Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalHispanic Heritage MonthIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Thunder Alley

  • 1985
  • R
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
524
YOUR RATING
Thunder Alley (1985)
A group of friends start a rock band, but as they start their rise in the music world, they get mixed up with drugs.
Play trailer1:33
1 Video
23 Photos
DramaMusic

A group of friends start a rock band, but as they start their rise in the music world, they get mixed up with drugs.A group of friends start a rock band, but as they start their rise in the music world, they get mixed up with drugs.A group of friends start a rock band, but as they start their rise in the music world, they get mixed up with drugs.

  • Director
    • J.S. Cardone
  • Writer
    • J.S. Cardone
  • Stars
    • Roger Wilson
    • Jill Schoelen
    • Scott McGinnis
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.1/10
    524
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • J.S. Cardone
    • Writer
      • J.S. Cardone
    • Stars
      • Roger Wilson
      • Jill Schoelen
      • Scott McGinnis
    • 14User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:33
    Trailer

    Photos23

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 19
    View Poster

    Top cast40

    Edit
    Roger Wilson
    Roger Wilson
    • Richie
    Jill Schoelen
    Jill Schoelen
    • Beth
    Scott McGinnis
    Scott McGinnis
    • Donnie
    Cindy Eilbacher
    Cindy Eilbacher
    • Lorraine
    • (as Cynthia Eilbacher)
    Clancy Brown
    Clancy Brown
    • Weasel
    Leif Garrett
    Leif Garrett
    • Skip
    Phillip Brock
    Phillip Brock
    • Butch
    • (as Phil Brock)
    Brian Cole
    Brian Cole
    • Wolf
    Bert Kramer
    Bert Kramer
    • Richie's Father
    Elizabeth Huddle Nyberg
    • Richie's Mother
    • (as Elizabeth Huddle)
    John A. Dragon
    • Brad
    Randy Polk
    • Fatman
    Carol Kottenbrook
    Carol Kottenbrook
    • Candy
    Melanie Kinnaman
    Melanie Kinnaman
    • Star
    Don Saffer
    Tiny Wells
    • Biker
    Robert Curtin
    • Beth's Father
    Henry Kendrick
    Henry Kendrick
    • Jake
    • (as Henry Max Kendrick)
    • Director
      • J.S. Cardone
    • Writer
      • J.S. Cardone
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews14

    6.1524
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    Paden33

    Excellent movie for those that have not seen it.

    I've seen this movie several times and enjoy it each time. It is not so much as the movie as it is the soundtrack, and from what I can tell this soundtrack has never been made avaliable for public release if you view the credits.
    10jollyj25

    A Great Movie dealing with serious problems and good music.

    Enjoyed the movie tremendously. Not an Academy Award performance movie but enjoyed the music and the delicate subject of drugs and rock and roll. My family watched it over and over and we never get tired of it. Now my grandson is watching it and asking questions that the film makes easy to explain. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good musical. The acting isn't the best but it gets it's point across. The songs are nice to listen to. Was nice to see Leif Garrett as an adult. There are lessons learned by the characters in the film which can be used in real life for the younger aged viewers. I would pay money to see it again. Good cast and I loved hearing Roger Wilson sing. Great voice!
    4spacyblu

    Good band movie.

    I recently rewatched this on cable and forgot how good it was. I like that for an 80s movie it wasn't glossy or unrealistic. I'm not a musician but this movie shows what I assume are fairly accurate portrayals of the highs and lows of being in a band. It also had alot of really good songs. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who hasn't seen it.
    10pero88

    Great movie!

    I have seen that movie like a 100 times! And I must say that I love it! That is not because it is the biggest movie, but 4 the actors and the music in it! I loved it from the start when the bell rings in the morning 2 the end!!!!!!! If some one has the soundtrack-album, (if there is one) 4 this movie.... Please contact me! I would love 2 buy it!!!!!!

    Thats all........
    10mooby1967

    Tuson can Rock with the best of them...

    THUNDER ALLEY Rated PG13 Copyright: 1985 Golan Globus Films Filmed in Arizona

    ******** The Characters *********

    1. Ritchie - Guitar prodigy who joins his friends band as the lead guitarist & songwriter. Reunites with his band mates for one last chance at the big time.

    2. Donnie - (IT's Scott McGinnis) Keyboardist of the band Magic & Ritchie's best friend. Gets Ritchie to join Magic. Bites it by drug overdose.

    3. Beth - Ritchie's sweet girlfriend. Tries to be supportive of Ritchie even after he cheats on her with Star.

    4. Lorraine - Donnie's girlfriend. Works at the local Ice Cream stand and has boobies as big as Nortons!! Takes Donnie's death hard.

    5. Wessel - Band road manager that works for the Fatman. Takes Ritchie under his wing to make him a star.

    6. Skip - (IT's Leif Garret!)Lead singer of the band Magic. Leaves the band only to reunite with them later at the Rainbow Festival.

    7. Wolf - Base player for the band Magic.

    8. Butch - Drummer for the band Magic.

    9. Fatman - Local music promoter out to screw with Magic. Gets the band to fight within themselves. His car gets trashed by Ritchie.

    10. Star - Blond groupie chick that gets Donnie hooked on Drugs. Gets her ass kicked by Ritchie after she tries to get Ritchie to try the drugs. "Big Nudity Scene"

    11. Candy - Random Booby shot in the swimming pool.

    12. Surgical Steel - Rival local heavy metal band within the Tuson Arizona music scene.

    ******** What you may learn form watching this film ********

    1. Music Promoters are all assholes & out for themselves.

    2. Leif Garret can actually perform real music besides bubble gum.

    3. Scott McGinnis did get out of the closet after Lt. Uhura locked him in during Star Trek / The Search for Spock.

    4. Good girls fathers are all town drunks.

    5. Ice Cream makes a girls Boobies grow bigger.

    6. Heavy Metal was the choice music in Arizona in the 80's.

    7. Golan/Globus made other films besides Missing in Action.

    8. Never play at Buffalo Bills night club. He'll try to screw you every time when it comes time to pay you...

    ******** Personal Commentary ********

    Now I know I'm most likely going to be bias to this film. This is my favorite film of all time. During my years as a musician I seen many films that showed the life of a musician but rarely found one that was somewhat accurate about the whole industry.

    This film does just that.. It's that damn good... The acting can be better but the story is deep. I really can't trash this film. It has some sentimentality with me.

    It defiantly is a keeper & wish to God they would release it on DVD soon... I own it on video and it's an original copy. It makes me feel all fuzzy inside... hehehe...

    Anywho.... I give this film..... 10 moooss.... If you can rent it.. watch it... trust me on this one...

    That's my story & I'm sticking to it...

    Mooby

    "For GODs sake, let the Moobster dance!" quote: N. Fisher

    Best Emmys Moments

    Best Emmys Moments
    Discover nominees and winners, red carpet looks, and more from the Emmys!

    More like this

    Best Wishes to All
    6.1
    Best Wishes to All
    Bad Boys
    7.2
    Bad Boys
    Blue Steel
    5.8
    Blue Steel
    Carnivàle
    8.4
    Carnivàle
    Thunder Alley
    5.3
    Thunder Alley
    Rich Girl
    5.7
    Rich Girl
    Thunder Alley
    6.3
    Thunder Alley
    The Passenger
    6.4
    The Passenger
    Disco Godfather
    5.2
    Disco Godfather
    Adventures in Spying
    4.7
    Adventures in Spying
    Outside Ozona
    6.0
    Outside Ozona
    National Lampoon's Animal House
    7.4
    National Lampoon's Animal House

    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Prince and Apollonia Kotero in Purple Rain (1984)
    Music

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      All guitar playing in the movie is done by Scott Shelly session guitar player and teacher. One of his most prominent students was a young Randy Rhoads.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Death Wish 4: The Crackdown (1987)
    • Soundtracks
      Can't Look Back
      Written by Scott Shelly, David Batteau and Jeff Porcaro

      Sung by Roger Wilson and Leif Garrett

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ15

    • How long is Thunder Alley?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 1, 1985 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Thunder Warriors
    • Filming locations
      • Tucson Mountain Park, Tucson, Arizona, USA
    • Production companies
      • Cannon Films
      • Golan-Globus Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 51m(111 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.