Distant Thunder is a 1988 American drama film directed by Rick Rosenthal and starring John Lithgow and Ralph Macchio.
Distant Thunder | |
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Directed by | Rick Rosenthal |
Produced by | Robert Schaffel |
Written by | Robert Stitzel Deedee Wehle |
Starring |
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Music by | Maurice Jarre |
Cinematography | Ralf D. Bode |
Edited by | Dennis Virkler |
Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 114 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $8 million |
Box office | $156,188 |
Screenplay
The film tells the story of troubled Vietnam war veteran Mark Lambert (John Lithgow), who, upon returning home from the war, alienates his wife and child by deserting them and moving away into the remote wilderness of Washington state.
After 10 years of living off the land and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, Mark Lambert decides to rejoin civilized society and find his now teenage son, who is living in Illinois. As an estranged father and recluse, Mark Lambert quickly finds himself unprepared for the changes that he must face.
- Ralph Macchio as Jack Lambert
- John Lithgow as Mark Lambert
- Kerrie Keane as Char
- Reb Brown as Harvey Nitz
- Janet Margolin as Barbara Lambert
The film received mixed reviews from movie critics. Roger Ebert commenting on this film said "Lithgow's performance is at the heart of the movie, and at the heart of his work is the way he smokes a cigarette or avoids looking anyone in the eye."
Box office
The movie was not a box office success.