fight marked by wild swings and push punches, but still good for a dunk in the town horse trough.At least town undertaker McTavish sees an opportunity for business with T-Bolt in town. Check out the sign in his shop window - "Our Customers Never Complain".With a quick gun and quick fists, the town fathers look to hire Thunderbolt to rid Coyote Gulch of bad man Red Matthews (William Gould) before the railroad president gets to town. They're in competition with nearby Spotted Horse for a railroad depot, and that town has hired the Matthews gang to insure that Coyote Gulch doesn't get picked. The Kid agrees to the take the job for three kisses on the installment plan from pretty Miss Judy (Frances Lee).Pay attention when Maynard's horse 'Tarzan' is instructed to nudge the barrel downhill with him inside. The closed end of the barrel is facing One Shot Mallory and another henchman at the start of the run, but the next shot shows the open end going down hill with Maynard visible.Another head scratcher occurs when the bank president begins to award the railroad contract to Coyote Gulch because it looks like a lawful town. Just then Red's gang hits town with guns roaring, but instead of changing his mind, Eaton (Wilfred Lucas) joins in the fisticuffs himself, proclaiming it's the most fun he's had since he's been there! Obviously story continuity wasn't uppermost in the minds of the film makers.For his part, the Thunderbolt Kid remains undecided about sticking around until Miss Judy plants a big one on the Kid's smacker. With that, he agrees to stay in Coyote Gulch, but by then he must have been as confused as bank man Eaton - he never got his third kiss!

Dave (dbfirelo2) I believe in comparing apples to apples, and not to oranges. So with that in mind, I want to point out that I am a fan of old westerns, including old "B" westerns, of which Phantom Thunderbolt is one. So my comments and this grade are made in comparison with other low-budget "B" westerns of the early 1930s, and not compared to what we all expect in a contemporary movie.This movie is absolutely awful. It has to be the worst film of its kind that I've ever seen, and I've seen quite a few. An average grade school student could write a more intelligent script. The acting of the entire cast is atrocious. Even that of the star, Ken Maynard. About all that can be said for him is that he can ride a horse pretty well. Clearly the director had absolutely no sense of how to entice a believable performance from any of the actors.Don't waste your time. There are many more old "B" westerns available in the public domain that are much more worthy.