"Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" was a Pretty Gay Movie

The gayest part was when Jeff Bridges was fellating that pistachio ice cream cone.

If the article hadn't mentioned the shot of the red hanky in Bridge's left rear pocket, I'd have totally missed it.

So Lightfoot was into fisting?

The movie's poster alone is about as phallic as it gets.

Vintage Eastwood topping vintage Bridges is a nice visual.

Jeff looked nice in that mini dress.

Damn. Never seen this film, but I love Bridges and I love Tubi! Guess I’ll put it on my list.

"And the leopard shall lie down with the kid."

Yes, please.

"And the leopard shall lie down with the kid."

Yes, please.

Absolutely, r6. I still remember the opening shot. Cimino was capable once.

I saw this when I was about 10 yrs old at a Drive-In. I've watched this movie so many times since then. I absolutely love it and them in it. I never picked up on anything as far as them being gay. I always thought it was an older brother/ younger brother thing. I think they were good together and this movie is touching to me. It doesn't hurt that they were both sexy as hell either.

I've seen T&L a few times. I think I saw it for the first time with my parents.

Yes, Jeff Bridges was cute. I remember laughing, as a kid, at how Jeff ate that ice cream cone. So odd to "fellate" it in that way.

The ending must've been influenced by Midnight Cowboy. I won't get more explicit than that in case someone's never seen it before.

(I saw Midnight Cowboy as an adult and thought of T&L. MC is the older movie.)

It's mentioned in The Celluloid Closet and has that lame kiss where Bridges kisses Kennedy but puts his hand over his mouth so there is no lip contact. Naturally this enrages Kennedy who says I'll kill you!

Michael Cimino's first movie:

"I was unbelievably fortunate to have both Eastwood and Bridges in my first film. And never have I had such a good time making a movie. I would go to Clint every day and say, “Hey, boss, you happy with the dailies?” He said, “Michael, you just keep shooting what you’re shooting.” He said, “I’ve done so many films with great backgrounds, and it looks like it could have been shot in Burbank, but you have an eye for scope.” When I look back, given all of my experiences, it was by far the best. And I’m still collecting checks on that movie, if you can believe it. It’s still shown all over the world."

R11 The article in OP's link mentions how the ending is like Midnight Cowboy's.

First R rated movie I saw as kid in my house when cable came to the neighborhood and it came with HBO.

I liked the bad guy on the ice cream truck who was casing some house. A fat kid walked up and asked for a popsicle and the guy said: "Hey, kid. Go fuck a duck."

R16 That was Geoffrey Lewis, Juliette Lewis' father.

I remember him, r17. I had no idea they were kin.

R18 I didn't know he was her dad until after he had died and I saw her interviewed. Looking at her, though, there is a strong resemblance.

Thanks R17. I just looked at a picture of Juliette - I guess he took his own advice.